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The Republican (Catholic church) Captivity
Sep. 03, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionLast November at their post-election meeting, a vocal minority of bishops lamented the election results, aghast that not only a majority of Americans, but more tellingly a majority of Catholics, had voted to make Barack Obama President of the United States. So extreme were the comments of these few bishops that some could easily have confused them with Republican ward-heelers, and be prone to the fear that a new “Republican Captivity” of our Church was in full force.
A lot of the bishops’ hysteria at their November meeting was over that great Republican bogeyman, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which was not a part of the Democratic platform, and had absolutely no priority among the issues facing the new administration. This did not prevent the public lamentations of select bishops on how FOCA would force Catholic hospitals to close - despite the insistence of the Catholic Health Association to the contrary.
They did not let facts get in the way of their agitation. One bishop, who did not even have a Catholic hospital in his diocese, was so carried away with anti-Obama fervor that he said he would close his fictitious Catholic hospital, if he had one!
That same vocal minority is now at it again, this time taking up the Republican cause to defeat President Obama’s universal health care proposals. One Midwestern bishop has written his flock that “health care should not be subject to federal monopolization; “that “the Catholic Church does not teach that ‘health care’ as such, without distinction, is a natural right;” and that “the proper role of government is to regulate the private sector in order to foster healthy competition and curtail abuses. Therefore any legislation that undermines the viability of the private sector is suspect.”
Two bishops of near-by sees wrote in a joint pastoral statement that “The teaching of the universal church has never been to suggest government socialization of medical services,” and that it could create “a future tax burden,” and foster “permanent dependency for individuals or families upon the state.”
Perhaps because it was written so long ago, these bishops have forgotten what Pope John XXIII said in Pacem in Terris when he listed the right to health care as one of the rights that society (i.e., the government) had to protect:
Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill-health; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age.... (11)
Or perhaps they never realized, or understood to begin with, that it was their brother bishops in Vatican II who definitively and collegially taught that private property and private enterprise had to yield to the common good:
By its very nature private property has a social quality which is based on the law of the common destination of earthly goods. If this social quality is overlooked, property often becomes an occasion of passionate desires for wealth and serious disturbances... .” Gaudium et spes, 71
Whether they realize it or not, these bishops in their purportedly “pastoral” statements are doing the work of the Republican Party. They are espousing political positions, not moral ones, and they are doing great harm to the body of bishops, not to mention the Body of Christ, in their transparent and patent political advocacy. What they wrote was neither theology nor catechetics nor spiritual direction. It was politics, pure and simple, politics that would warm Rush Limbaugh’s conservative Republican heart.
They need to stop. Our bishops need to be bishops, not political shills, if they ever want their people to listen to them and to respect them again. Siding with one political party in such a public way won’t do that, especially when the objective appears to be to deprive the poor, the disadvantaged, the unemployed, the bereft in society, of the right to health care, a right which is unquestionably theirs in any fair reading of authoritative Catholic social teaching.
Nicholas P. Cafardi is a civil and canon lawyer, and a professor and former dean at Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.
It appears that the bishops
It appears that the bishops don't know what else to do but squander whatever is left of their once-strong moral authority.
It is obvious we need change
It is obvious we need change in the Church. Join Voice of the Faithful and add your voice to those working for change. The bishops may not know what to do, but we can bring about change, if there are enough of us. By the way, VOTF is pressing for lay input into the selection of bishops, among other reforms. Open VOTF.org.
It is obvious we need change
It is obvious we need change in the Church. Join Voice of the Faithful and add your voice to those working for change. The bishops may not know what to do, but we can bring about change, if there are enough of us. By the way, VOTF is pressing for lay input into the selection of bishops, among other reforms. Open VOTF.org.
Regarding voice of the
Regarding voice of the faithful, In order to "WALK IN THE SPIRIT", one must choose LIFE to begin with.
Gee what about the liberal
Gee what about the liberal bishops who are mouth pieces for the Democrats. What about those bishops and dioceses who helped register democrats to vote for Democrats? I guess thats okay because they are nice people and everyone else is bad.
Name two "liberal" bishops.
