All Aboard? Not every bishop agrees with the USCCB’s religious-freedom strategy
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There is a healthy struggle brewing among the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops. A previously silent group, upset over conservative colleagues defining the church’s public posture and eagerly picking fights with President Barack Obama, has had enough.
The headlines this week were about lawsuits brought by forty-three Catholic organizations, including thirteen dioceses, to overturn regulations issued by the administration requiring insurance plans to cover contraception under the new health-care law. But the other side of this news was also significant: That the vast majority of the nation’s 195 dioceses did not go to court.
It turns out that many bishops, notably the church leadership in California, saw the litigation as premature. They are upset that the lawsuits were brought without a broader discussion among the entire membership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and wanted to delay action until the bishops’ June meeting.
Until now, bishops who believed that their leadership was aligning the institutional church too closely with the political right had voiced their doubts internally. While the more moderate and liberal bishops kept their qualms out of public view, conservative bishops have been outspoken in condemning the Obama administration and pushing a “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign aimed at highlighting “threats to religious freedom, both at home and abroad.”
But in recent months, a series of events — among them the Vatican’s rebuke of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious encouraged by right-wing American bishops — have angered more progressive Catholics and led to talk among the disgruntled faithful of the need for a “Catholic spring” to challenge the hierarchy’s shift to the right.
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, broke the silence on his side Tuesday in an interview with Kevin Clarke of the Jesuit magazine America. Blaire expressed concern that some groups “very far to the right” are turning the controversy over the contraception rules into “an anti-Obama campaign.” [more]
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13 Comments
Jesus said, “Be either hot or cold. If you are lukewarm I will spew you from my mouth.” That’s what has been wrong with the Roman Catholic Church in America for quite some time. Wishy Washy Bishops who allowed anything to go in order to be relevant and not rock the boat. Finally we have Bishops, like Dolan, who put their neck on the line for criticism, as their getting, simply for standing up for the truth. Jesus will not spew them from his mouth. However, I’m not so sure of the Blaire and the others who want sit back and be comfortable and receive accolades from other wishy washy so called catholics.
The mere thought of Cardinal Dolan as a Freedom Fighter is too funny for words! Anyhow, who does Religious Freedom belong to – the Bishops, or the People? What this thing is all about is the Bishops’ free-dom to punish financially any catholic who dares to use his or her freedom sign on for a procedure that they disapprove of. Some religions disapprove of blood transfusions. We don’t hear them campaigning in the name of religious freedom to have their contribution for health care on the cheap.
ST MICHAEL protect us from these liberal progressive so called catholic bishops and their followers.This same talk about liberal beliefs will haunt them.
the Spirit is at work and s/he finally found someone with **** to speak out; realizing his chance to be Pope have diminished greatly. Pray for that guy & the nuns who are also being bullied by the Dolan group.
The very use of “s/he” when referring to the Holy Spirit shows you are not a knowledgeable Catholic or no Catholic at all. If the latter, why are you commenting on a Catholic web site? If the former how about some study to learn the truth? As far as the chance to be Pope, the election is inspired by the Holy Spirit. No one’s chances are dimished by one or another political strategy. God knows whom it will be, and the gates of Hell won’t be able to stop the correct choice. But yes, do let us all pray for the Pope and the nuns and God bless. His Excellency “Dolan.”
Dear “m”
All Catholic scholars around the world may not use the term s/he, but the research for many, many years clearly show that in 90% of the the use of the word “Spirit” is feminine.
Please do your research before chastising a comment in the public domain.
Thank God there are Bishops out there that can think for themselves, and obviously understand what we, the Church, should be about! Dolon and his ultra conservative brothers need to understand where we (the Church) are and where our leadership IS NOT!
Our “leadership” should get out of politics unless the same affect Church Doctrine. If they’d stop trying to run the country in a secular way we’d all be able to do the right thing–because we’d KNOW what it is. Right now no one knows what the truth is because all factions can find a priest, or nun, or Bishop who will side with them. Enough! Teach us the WORD OF GOD!!
You got that right. When I read CathUSA I feel like we are back in the dark ages. What do these men think they will accomplish?
Dark ages? Why do you read this site then? For a vacation back there? God’s word is timeless. Unchangeable, unlike man’s concerns.
The right wing of our church needs to reread and pray the Gospels and the documents of Vatican II. The conservatives are acting more like the Pharises than Jesus.
ALL “wings” of the Church need to read the Bible. The documents of VAT II are a very, very recent development. Try reading the OTHER teachings, say 2000 years worth! Read what the saints had to say about it. And just who sits in judgement here? The conservatives are acting like Pharisees? Says you? Hmmmm….I’m not worried. I hope God will judge me less harshly than you and your expertise!
I agree Tony that some of the Church leaders are acting more like Pharisees than Jesus. They are more concerned with power and control than justice. I am hopeful that more moderate bishops will speak out with more prudence only when politics conflict with justice and that they do so soon so that real dialogue becomes possible and that Catholics do not equate Republican conservatism with faithfulness.