not my problem...
By Diogenes (articles ) | March 02, 2004 11:08 AM
To the surprise of no one, the California Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that Catholic Charities must abide by a state law that requires employer-provide health care plans to include coverage of contraceptives. Sound Off commenter Concerned notes:
[The California bishops] said nothing when the ... legislature passed these laws because they were exempted from compliance. So instead of standing up to evil when they had the chance they compromised and now they don't have leg to stand on.
Things might have been different had the bishops hearkened to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in its much-maligned Considerations sent to them in 1992:
Finally, where a matter of the common good is concerned, it is inappropriate for church authorities to endorse or remain neutral toward adverse legislation even if it grants exceptions to church organizations and institutions. The church has the responsibility to promote family life and the public morality of the entire civil society on the basis of fundamental moral values, not simply to protect herself from the application of harmful laws.
Now, of course, the California bishops have no option but to train their howitzers on Sacramento and unleash upon the legislators the full force of their overwhelming moral authority.
Oh wait.
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Posted by: AveMaria580 -
Mar. 02, 2004 2:48 PM ET USA
As the old cliche goes, I won't sit around holding my breath waiting for the California bishops to do something about this. Afterall, since the reports show that at least the LA archdiocese is strongly pro-gay, and gays don't need contraception, as far as they are concerned contraception is probably a non-issue. And, if there are still a few left in California who perfrom sex that could result in pregnancy, who cares?
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Posted by: -
Mar. 02, 2004 2:26 PM ET USA
Not so fast, Diogenes. True -- the bishops have painted themselves into a corner. But working through the practical considerations of democracy is challenging for Catholics, and your condemnation of the bishops' awkward "compromise" in this case is pretty sweeping. Must pro-lifers, for example, follow an all-or-nothing principle when confronted with the opportunity for small gains on flawed legislation based on the immutability of Roe v.Wade?
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Posted by: Fr. William -
Mar. 02, 2004 11:36 AM ET USA
Thank you, once again, Diogenes. We need your help and so do the bishops. I hope that the bishops in California, including Cardinal Mahony, read your note. May we earnestly pray that all the bishops read your note... and act on the Faith that Almighty God has entrusted to them as His bishops in the fullness of the Spirit of Governance by virtue of their Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ and their Ordination to the Episcopacy, in union with the Holy Father and the Magisterium.
