You ask, “Why does the Catholic Church permit these people [i.e., pro-abortionists] to remain members in good standing? Inquiring minds want to know. Have churches devolved into religious banks? Do you now get to decide by which of the church’s teachings you will abide? While we are going about cleaning up the country, we might want to do some housecleaning in our churches.”
Good questions! Let me begin by responding that I’m not sure that these people are all members in good standing of the Catholic church. I think it varies from diocese to diocese, but at least some bishops have taken steps to censure these people.
As for churches devolving into religious banks, I think your criticism is correct. Some clerics don’t want to take steps to discipline people, much less excommunicate them, especially if they’re good contributors to the church.
The Catholic church’s position is that, no, you don’t get to decide by which of the church’s teaching you will abide. Cafeteria Catholicism is not allowed, but that being said, it is too often tolerated nonetheless.
You are right, we need to do some housecleaning in our churches. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1st Peter 4:17-18)
-—As for churches devolving into religious banks, I think your criticism is correct. Some clerics don’t want to take steps to discipline people, much less excommunicate them, especially if they’re good contributors to the church.——
Priests earn a small fixed salary. They have little interest in collections, and it shows! I’ve attended church for 40 years, and can count on both hands the number of appeals that I’ve heard regarding parish collections.
The annual Bishop’s appeal is different, but it’s mainly a direct mail campaign run out of the diocesan office.
The failure of priests to discipline church members is largely the result of touchy-feely hippy-era seminary formation, which is thankfully passing away.