Name two "liberal" bishops. The Church hasn't promoted a liberal in 20 years. The Catholic hierarchy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Republican Party. When the Bishops look over the books once a year, some of them must register the fact that lots of good people quit the Catholic Church over this matter. If I wanted to get the Republican Party line in Church, I'd join John Hagee and his ilk. I will not be told whom to cast my vote for by my Church. I will not be told that I have committed some nebulous sin by clerics who protected some pretty prominent sinners for decades in the American Church. I will not be judged by a hierarchy which certainly gives itself a pass on some pretty offensive behavior. I will not use abortion as the litmus test of all things Catholic when so many living human beings have been hurt by war, poverty, and hunger with little comment from the American bishops. These are also life issues. When the Church and its leaders condemn those who treat the living poorly, I'll be a lot more impressed with their compassion and neutrality. I will never be impressed by those qualities in the Republican Party.
I don't mind the Church
I don't mind the Church taking moral stands, but I don't want to be bombarded with GOP literature on the sunday before election day every year.
"I will not use abortion as
"I will not use abortion as the litmus test of all things Catholic when so many living human beings have been hurt by war, poverty, and hunger with little comment from the American bishops."
Anyone who says the American bishops have offered "little comment" on war, poverty and hunger over the past generation has chosen to jam their fingers in their ears. That's the politest thing I can say, especially in light of their championing of the rights of immigrants during 2007 and 2008, an issue which directly impacts upon poverty and hunger, most fair observers would concede.
I think your pique about the stand against abortion has drowned out a good many things.
Two Liberal bishops -
Two Liberal bishops - easy,
Cardinal Mahoney in Los Angeles
Joseph Pepe of Las Vegas.
You only asked for two - but there are about 200.
War, poverty, hunger - all fine with the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church. But Abortion - INTRISICALLY EVIL. Go look at it at www.priestsforlife.org and then tell me you want that to continue. LOOK AT IT. Or are you chicken?
Arms ripped off. Heads of babies CRUSHED. EYEBALLS falling out. SICK and you want THAT to continue? Who is the sick one? Look up Margeret Sanger and how she wanted to eliminate black people by putting her clinics in inner city locations - she said so herself.
You liberal Catholics are really not Catholic at all. You are Protestants, because you take the Catechism and say "I don't want to believe this" or "I don't want to believe that".
So, start your own church!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Would you prefer that they
Would you prefer that they did the work of the Democratic party by killing pre-born babies, offing the elderly, assisting in suicide, advocating "gay" marriage and dispensing contraceptives & morning after pills to 16 year olds?
They are not supposed to do
They are not supposed to do either. They are supposed to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ
It seems that those who say
It seems that those who say and write as do you; truthfulness is a distraction, a trifle which is a blemish to your impoverished ends justifying the means.
Paulte tells the Truth, there
Paulte tells the Truth, there is no denying that except by silly myopic liberals! Maybe he could be a little more diplomatic in doing so though! And as an orthodox Catholic, I certainly don't believe that the end justify the means. How do you apply that to me?
Paulte, you are giving
Paulte, you are giving yourself the thumbs up? How humorous......you are agreeing with and complimenting yourself. You forgot and used your wrong sign in name. Seek therapy.
An accusation, but nothing to
An accusation, but nothing to support it. Why should I take your remarks seriously?
It appears the bishops
It appears the bishops believe that life begins at conception, pauses at birth and becomes sacred again when the ventilator is inserted.
Get the facts before you
Get the facts before you Babel!
They should be losing their
They should be losing their tax-free status in their dioceses also. You are right, this is politics pure and simple. Disgusting behavior but we expect this from the hierarchy anymore which is even sadder.
No they shouldn't be losing
No they shouldn't be losing their tax-free status. This unconstitutional law needs to be fought. It should never have been allowed to pass anyway. Churches are given tax free status apart from the 501c3 anyway - they are misguided for ever signing that agreement to be silent in exchange for some "privilege" they already had to begin with.
Talk about Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of soup.
Thank you for calling it
Thank you for calling it exactly the way it is. These attention-hungry politicos - with no expertise in healthcare - paint a very unappealing picture of the Catholic Church and do a disservice to the efforts by CHA and others to make this issue a national priority.
I am a lifelong Catholic.
I am a lifelong Catholic. This makes me heartsick.
Two weeks ago, the Diocese of Trenton passed out a pastoral letter on the importance of the politics of keeping marriage heterosexual. Yes, what a burning issue for those with a cancer victim in the family.
