Posted on 06/17/2010 10:56:15 PM PDT by Steelfish
Catholic Scholar Asks Why Bishops Haven't Denied Communion Over Ariz. Law
June 17, 2010
A longtime Catholic scholar is suggesting that bishops consider denying communion to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and other officials who support the Arizona immigration law. Anthony Stevens-Arroyo, religious author and outgoing director of Brooklyn College's Center for Study of Religion in Society and Culture, wrote in a column that Catholic leaders are holding back in their condemnation of the law, opening them up to charges of hypocrisy. Given that bishops have in the past threatened to withhold communion to officials who support abortion rights and other issues that run counter to church teaching, Stevens-Arroyo questioned why they weren't applying the same practice here.
"In the face of hideous injustice, words are not enough. Will any of today's bishops deny communion to Catholic officials who vote for this bill and its spawn of imitators in other states? Has censure been voiced against the local sheriff Joe Arpaio (a Catholic) who has led raids on Latinos?" he wrote, while adding that he doesn't personally support denying political figures communion.
Arpaio is the Maricopa County sheriff both loved and loathed for his crackdowns on illegal immigrants in the Phoenix area. He is facing renewed attention, including from religious groups, after he announced this week that he'll launch another raid as soon as the law goes into effect July 29.
The Arizona Ecumenical Council is urging the sheriff to stop what it calls his "excessive, wasteful and divisive campaign."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"Anthony Stevens-Arroyo is an American Catholic scholar who has worked as professor of Puerto Rican and Latino studies at Brooklyn College. He has contributed to the national debate on human rights and was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights."
He's not a Catholic theologian. "nuff said.
Maybe because they aren’t quite as stupid as this guy takes them to be.
"In the face of hideous injustice, words are not enough. Will any of today's bishops deny communion to Catholic officials who vote for this bill and its spawn of imitators in other states? Has censure been voiced against the local sheriff Joe Arpaio (a Catholic) who has led raids on Latinos?" he wrote, while adding that he doesn't personally support denying political figures communion.I'll bet he doesn't support it - at least not in Massachusetts . . .
How does this scholar apply his critique to abortion?
Where in the Bible does it say it's a sin for a public servant to enforce immigration law?
So enforcing immigration laws is in the same league as killing unborn children, eh Arroyo?
I have an idea, Mr. Theologian/Scholar, why not urge the denial of Communion to the members of the Mexican oligarchy that continues to create desperate circumstances for the Mexican underclass?
I mean if you really want to get at the root instead of the symptoms of the problem ... oh, that’s right, you’re a leftist and they always want the problem instead of the solution - my bad.
Thanks! He’s a Marxist masquerading as a scholar loosely defined of course.
This is nothing but a cheap shot at pro-life bishops.
It does, however, also point up the hypocrisy of the lefty bishops who fraudulently portray their open-borders/amnesty position as “Catholic teaching.”
There is no parallel here, especially given the scope of Arizona's laws. Church teaching concerning immigration IS NOT AS CLEAR AS THAT ON ABORTION. This is true by virtue of the subject matter with which it deals - nations do have a right to protect themselves, but also, individuals do have the rights and dignity that come along with being human beings.
To imprison those who break the nation's laws is not gravely sinful. If Sheriff Arpaio were advocating disproportionate violence against the illegal immigrants, or denying them food and water to survive until they have been returned home, or some other type of abuse, this would be a different case (but to my knowledge, he has not done these things).
Correct on both counts.
Am I to take it then, that The Vatican (City/State) has completely open borders?
Jesus would not condone breaking the law....render to Ceasar. JMO.
Catholic laity answers, "Because Bishops aren't stupid enough to be Latino Catholic Scholars."
This is what the bishops get when they stick their noses into issues that involve prudential judgment rather than intrinsic morality.
Didn’t they offer communion to Ted Kennedy? I am beginning to see more and more government influence on the Catholic Church and I am not hearing the Catholics stand up for themselves. As a lifelong Catholic, I will say this. If the church starts acting as a right hand to this government, you won’t see me in the pews. I don’t see the government trying to do this with the Baptists!
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