[sinkspur]

"It is hard not to conclude that some members of the American church's hierarchy resent or are fearful of the laity's voices."

Well, this is certainly true.

Whether the Voice of the Faithful or Faithful Voice, any lay organization is doomed to failure.

The American Catholic bishops are not now, nor have they ever been, open to any kind of serious input from the laity.

That's why so many lay Catholics just make up their own minds about things, including morality.

[patent]

That's why so many lay Catholics just make up their own minds about things, including morality.

And here I thought immorality and pride were effects of original sin.

patent  +AMDG

[maryz]

That's why so many lay Catholics just make up their own minds about things, including morality.

I don't know how it is everywhere else, but in Boston anyway, it's a long time since I've heard an archbishop say anything about Catholic morality (with the notable exception of abortion). For the rest, most public statements from Law (and Medeiros before him -- I wasn't old enough to be paying attention under Cushing) sound as if they could have been drafted by the DNC. Law, for example, gets very exercised about the possibility of tax cuts -- because they'll hurt the poor. The possibility that some entity or individual other than the state might have a responsibility toward the poor is never mentioned.

I think if the bishops were more obviously listening to God rather than to the New York Times or the Boston Globe editorial pages, Catholics at least -- and maybe others -- would be more willing to listen to them.

[Antoninus]

The American Catholic bishops are not now, nor have they ever been, open to any kind of serious input from the laity. That's why so many lay Catholics just make up their own minds about things, including morality.

Ah, I see. American Catholics "make up their own mind" about morality because they're frustrated that they don't have any say in what is considered acceptable. It has nothing to do with the fact that most bishops have been utterly negligent in their duty to teach authentic Catholic faith and morals for the past 20+ or so years, have eliminated the concept of sin, and instituted an "I'm ok, you're ok" policy instead. Nah, you're probably right.[/sarcasm]

Earth to sinkspur..

You never did tell us if you "make up your own mind" when it comes to Humanae Vitae. Well, do you?