On rational national health care? Silence.
I am a millimeter away from attending Episcopalian services.
Come on down! Trinity
Come on down! Trinity Cathedral (Episcopal) is GREAT! Service is at 10 a.m. As an ex-RC I can assure you that you won't even look back.
You're lucky. Down here in
You're lucky. Down here in TX, the Episcopals a somewhere to the right of Torquemada.
Your struggle is the struggle
Your struggle is the struggle of many of us. It is not an easy path, I know. Unfortunately, if you leave, The Church has one less person and is one more step closer to becoming a cult. I hope you don't leave, but I understand if you do. I know that for many, the powers that be in The Chruch has just made it too difficult to worship and follow Christ. Pray and descern as to where you are called to worship and follow him. Regardless of what your decision is, God will be with you. Also, my prayers as well will with you whatever your decision.
And the difference between a
And the difference between a cult and the way the RCC is heading these days is what?
The difference is that there
The difference is that there are those of us who are trying to prevent it, trying to honor the value of The Church in spite of where so many of its leaders and some of the laity would like it to go. Not always an easy task.
C'mon Nicholas! You must be
C'mon Nicholas!
You must be being sarcastic when you say, "...these bishops have forgotten what Pope John XXIII..." They haven't forgotten in the least. I understand Cardinal George passed out dart boards with J23's picture on them
The unholy and corrupt
The unholy and corrupt alliance of the Catholic Church and Republican Party was originally presented as a step on the path toward ending legalized abortion. It was strictly about "saving the babies" a good and noble cause on the face of it. What decent person, let alone Catholic, would be against "saving the babies"? Dare not ask if this Political Solution was open to corruption or self-serving manipulation for purposes that had little to do with "saving the babies" and everything to do with political power and all-encompassing conservative ideology. Don't ask and we won't tell. Just continue to mindlessly vote for any politician who proclaims himself "prolife" even as the collateral damage builds up and abortion remains the law of the land. Now we see the crystal clear evidence of corrpution as some at the highest levels of the Church attempt to bring their political influence to bear on matters far afield from "saving the babies". Now we see in all its ugliness what the Political Solution has brought. The Common Good replaced by the Private Sector. So-called prolifers screaming for vengence after bitter defeat at the polls. Catholics demonizing other Catholics. Dysfunctional bishops more concerned with bringing down a Democratic president than supporting the Common Good. A totally embarrassed Catholic Church. And abortion remains the law of the land after 36 years. Yes, the Political Solution worked well, didn't it?
When I can no longer tell the
When I can no longer tell the difference between the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention - well, I guess that's starting to tell me something.
Bishops advising on politics
Bishops advising on politics is like Einstein opining on theology. It may be well meaning but it is out of place. It is important for any of us to know what we don't know.
I can not think of a single
I can not think of a single bishop who reminds me of Einstein.
Steve
I agree cashelguy2, not one
I agree cashelguy2, not one of them has the thoughtfulness or the intellect of this great man whose theory of relativity remains an important aspect of the growth of physics. Over the past thirty years, it seems that thoughtfulness was not a requirement for becoming a Bishop. In fact it was exactly the opposite, it was the megalomania of delusional belief that the Bishops new all. Our problem is the poor leadership appointed by JP II. It has become mostly authoritarian in thought and has lost all sense of being authoritative.
Peace and understanding,
R. Dennis Porch, MD
Maybe the Pope should do to
Maybe the Pope should do to the U.S. bishops what Brigham Young once did with the early mormons: divide them into two sets of families and declare one set to be "Democrats" and the other to be "Republicans." There was some movement to redo that strategy a few years ago when the mormon hierarchy decided that their republican posture was too obvious.
Might get a new start for the bishops?
Nicholas, you are right on.
Nicholas, you are right on. The loud minority of bishops are nothing more than Republican waterboys. Their attempt to make our church the Republican Catholic Church is doomed to fail.
Steve
You mean, rather like the
You mean, rather like the Bishops in the 1980s who carried water for the Democratic Party?
Which bishops are you
Which bishops are you refering to? What water did they carry?
Steve
You ask for names of bishops
You ask for names of bishops overtly sympathetic to the Democrat party. Here are two: Howard Hubbard and Matthew Clark. Oh... and Cardinal Mahony out in L.A. There are plenty of others.
