Here is the predictable response of dissenting Catholic lawmakers to the Vatican’s note yesterday. And what we see are the continuing ill effects of the Scandal—giving cover to Catholic politicians who want to avoid the dictates of morality and natural law. In other words, they get to say, “Who is the Church to lecture us on morality after the cover up of priests abusing children?” But if it weren’t the Scandal, they’d use some other excuse.
And they bleat about separation of church and state and following the wishes of the voters rather than their religious leaders. Gee, I wonder where the desire to do what the voters want goes when the voters want to cut legislators’ pay or reduce the tax rate? Suddenly, it’s about doing the “right thing” despite what the majority of voters want.
No doubt, but the politicians use it as convenient cover, not because they saw the Church as a moral authority before, but not now.