Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

It is no secret that a significant share of the USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) is composed of liberal bishops. These are men who were ordained in the 1960s and 1970s during the greatest social upheaval in American history. This societal tumult combined with the Second Vatican Council’s decision to open the doors of the Church to the world resulted in an entire generation of clergy ignorant to the instruction, “Be in the world, but not of the world”.

It was during this era that the American Church foolishly partnered with the rest of American society in embracing the progressive, morally relativistic, anti-hierarchical, “primacy of conscience” lifestyle promoted by the baby-boom generation. Since then our nation has found itself sliding headlong down an immoral slippery slope toward high abortion and divorce rates, increased violent crime among ever-younger children, and greater demands to expand our Culture of Death to include doctor-assisted suicide, euthanasia, and embryonic stem-cell research.

Yet, despite these horrific facts, liberal bishops still refuse to acknowledge the fallacy of their “enlightened” thinking. Worsening matters is that these leftist shepherds are many in number and their clout within the American Church is widespread. Last week Washington Times religion editor Julia Duin referenced the continued influence of this liberal branch of the Church in her column, “Double-Minded Bishops”. (http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/belief-blog/2008/Nov/11/double-minded-bishops/)
“As I have been covering the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops off and on since 1986, I've learned there are small ways of learning who is in and who is out, who is rising in status and who is losing power. One thing reporters have learned to look for is who wins or loses yearly elections as chairman of a variety of USCCB committees. I have noticed, strangely, that the most outspoken bishops on the pro-life issue always lose these elections.”

As examples Ms. Duin cites St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who was rejected as chairman of the Committee for Canonical Affairs, and Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, who was by bypassed for the position of Washington See. What do the two men have in common? Burke “famously told Sen. John Kerry during his presidential run in 2004 not to try taking Communion in his diocese,” while Chaput “is another key bishop who has spoken out forcibly against pro-choice politicians.”

Some may argue that these men were “punished” not for what they said, but for the outspoken manner in which they said it. It’s possible, but I don’t believe it. Clearly cowards exist among bishops just as they exist among the general populace, and I’m sure there are also those clergy who don’t want to rock the boat out of fear that they’ll lose their comfy lifestyle.
But aside from these men there is also a large section of the USCCB who are at odds with “fire and brimstone” theology. Love everyone; make peace, not war; cast no stones; remember the beam in your own eye . . . and never, ever criticize anyone.
Ironically, anyone who disagrees with them is blackballed.

How pathetic. Bishops punished by their brethren for zealously defending Church teachings.
St. Peter must be furious.


Donald Tremblay