What is evident is that Walker Percy was prescient when he spoke of an American Catholic Church in Love In The Ruins. We have a schism. VOTF, CTA, etc., represent an American Catholic Church. I'm sticking with Rome.
Prayers for all.
I'm trying to visualize the
I'm trying to visualize the 1980s you are referring to, but this looks to have been in a parallel universe, if at all.
Well written, concise and
Well written, concise and clear. Where is the Council of Bishops which should be the "sheep herder" here?
Perhaps the Vatican should
Perhaps the Vatican should make a better use of its time by investigating the American Bishops who are so obviously in bed with the RNC instead of religious woman, It is no surprise to me that so many of the laity pay little or no attention to their bishops
Jonn M. Doyle, it is event
Jonn M. Doyle, it is event better that no one pays any attention to you.
The Bishops need to stay out
The Bishops need to stay out of POLITICS. At this point I'm ready to take away the tax exemption for the Catholic Church. We DO have separation of Church and State!!! And, if these Bishops were really living the Gospel, they would be pushing for Universal Health Care (Public option) so that all of God's people could be taken care of in times of illness!!
Sandra
Sandra, if the bishops came
Sandra, if the bishops came out and backed Obama's health care plan I bet you would change your mind quickly.
I agree one hundred per cent
I agree one hundred per cent with you. But the silence of the other bishops is appaling.
Far too long some U.S.
Far too long some U.S. Bishops have esposed the political rhetoric of the
Republican Party. Their 'thinking' most probable is based upon they will be
'fed' some glissening crumbs from the table of table of the party whose
political philosphy is contrary to the Beatitudes.
John & Josephine Reid
His statements and facts are
His statements and facts are right on. It is time for the American Church to be in tune with the world-wide universal Catholic church, including the Vatican. They seem to take a whole different slant on these issues. Maybe our American bishops need to go back to school and to read the documents. Bishops have no realm in political affairs unless they are teaching on morals. Certainly the moral integrity of this previous republican administration was suspect at best and absent usually. What would Jesus do?
Jesus would certainly not
Jesus would certainly not have ordained you as a deacon!
Early on in European history
Early on in European history much of the hierarchy of the Church was allied to the wealthy. I see this current desire of some of the Bishops promoting Republican causes.
The Curch in South America has a history of bonding with the wealthy and the powerful. I see the criticism of Liberation Theology as symtomatic of this attitude.
The current Pope as I perceive has allied himself on the side of those who seek to amass power.
When it comes to the Magisterium there is little that the Church can do to promote loyalty to worn out and often unjust prescriptions.
Thank you, Professor Cafardi,
Thank you, Professor Cafardi, and thank the Lord! Vatican II lives! We need the "silent majority" of well-meaning, peace-loving US Catholic bishops to speak out when such dangerous, ill-informed (even biased?) statements are made. Blessed are the peacemakers, but maintaining silence in the face of such ignorance is a very dangerous thing.
I don't recall Jesus using phrases like "private sector" or "federal monopolization" in the Gospels--does anyone else?
These Bishops have been
These Bishops have been practicing politics under the guise of religious theology since Bush was re-elected for the second term. I find it very scarey because I live in a metropolitan area where most Catholics follow this advice like sheep. Catholics who do not think for themselves about political issues and vote accordingly are naively giving up their freedom to the government every day. I find it intersting that the Bishops positions on Freedom of Choice, stem cell research and gay rights is yes, we want government to control these issues (and make them unavailable), and on healthcare reform, no government involvement, lest it cost me more taxes or affect my comfortably secure insurance status....seems just another strangely unloving, uncharitable ordering of social justice priorities. It is absolutely, unabashedly Republican politics. I am entitled to my stuff over I am entitled to my choice.
Yes, you're right. I suggest
Yes, you're right. I suggest we stop pledging money to those bishops who take political stands that go against the Beatitiudes.
Mr Cafardi hits the nail on
Mr Cafardi hits the nail on the head! I am sick and tired of the bishops in our country who are neither up to date on their theology and church history nor cognizant of what is going on around them. If they were C.E.O.s of coporations they would have been fired long ago. Perhaps they should speak to others than their rich Republican friends.
