I have lived in a City far away from the parish of my upbringing for the last 13 years. In that time I've attended Mass infrequently until recently. The new church I frequent (I'm already looking for another) included an insert in the Church bulletin from some Catholic group who asserts its mission as the protector of those who work the land.
This insert, which was August's calendar (all the days of the month were noted with 'things to think about') was a piece of propoganda that shocked me.
It noted that one of it's goals was to restrict state to state produce distribution, and to enact legislation that would reduce our agricultural output, as we produce (according to the insert) 1.5x that which we need to consume. This group also asserted via the insert that all people have a 'right' to enough food to flourish, not just to survive. And they intend to bring that right about through government edict.
The thought to contemplate on the Feast of the Assumption was 'the dignity of our bodies'. And judging from the 'deep thoughts' for some of the previous days, the dignity of our bodies that we need to be contemplating is centered around their goals for the 'tillers of the land'. No mention of contemplating the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, though. Again, I was shocked. I called my Mom later on that Sunday and asked if she'd received such an insert and she said no, so it was undoubtedly something local.
I had called the rectory a few days before I attended Mass to register as a new Parishoner. The registrar couldn't take my call that day so she called me back a few days later, I told her I had changed my mind.
I hope I can find a Catholic Church that is not party to this kind of machination, but it doesn't look hopeful in my region.
It has happened a lot in my diocese, about one Sunday a month at least it seems. Some of the policticking I agree with, but would rather not have my arm twisted when I go to church. A lot of it makes me furious because they have had Maryknoll types and who knows what else they are into invited into mass to solicit contributions, magazine subscriptions, handing out forms to to legislaters to sign before you leave, etc. They've had African pastors soliciting contributions.
Frankly, the parts of it that spill over into politics shouldn't be allowed in any church proper or they may risk losing their 501c3 status. Nobody wants to touch that with a ten-foot pole.
We are (or were) required to subscribe to our diocesan newspaper. Ours is way too liberal for me and I would rather subscribe to something else with the money. If you don't ante up, the parish picks up the tab and I don't like to cause other people to pay my way ever. I cancelled my subscription.