Paul Ryan’s bishop defends him amid attacks on his application of Church teaching
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Earlier this year, when Georgetown University announced that Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-Wis.), the chairman of the House Budget Committee, would defend his budget in a public address, almost 90 faculty members at the Jesuit institution publicly denounced his interpretation of Church doctrine.
While the media generally presented the harsh judgment as a sign that Ryan’s budget proposals violated core beliefs of his Church, most news stories failed to examine why the subsequent appearance of Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at a Georgetown graduation event did not provoke a comparable furor. Sebelius is widely viewed as the architect of a federal contraception mandate denounced by the U.S. bishops as an “unprecedented” threat to the free exercise of Catholic institutions, but the same group of Georgetown faculty apparently saw no need to register their disapproval.
During the final bruising months of a presidential election that could hinge on the shifting views of Catholic “swing” voters, Americans can expect to witness further disputes that showcase legitimate questions about the practical impact of Ryan’s policies and partisan hit jobs that fail to provide a holistic treatment of Catholic teaching.
Now, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Ryan’s bishop, has waded into this election-year minefield, clearly concerned that a valued member of his flock is being unfairly attacked by partisan forces.
In a column posted on his diocesan website Aug. 16, Bishop Morlino vouches for Ryan’s Catholic bona fides, but stresses that his remarks should not be viewed as an endorsement of Ryan or any candidate.
“I know him very well. He is in regular communication with his bishop.
“I am defending his reputation because I am the one who, as his diocesan bishop, should have something to say about this, if anyone does,” Bishop Morlino told the Register during an Aug. 15 telephone interview.
“Since others have, I believe, unfairly attacked his reputation, I have to look out for his good name. That is Church law. If someone disagrees with Paul, he is free to do that. But not on the basis of reputation destruction, really calumny,” he added.
“They say things about him that aren’t true. I am not a defender of Paul Ryan; I am a defender of reputations of Catholics in the public sphere whose reputations are unjustly attacked.”
The bishop did not cite specific examples to document his charges regarding Ryan’s more outspoken critics, though an Internet search quickly locates headlines like “Paul Ryan’s Violence.” In recent weeks, however, one political ad on television sought to connect Romney with the death of a cancer victim, who allegedly could not receive treatment because Bain Capital, the private equity firm founded by Romney, had closed the company that once provided her husband with health insurance.
Critics began to challenge Ryan’s moral and intellectual credibility in April, after the congressman asserted in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that his economic policies, designed, in part, to get the poor off government assistance, were consistent with Catholic teaching.
“The preferential option for the poor, which is one of the primary tenets of Catholic social teaching, means don’t keep people poor, don’t make people dependent on government so that they stay stuck at their station in life; help people get out of poverty, out onto life of independence,” he stated in the interview.
That month, when Ryan was slated to deliver a prestigious lecture at Georgetown, irate faculty members issued an open letter to the House budget chief.
“Your budget appears to reflect the values of your favorite philosopher, Ayn Rand, rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” says the letter, which the faculty members sent to Ryan. [More]
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25 Comments
The bishop should be aware that in the USA the Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office. Mr. Ryan’s Catholicism does not qualify him as a VP candidate, and the bishop’s weak-kneed “support” is at root meaningless if not counter-productive. The RC church may not be a democracy, but the USA is — still.
Florian — you missed the entire point of the article. The bishop specifically said he is not endorsing any candidate; he simply wanted to step forward and correct the lies that have been floated about Mr. Ryan.
And the reason is, Florian, people like me DO take into account the religion of the candidate; and, if they are Catholic, how faithful they are to the Church. If they are a faithful Catholic, they always get my vote.
Bishop Morlino should shut his mouth. If he wishes to speak, speak – as he has a right to do so – he should speak with specificity or nothing at all.
The bishop WAS specific, Tomas — he said he specifically is defending Paul Ryan as a decent individual. He doesn’t have to be specific about every last detail about which one can be specific. Also, since as you note he has a right to speak, then let him speak as he deems appropriate, not with you scripting his words.
If you listen to Paul Ryan, His bill re: medicare and social Security would effect people UNDER 55 years of age. For people over 55, nothing would change. We are running out of money. We cannot be like Greece. I am for this man who by the way is the only one who is trying to address the problems. The Jesuits and the Bishops and the nuns are for the poor. I ask them, where are we going to get the money for the poor?
Exactly, Joseph Francis. Unfortunately, too many people have their eyes wide shut.
Also, Joseph Francis, too many people are arrogant and non-rational — they are unwilling to have their long-held beliefs challenged by the facts. Mostly, though, the despicable media consistently supports the Demon-crats and knocks the Republicans, often subtlely, under the guise of being “objective.”
Hi Joseph.
First of all Ayn Ryan only says it won’t affect people over 55. That alone is not true (even if you believe he won’t change the number from 55 to 60 or 65). People over 55 will be immediately affected by his policies. Repealing the Affordable Care Act will impact:
People with preexisting conditions.