I find that I must point out
I find that I must point out the left's hypocrisy yet again.
When the bishops, under Cardinal Bernardin's leadership, wrote pastorals like "Economic Justice for All" (a thinly veiled assault on free market capitalism ala the Democrat Party), "The Challenge of Peace" (an attempt to undermine the Reagan/Thatcher build up of the military in response to the Soviet Union's agression); or in 2003 when they issued "Strangers No Longer" (the bishops' foray into immigration reform, supporting, among other things, legalization of the over 10 million immigrants who are here illegally), there was no outcry from the likes of Mr. Cafardi or NCR.
Indeed, when the bishops espoused these liberal ideas they were hailed as visionary and true leaders. No one on these pages accused them of being "political shills" for the Democrat Party. Yet, shills they were, espousing political positions under the thin veil of social teaching. The only difference was that then the bishops preached "Democrat Party!" and today they do not.
As hard as it is for people like Mr. Cafardi to believe, it is possible that, at times, Catholic Social Teaching and the Republican Party might find common ground on certain issues. The Democrats do not have a monopoly on the Church's social teaching, despite the fervent hopes of Mr. Cafardi and his associates.
But, it does seem that the Left has cornered the market on hypocrisy.
Clint, the really fun thing
Clint, the really fun thing about those pastoral letters is they were way left of the official Democratic party at a time when the party was peeing all over itself to look centrist. I don't think too many Democrats who were running for office were lining up to thank the USCCB.
Clint, I find I must point
Clint, I find I must point out your hypocrisy yet again. You are confusing things. There is being political and there is being pastoral in moral support of Church teachings and attempting to bring charity and justice into the world that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ for us to love one another. You point as defense of your argument those issues which transgress Church teachings, of which are moral issues that need addressing which are:
1. Free market capitalism - You favor fascist corporatism and no rights for workers, no unions, health care only for the elite.
2. Build-up of the military - You favor pumping up the economy via the military industrial complex & weapons; of dealing with problems via force and bloodshed.
3. No immigration reform? - Where do you really stand on this issue of immigration? Are you for or against Church teaching on this?
You've cornered the market with your hypocrisy yet again Clint, as you are in defense of those things that reflect not the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Butterfly, when did Clint say
Butterfly, when did Clint say that he favored bloodshed and force? Once again, little butterfly, who have written without thinking! Listen to Clint, you may learn something from him.
Sadly, it seems, no one
Sadly, it seems, no one educated you on what free market economics actually entails. Free market capitalism means just what it says: open markets with little to no government intervention. There is nothing, necessarily, that would preclude unionization. But, in reality, the number of unions has been declining for some time. The reason for this is logical, it is in the best interest of the company to maintain fair labor practices and to offer competitive wages. It is in the best interest of the individual employee to bargain directly with the company; in so doing, he is able to be rewarded for excellence, continued loyalty, etc.
It is only just, for example, that outstanding employees be rewarded with raises or bonuses or extra vacation days or promotions and substandard employees be penalized. It makes no sense, and is completely unjust, to reward employees who are not performing...part of the reason our public education system is in as much trouble as it is is due to the fact that the NEA and other unions refuse to allow school administrators to reward teachers whose students score well or who attain certain grades and benchmarks. Unions exist to protect mediocrity, of course. But, the free market does not, in and of itself, preclude unions.
Health care would benefit from increased competition. Why, for example, should a person not be allowed to purchase health insurance across state lines? The only reason is that the government has forbidden such transactions. Why is health care so expensive? Partly because doctors, afraid of being sued for malpractice, force patients to undergo unnecessary procedures and tests so that the doctors will be able to say "I tried every test known to man". The obvious answer to this is tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and to minimize the outrageous costs of "punative" damages. In every possible scenario, the government is the problem when it comes to health care, not the solution.
Increased military spending? No, I do not necessarily support that. I do support having a strong and vigorous military to defend the American people, and to defend innocent people abroad. That does not necessarily mean a larger military, but perhaps a more technologically savvy one. I do not believe that "pumping up the economy" via the "military industrial complex" (to use much-loved Hippy terminology) is feasible in the long-term. No, the economy will be "pumped up" by dramatically cutting taxes, dramatically limiting or, even better, eliminating most government regulation and intervention, and, in so doing, unleashing the creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of the American people. In other words, getting back to the Founders' ideals on how government should work.
