What I frequently find to be most frustrating about so many American bishops is the sense that they would rather make people happy than bring about atrue interior changes, even if it left those people unhappy at first. In other words, while it’s the blatantly heterodox bishops who cause the most visible problems, it’s often the apparently orthodox bishops who water down the faith that present the longer term worries.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee, in his latest diocesan newspaper column, describes a day of dialogue at Marquette University between representatives of the archdiocese and the university and local elected officials, at least some of whom dissent from the Church’s teaching on abortion. Archbishop Dolan reports that the dialogue was “valuable, enlightening, and productive.” What he doesn’t say is whether any of the dissenters had a change of heart. You get the sense that dialogue is an end rather than a means.
Thirdly, both bishops and politicians most struggle with the virtues of prudence. Differences arose, not about clear church teaching, but about how to make wise faithful, prudent decisions about applying it. This is especially delicate for elected officials, they told us, who must represent constituents other than Catholics, and who sometimes, while fully supportive of the natural law and church teachings, must make pragmatic decisions to back bills which are less than perfect.
While Ab. Dolan is no Ab. Burke or Ab. Chaput – and I would certainly like to see more firmness on his part – I think this tion to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality. This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects.”
—Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter “Evangelium Vitae”
“Bills which are less than perfect” could mean anything. For example, a bill outlawing abortion but carving out rape/incest exceptions. Or, on the other end, virtually any bill in direct opposition to Catholic belief could be spun as “less than perfect” but helpful in some way.
Sadly friends, these observations about Archbishop Dolan are right on the money. Here in Milwaukee, we had such high hopes, but as His Excellency seeks to keep everyone happy, while he sets his sights on New York or Washington, now real, substantive progress is being made. The diocese here is still a lot of the same old, same old.
Some thoughts about the situation here in Milwaukee are on my blog: http://movingcatholic.blogspot.com/
Domenico, great blog!
Mike