Shame!

By Domenico Bettinelli, Jr. ( articles - email ) | Apr 03, 2003

Rod Dreher in National Review's The Corner relates this email he received from a reader:

"I'm writing to relay a story from my mother-in-law who lives in El Paso, Texas. As you might know El Paso is home to Fort Bliss where some of our POW's were stationed. Well due to the shortage of priests at my mother-in-law's church, the Bishop came to give the Mass. In his homily he spoke about the evil of abortion, euthanasia and the killing of innocents. Then he related abortion and euthanasia to our soldiers in Iraq killing innocent women and children. He ranted for about five minutes on the evil our soldiers were committing, all the while my mother-in-law says she was so shocked and angry that tears were coming. Finally an older lady in the first few rows, rose and pointed a finger at the bishop and told him he should be ashamed of himself. She said her son was serving in Iraq and was not evil and said she was proud that he was sacrificing his life so that others could be free. With that she left her pew and walked out of the church. To my mother-in-law's surprise and joy, parishioners started clapping as she walked out. My mother-in-law says she clapped too. The Bishop was so shocked that it took him a while to compose himself and when he did rambled an apology that his intention was not to offend anyone. My mother-in-law, a devout Catholic, no longer respects her bishop."

How out of touch must the bishop be to make such statements in a parish in a military town? I'm just surprised that more people didn't get up and march out.

Update: Rod Dreher reports that he was mistaken. When someone contacted the El Paso chancery, they were informed that it wasn't the bishop, but a religious order priest who made the remarks and that the bishop fully supports the troops.