I support and encourage LEGAL immigration. LEGAL immigration is what made this country great. I do not support allowing ILLEGAL immigrants to remain here. Illegal immigrants are breaking the law in being here. There should not be a reward for breaking the law, which is what amnesty is. I do not believe in locking them up, but rather, when they are found or located, they should be deported. We need to strengthen our borders and the border patrols in an effort to cut down on ILLEGAL immigration, importation of drugs and other drug-related crimes, and the possibility of terrorism. Meanwhile, we encourage LEGAL immigration.
Many people, including some bishops, want to make the immigration issue one of race. It has nothing to do with race, but rather everything to do with the difference between obeying the law and breaking it. That is what it boils down to and that is the only relevant issue.
As to the teachings of Christ, do you really believe that He would teach that it is good for people to break the law? Do you think He would encourage us to reward criminals? Please show me the place in Scripture where Christ said that the free market is evil. Please show me the place where He said that we should look to government to solve all of our problems. Regrettably for you and your friends, you cannot find such places. Nor did Christ, nor the Church, ever condemn as evil, in every circumstance, war. Obviously war is never good, but sometimes it can be absolutely necessary (World War II, for example).
Every instance you cite is an instance of prudential judgment. The Church does not, and never has, outrightly condemned war in every circumstance as a doctrine. The Church has never said that the only good form of economics is socialism (the opposite of capitalism). Indeed, the Church, repeatedly throughout the 20th century condemned socialism's logical conclusion--communism. The Church does not, and has not, doctrinally taught on the issue of illegal immigration. Indeed, it cannot, since Christ Himself said to "render to Caesar what is Caesar's": the Church has taught, as did St. Paul, that as a result of this command, we were to obey the civil laws as long as they are not contrary to the moral law.
You see, you are trying to describe as doctrine that which is prudential. I would suggest that you give some thought to learning and understanding the difference.
You make it all sound so neat
You make it all sound so neat and efficient, Clint. The problem with Laissez-Faire capitalism is that it established greed as the ultimate goal of society. It is interesting that people who believe in such a system without consumer protection do not understand the idolatry in their beliefs. Remember greed like envy is still one of the capital sins. So many capitalists like to point only to lust and sloth, though capitalism has plenty of these sins involved as well.
There is no such thing as a “trickle down” economics. What has actually happened is that so many of our corporations have used our favorable tax structure for them, some call it corporate welfare, to take out of the country all of our industrial base in order to make a lot more bucks. Yet they claim to be patriotic and ask us to fight wars of patriotism that are actually wars for corporate welfare. No there is no trickle down effect ii is a wave shift of resources from the poor and the middle class to the very wealthy. My father in a middle class job during the 50's and 60's was able to support a family of nine on one salary. Too many families in this society must depend on 2 wage earners often with two jobs each without any health insurance just for Subsistence. Your description of a holy Capitalism is neither Christian nor democratic, yet you, Clint, suffer from a delusion that it is fair. I don't think that Christ had any such system in mind! Read the entire Gospel of Matthew.
One final point is that we in the US have a constitution that describes three branches of government, yet in fact the corporations with their money interests have formed a fourth branch. To them it is government for the corporation and by the corporation be damned the interests of the people. The definition of fascism is government run by corporations and business interest. We in the US over the past thirty years have formed our own form of fascism and it is not an economic structure that supports either democracy or Christianity.
Peace,
R. Dennis Porch, MD
Amen! You explain it so
Amen! You explain it so very well, Dennis.
Clint, thank you once again
Clint, thank you once again for a rational and intelligent response to the socialist propaganda we read in NCR. You truly are a "voice of reason" on a website that is irrational and inconsistent. Keep up the good work!
Your rhetoric is so amusing,
Your rhetoric is so amusing, I'm finding it hard not to laugh as I sit at my computer. Social justice has been soft-pedaled in the Catholic Church since it was met with so much resistance in the late 60s and early 70s. I'm certainly glad that Jesus never talked about social justice...it would have upset so many. What, exactly, do you think He was crucified for? For annoying the politicians of His day and trying to get justice for the all. I suppose you must have one of the special bibles that omit the 8 Beatitudes and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. How dare Bernardin and other American bishops stress such teachings. It might make members who have gotten theirs very uncomfortable. I watched people squirm in the pews when social justice, racial equality, unjust wars were discussed. You were, undoubtedly, one of the squirmers.
