Cardinal Wuerl calls religion the ‘conscience’ of democracy
Tags
Related Posts
About the author
Since America’s founding, its people have understood the importance of religion as the conscience of the culture and necessary for a society to flourish, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.
From the earliest days of our country’s history, religion has been understood as playing a “vital role” in public life and a clear “part of the very fabric of our nation,” the cardinal explained.
“We may have quibbled over expressions of faith. We may have even been hostile to one another’s faith,” he said. “But we never argued that faith doesn’t belong as the foundation for our understanding of how we relate to one another and our obligations to one another.”
Cardinal Wuerl delivered the keynote address at the Catholic Perspectives on Religious Liberty symposium at Georgetown University on Sept. 13.
The event was hosted by the Maryland Catholic Bishops Conference and the Religious Freedom Project of Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
The cardinal explained that religious faith has always been “deeply embedded” in American culture.
While the work of religious schools, hospitals and social ministries are important, he said, these “tangible human services” are not the only contributions that religion offers to society.
“With religious faith comes a way of living, a set of standards for moral and civil behavior,” he explained, adding that these expectations are “woven into the very fabric of our societal life.”
“’You shall not kill’ is not simply a legal convention of any particular political persuasion, but rather a moral imperative rooted in our human nature, proclaimed by our religious heritage and intrinsic to the identity of all of us as a people,” he said. [More]
SOURCE
Leave a Comment
Photo Archive
-
Jun 19, 2013 5:55
Poll: Catholic Church view on same-sex marriage causing parishoners to flee
-
Jun 19, 2013 5:52
Man arrested in shooting during Catholic church service in Utah
-
Jun 19, 2013 5:45
Scituate parishioners taking dispute to highest Vatican court
-
Jun 19, 2013 5:41
Local clergy abuse survivor testifies before the United Nations
-
Jun 19, 2013 5:38
Alleged victim of clergy sexual abuse files lawsuit
-
Jun 18, 2013 10:28
Chaos as gunfire erupts at Utah Father’s day Mass
-
Jun 17, 2013 4:51
Obama names former CRS head ambassador to the Vatican
-
Jun 17, 2013 4:46
Addressing U.S., global child malnutrition a top priority for advocates
-
Jun 17, 2013 4:42
Female priests risk excommunication to be ordained
-
Jun 14, 2013 5:04
Catholic League president: ‘Nest of homosexual priests’ should be ‘rooted out’
19 Comments
Jim, how could it be that two Cardinals disagree on an important matter like who may and may not receive Communion.
Tony — there always are nuancez to every situation. You don’t know that Cardinal Burke wouldn’t have done the same thing as Cardinal Wuerl in the case of the lesbian’s reception of Communion.
Mbut we know what Burke teaches about pro choice pols receiving Eucharist. Does going against the Canon Law make Wurel a heritic? What’s up with that Jim?
Jim, what do you think of Cardinal Wurel and Burke not being in agreement with pro choice polititions receiving Communion?
Hey Jim what’s up? Cat got your tongue?
Isn’t Wuerl terrific to be, as you say, so kind and inviting especially to the pro choice pols? I agree with Wuerl, especially where he took issue with the priest who refused to give communion to the Lesbian who wanted to receive Communion with her lesbian partner present. How different this good Cardinal is from that Cardinal Burke who uses Communion like a weapon.
as usual Cardinal Wuerl gets his message across in a loving and gentle way without accusation or critisim God Bless you Cardinal Wuerl
Most interesting it is that democracy and its prosecutors have become the conscience of religion in the clergy sex bause and coverup phenomenon. Conscience and religious values do not mean that bishops and religious organizations can be trusted to be self-monitoring or self-reporting.
What I particularly like about Cardinal Wurel is that he won’t with hold the reception of Holy Communion to pro choice politicians. What a happy contrast to that Pompos Cardinal Burke.
Tony — on what basis do you make this claim?
Google Cardinal Wurel and Communion for pro choice politician and Cardinal Wurel and lesbian mothers funeral. Then google Burks opinion of pro.choice pols receiving Eucharist. It’s all the Jim. I agree wit Wurel, as you do.
Not a surprise, Tony — you and I almost always agree.
I am happy you think there should be no communion wars and that pro choice pols should receive and that the lesbian should receive as well. Steo forward for you Jim
Well, Tony, I wasn’t being entirely honest. In fact, although the good Cardinal disciplined the priest in this one instance, I don’t know all the nuances of the circumstances, and therefore am not in a position to judge if I agree or disagree with the Cardinal. However, my position is clear: pro-choice politicians should be denied the Eucharist, and if I was bishop, that would be expected in my diocese. Denying communion to the politician may save their immortal soul, and it protects the Catholics in the pews from scandal and being misled into thinking either that political support for abortion isn’t all that bad, or Holy Communion isn’t really holy or Jesus.
My point is, Jim you are even to the right of the Cardinal
Maybe — I’m not sure. You might be surprised how orthodox is the Cardinal. I’ve read some of his books (including a catechism for adults that predated the 1994 catechism), and he is very straight-down-the-line. P.S. Now, why would I read Cardinal Wuerl? Remember, Tony, you told me I only read Scripture or the Catechism.
Duh,you just said you read wuerls CATECHISM.
I am in good company when I agree with Cardinal Wuerl on pro choice Polititians and the reception of Holy Communion. Both Wurel and I disagree with that ultra conservative Burke. Shows ya in the church there is room for disagreements on discipline.
Thank you, Cardinal Wuerl — as always, your remarks hit the bulls-eye, although you do so in such a kind and inviting way
Jim another time Wuerl “hit the bulls_eye was when he repremandad and suspended the priest who withheld Communion from that lesbian at her mothers funeral. How different this liberal Cardinal from Burke, a darling of the conservatives.