Parents with children under the age of 26.
The prescription drug donut hole becomes larger.
etc.
And the one that I am most excited about:
No caps on insurance coverage (2014). Now I don’t have to worry about losing everything if I come down with some freaky long-term illness.
And basically he his asking seniors with kids younger than 55 to throw their kids under the bus. The retirement safety net will be shredded with his policies.
Where are we going to get the money? The richest nation in the world cannot afford to provide basic services for the elderly! Other developed nations (and a number of small countries) are able to do this.
What is our problem?
That is not true, Dennis. Every 10 years away from MediCare and those already in MediCare will have the “choice” to stay in the MediCare program as it now is. Some of us have paid into the MediCare “Insurance” program for since 1966 when Lyndon Johnson signed it into law — 47 years!!!! There would be riots in the streets if the politicians tried to screw us over right when we are eligible. Believe me, that will be the case.
Unfortunately, the MediCare system was set up wrong in the first place. MediCaid and all the con artists milking that system and all the phonies getting disability payments is what is making it self-destruct. I have to think that Lyndon Johnson and his cronies knew or should have known that MediCaid was a pyramid scheme that would come crashing down in 50 years — long after they were all dead. The Social Security program was also set up as a pyramid scheme by Roosevelt. Maybe in 1935 nobody knew that people would have drastically fewer children 30-40-50-60-70 years down the line, so I’ll give them that, but the disability benefits program is what really ruined that plan. There are so many con artists in the disability program. I think people ought to start turning in their neighbors when they see this kind of cheating. It’s a little later than 1984, but Big Brother is Watching You, con artists!
You might have Medicare and Social Security confused. You have never “paid into the MediCare Insurance program” for your own benefit. You have paid into the Social Security System for your own benefit.
Medicare is funded by a payroll tax levied on employers and workers. That tax revenue is used to pay for the cost of Medicare for that year. In doesn’t cover the cost of the whole program so more money from general taxes is used. You paid a tax and it was spent.
Social Security is primarily funded through payroll deductions. These deductions are entrusted to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, or the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund which comprise the Social Security Trust Fund. The more you contribute to the fund the more you get when you retire.
That is why every senior has the same Medicare benefits but different Social Security benefits.
But let’s face it you main concern is those con artists (minorities) that are cheating the system.
J.F., I believe we are ALL for helping the poor who are not con artists milking the system and who are willing to take “personal responsibility” for their actions. The misplaced compassion and enabling of the far left bleeding heart liberals begs the question, are they really that naive?
ok…uhmmm…look at Bishop Morlino’s record. He is an ultra-right fringe bishop even by the standards of today’s very conservative church. He’s hungry for and abusive of power. His support of Paul Ryan gives me no comfort at all.
Steve — so, you’ve sat down with the bishop, talked with him for hours, then interviewed this therapist, and after that extensive research, you offer us your analysis of what motivates the bishop? You should be disgusted with yourself.
Of course the bishop’s support of the Ryan budget would give you no comfort, Steve — you draw conclusions about internal motivations of another person who you’ve never met and never talked with. Honestly, even you should be able to see the stupidity of drawing such a conclusion.
Another Bishop proclaiming the preferential option for the well-to-do.
Helping the poor by getting rid of Medicare? The Bush wars that were “off the budget” will be continue to be paid for by increased taxes on everyone BUT the 1%. And now Romney/Ryan want to make the 99% even poorer by taking away Medicare? Welcome to Pottersville.
Helping the poor by getting rid of Medicare? The Bush wars that were “off the budget” will be paid for by increased taxes on everyone BUT the 1%. And now Romney/Ryan want to make the 99% even poorer by taking away Medicare? Welcome to Pottersville.
Liberal garbage served up by despicable sources like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and the NY Times. Try watching only a balanced news program for a month (Fox News currently is the only balanced news program), and read only the Wall Street Journal for one month, then come back and talk with me. Ryan in no way wants to get rid of Medicare. That is a lie floated by the disgusting demons — or, I mean demon-crat.
Thank you Bishop Morlino. I am sure you have had a full share of the hypocrisy of left wing faculty. Ryan is out front as a practicing Catholic. Most of these faculty are “Biden Catholics” The Church should welcome an expert on the economy like Ryan (as you do).You can’t solve economic problems , and help the poor by pandering like Biden does to to his left wing Godless demagogues.
You meet the best hypocrites in Church.
I have more education and work experience as an economist than Ayn Ryan will ever have. I can tell you he is a lightweight on economics but he does know how to move money from the poor to rich.
Thanks, Raymond — perfectly said. Short, to the point, right on target.
Now i see better than ever that religion and politics don’t mix. As much asi don’t like Biden because of his stand on abortion, I don’t like Ryan for his thoughts on the poor.
The secular left wing press has tried to speak for Ryan. He is tying to save the systems which help the poor!LISTEN!
Raymond — I hope those close to you know how you think. We need many more clear-thinking Americans like you.