When the Bishops eventually voted on their action item, 77 percent supported a measure calling for the production of a short letter to inspire prayer and action regarding public life, and a short video and other secondary resources -- to “complement rather than to replace” the existing Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship document, and to apply the teachings of Pope Francis to our day.
Preceding the debate was a presentation by Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles (land of the wholly out of touch), who chairs the Bishops’ working group on Faithful Citizenship. The working group is already looking ahead to the 2020 presidential election, and wants to produce “user-friendly” supplements to the document.
Archbishop Gomez insisted that Faithful Citizenship “has lasting value” but is too long, and perhaps not particularly accessible to those in the pews. While it does an excellent job of conveying information, he said, the document lacks the ability to inspire voters, “so the task before us is to motivate the people to pray and to act.”
He noted three priorities for the working group: reminding Catholics that faith is prior to partisan politics- that faith “shapes Catholics first”, and they are “members of a political party second (or third or fourth)”; that Catholics are called to be faithful citizens at all times, continually; and that public discourse should be always civil.
He noted three priorities for the working group: reminding Catholics that faith is prior to partisan politics- that faith “shapes Catholics first”, and they are “members of a political party second (or third or fourth)”; that Catholics are called to be faithful citizens at all times, continually; and that public discourse should be always civil.
Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego charged that the current edition of Faithful Citizenship (last revised in 2015), doesn’t engage with current issues and “Catholic teaching as it is now.”
Since the 2016 election, he said, “legal and political institutions are being atrophied” and we are in “a radically different moment”, noting widespread opposition to immigration, profound racial divisions, and school shootings.
Once again, the USCCB confirms how irrelevant it has become.
Talk about re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!
First, Bishop McElroy who is so eager to point out the “atrophy” which infects political institutions would be more credible if he were as eager to point out and address the “decay” within the institutional Church evidenced in the culture of corruption and cover-up by the members of the USCCB regarding the criminal sexual abuse minors.
Physicians heal thyselves first! The entire Conference of Bishops in Chile resigned in disgrace for their corrupt behavior. What a model of personal responsibility and accountability other Conferences (including the USCCB) ought to follow.
Physicians heal thyselves first! The entire Conference of Bishops in Chile resigned in disgrace for their corrupt behavior. What a model of personal responsibility and accountability other Conferences (including the USCCB) ought to follow.
Second, this is nothing but the latest effort of the USCCB to intrude its way into the next Presidential election by giving support to the liberal agenda of the left which it has so passionately espoused in its guidelines and in the agencies which have benefited from radically socialist political agendas.
These agencies, many of them operating under the aegis of the USCCB are now, under the assault of the Trump administration, being threatened with extinction by having their federal funding withdrawn.
The Bishops know it and don't like it one bit.
These agencies, many of them operating under the aegis of the USCCB are now, under the assault of the Trump administration, being threatened with extinction by having their federal funding withdrawn.
The Bishops know it and don't like it one bit.
This latest ploy (an obvious and futile one) is nothing less than an outrageous attempt by the USCCB to protect the kingdoms it has created.
The USCCB long ago forgot its proper function to advance the mission of the Church by the clear enunciation of its doctrinal teachings, the proper and reverential celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, and by calling the faithful to recognize and fulfill their responsibilities as members of the People of God.
Catholics in the pews (the few that are left, sadly) are oblivious to the millions of dollars they have contributed which have been diverted away from their local parishes and churches to support the wasteful engagements of the USCCB.
The Conference has not only lost its credibility but, more importantly, its purpose.
Let the Bishops debate and remonstrate among themselves. No one is listening. No one cares.
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