Have no fear, you won't be hearing any of those discomforting ideas from today's American Bishops. They've substituted abortion for all other issues of social justice. Talking about the rights of the unborn has been substituted for any concerns for the living.
The oppositional bishops'
The oppositional bishops' behavior confuses me. OK, they may have forgotten about Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris and Gaudium et spes, but one would think they'd believe what they say when they proclaim the Gospels, and that they'd be aware of and in agreement with the actions of the early Christian communities in the Acts of the Apostles.
In a previous day, wouldn't their behavior have been described as "causing scandal?" Or was "scandal" strictly confined to situations involving sex?
"The Church" needs to stay
"The Church" needs to stay out of politics. As the institutional church ventures more and more into the political arena, it looks more and more like a Political Action Committee. As such it should be stripped of its tax exempt status. (Where's the IRS when you really need them!)
I am a Secular Franciscan and
I am a Secular Franciscan and a Hospital Social Worker who works with Veterans in Chicago. It is time for the Bishops who know little about health care to shut up and stop pandering to the Right. I work with homeless and those living on the streets; whose only hope is the VA. The VA is the largest Health Care System in the world; next to Medicare Program, they are both Government run programs and they do very well in providing access to all.
I guess the Bishops have forgotten that we are to care for all our brothers and sisters; not just the upper middle class and the rich. Jesus after all was a carpenter and worked for a living with his hands and wood, alongside his stepfather St Joseph. But the Bishops appear to have forgotten the real message of the Gospel to fight for the rights of all God's Children. We have become a one slogan Church with only one thought; that is to protect the unborn and to abandon unborn at birth. No thought to the basic needs of families and the poor, only more slogans and pandering to the political right.
It time to go back to basics of Catholic Social Teaching and to care for all peoples regardless of their station in life; for all are equal in God's Eyes.
Be true to the Mission, the Dream, and the Journey....in the footsteps of Jesus....... Pax ET Bonum!
this is exactly why there was
this is exactly why there was a luther, there were Cathars, there were Huguenots....
history has shown the church has always strayed from the teachings of Christ.. nothing new under the sun.
You are doing more than most of us can say..bravo to you.
Andrew, I too am a Secular
Andrew,
I too am a Secular Franciscan and I weep at the thought that our Beloved Church is playing the politics of the rich. This is exactly what our Holy Father Saint Francis experienced in his time. Thanks be to God for folks like Missionaries of Charity and Franciscans and all others who get it about living the Gospels.
I am a re-vert-I was away from the Church for 35 years. I left the Evangelicals because of their unholy alliance with the Republican Party. I came back to Catholicism but it was not long before I saw the darkness had creeped into the RC's also.
All I can do is follow the spirit of Saint Francesco and remain true to his Rule and of course Our Lord who Reigns supreme. I will pray for you brother. Peace.
Just more examples of the
Just more examples of the vacuum of "leadership" of our current U.S. bishops...it's quite obvious that they've never read the June 18, 1993 USCCB document "A Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform"!
With bishops not leading (merely following their whims, their political views, loyalty to Rome as opposed to loyalty to the Gospel), there is a void which the laity, including women religious, will fill and will fill soon.
These are the years of the demarcation of real Christian Catholic life based on Jesus' Gospel teachings vs. politically inept loyalists AKA bishops.
It is said that the greatest secret of the Catholic Church is its social teaching...it's becoming eminently clear and obvious that the U.S. bishops themselves don't know about them, either.
This is a real teaching moment for the Catholic Church in the U.S. ... it won't be the bishops who are teaching, however.
These bishops get worse every
These bishops get worse every week. Perhaps, they should check the Gospels. Seventy-five percent of Jesus' miracles were health care related. He spent a lot of time healing people. I don't recall a single miracle dealing with female reproductive rights.
What they are espousing is a
What they are espousing is a form of social darwinism in which access to health care is a priveledge of successful personal initiative.
It strikes me that what these bishops and their political supporters really want is a parallel Catholic church that will be the only one which has a voice in the US public square.
Hopefully the acceptance of the resignation of Bishop Martino is a Vatican shot across their bow.
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