On Pulling Punches from the Pulpit(Catholic Caucus)

Crisis Magazine ^ | Nov 6, 2013 | Richard L. Russell

[RBStealth]

Casting broad generalizations about the state of American Catholicism is a hazardous business. Yet from where I sit in the pew, pulpits are experiencing the phenomena of Sherlock Holmes’ hound that doesn’t bark. More specifically, I am getting a sinking feeling that in this age of ideological political partisanship, bishops and priests are succumbing to excessive self-censorship and are failing to educate their parishioners on the fundamental tenets of the faith, and how politics can be informed by that faith. As Pope Francis noted in a daily homily, “A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern.” Far too many bishops, priests, and deacons seem to shy away from homilies about how Catholicism can inform public policy debates.

[RBStealth]

There are clergy who allow partisan politics to excessively and dangerously circumscribe what they teach their flock. It can no longer be said that the Catholic Church is the Democratic Party at prayer. The growing divisions between the Church and the Democratic Party should stir Church leaders into action rather than silence. The mere fact that Church agencies continue to receive government funds and contracts even during the Obama Administration is no justification for acquiescence. The Democratic Party has taken same-sex marriage and abortion as core issues of its political agenda and barely hides its disdain and contempt of those who oppose these positions for religious reasons. Many bishops and priests are slow to recognize the deep chasm that separates Catholicism from the contemporary Democratic Party.

Homilists should imitate the frankness and simplicity of the greatest saints. These great saints, moreover, may have moved in elite political circles of their times, but were certainly not of the elite. Today’s bishops or even cardinals sitting down at tables to break bread with those opposed to Church teachings is certainly consistent with Christ in the Gospels speaking with Roman soldiers, tax collectors, and women of ill repute. But when today’s Church leaders publicly cooperate with so-called Catholic politicians—and refrain from any type of public rebuke much less withhold the sacraments from them—they sew confusion among their flock.

[Bigg Red]

But when today’s Church leaders publicly cooperate with so-called Catholic politicians—and refrain from any type of public rebuke much less withhold the sacraments from them—they sew confusion among their flock.

(((
Amen!