Live blogging: Robert George at CUA on US Bishops and public policy
I will try to live blog this event. Stay tuned... and keep an eye on twitter.
Beginning with a reflection on Pope Benedict's claim that there is a "healthy secularism" to be found. Yet, says Pope Benedict, there is a great contribution for the Church to make as well.
What is the right and duty of the Catholic faithful and the Church herself to speak and act in the properly secular realm? The realm in which all voices should be welcome, and the currency is "our common human reason."
What do priests, and particularly Bishops have to do?
A key passage from GS, paragraph 43: "It is the laity, though not exclusivity, that secular activities and duties properly belong."
An exaple of 25 bishops trying to influence public policy in American bioethics. The conclusion of this analysis, sadly, is that it is marked by many dissapointments and favors. While the pro-life USCCB secretariat is good, but in the area of abortion its very bad, despite clear and forceful condemnation of the status quo by the USCCB, the Church has had some but not nearly enough success, even among Catholic politicians.
Why is this the case?
High-profile Catholic politicians have been a contradiction. US Bishops perhaps have diluted their authority by speaking on too many issues which are properly secular, moving far beyond what is strictly-speaking a Christian truth. Comparing minimum wage and foreign subsidies with abortion, for instance.
The effect of this was to blur the lines between true teachings and opinions.
Why did the bishops risk diluting their witness? Their own pastoral letter claims they wish to be an example of prodential anaylsis. But why do they feel obliged to offer this sort of advice, which is not theirs uniquely or especially?
Tax lawmakers do not choose between morally wrong and morally right policies, but between better and worse policies.
Bishops have excommunicated american citizens for supporting segregation.
The bishops should abstain from commenting directly on matters that are contingent, but they can endorse to what the laity have been doing.
The right to life is not like tax law.
I'll switch to twittering now.... please read the archives for the completion of this narration.
Beginning with a reflection on Pope Benedict's claim that there is a "healthy secularism" to be found. Yet, says Pope Benedict, there is a great contribution for the Church to make as well.
What is the right and duty of the Catholic faithful and the Church herself to speak and act in the properly secular realm? The realm in which all voices should be welcome, and the currency is "our common human reason."
What do priests, and particularly Bishops have to do?
A key passage from GS, paragraph 43: "It is the laity, though not exclusivity, that secular activities and duties properly belong."
An exaple of 25 bishops trying to influence public policy in American bioethics. The conclusion of this analysis, sadly, is that it is marked by many dissapointments and favors. While the pro-life USCCB secretariat is good, but in the area of abortion its very bad, despite clear and forceful condemnation of the status quo by the USCCB, the Church has had some but not nearly enough success, even among Catholic politicians.
Why is this the case?
High-profile Catholic politicians have been a contradiction. US Bishops perhaps have diluted their authority by speaking on too many issues which are properly secular, moving far beyond what is strictly-speaking a Christian truth. Comparing minimum wage and foreign subsidies with abortion, for instance.
The effect of this was to blur the lines between true teachings and opinions.
Why did the bishops risk diluting their witness? Their own pastoral letter claims they wish to be an example of prodential anaylsis. But why do they feel obliged to offer this sort of advice, which is not theirs uniquely or especially?
Tax lawmakers do not choose between morally wrong and morally right policies, but between better and worse policies.
Bishops have excommunicated american citizens for supporting segregation.
The bishops should abstain from commenting directly on matters that are contingent, but they can endorse to what the laity have been doing.
The right to life is not like tax law.
I'll switch to twittering now.... please read the archives for the completion of this narration.
Labels: live blogging
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:30 PM
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