From the New York Times this morning, a left-leaning and disingenuous report on relations between the Catholic Church and politicians- specifically politicians who veer from Church teaching on politicized issues. John Kerry dominates the article because he is the Democrat standard bearer and a Catholic who publicly deviates from important Church teachings.
Using Kerry’s record as an example, the Times categorizes issues subject to political consideration as either, “social justice issues, including immigration, poverty, health care and the death penalty,” or, “litmus issues, like abortion and stem cell research, that animate Church conservatives and many in the hierarchy.” This language, no doubt carefully crafted by the Times, gives the impression that Kerry and other Catholics in the Democrat party (the Times does not use the word "liberal") are concerned with social justice, whereas those in the Church who oppose Kerry are conservatives and clerics concerned only with litmus tests and political games.
In fact, abortion and stem cell research are, for the Church, social justice issues as much as poverty, health care and the death penalty. Were the Times to report truthfully, its readers would learn that at its root, the theology that animates Church teachings on poverty, health care and the death penalty also drive Church teachings on abortion and stem cell research. Namely, that all human life is sanctified by God.
The Times writes, “Like many American Catholics, Mr. Kerry does not adhere to some [C]hurch positions yet describes himself as, in his words, "a believing and practicing Catholic."” In other words, Kerry and the Times assert that some teachings of the Church are legitimate subjects for debate because many American Catholics do not adhere to them. Dissent from, or ignorance of Church teachings, are not logical arguments for the invalidity of those teachings. In fact, the teachings of the Church today are consistent and in unbroken faith with the teachings of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago, and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ever since. If many American Catholics do not adhere to those teachings, it is they, not the Church, who are in need of conscience formation.
The Times quotes Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop John Ricard as saying, “"A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals." Contrast this clear and straightforward position with that of Kerry, who according to the Times, “… has responded to questions about his adherence to church teachings by proclaiming his belief in the separation of church and state…” Belief in the separation of church and state is axiomatic in America. Kerry’s statement is a non-answer. Voting out of Catholic conviction does not create a Catholic state church. Here, as in so many other areas of his life (e.g., “I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”), Kerry wants to have it both ways. In private a Catholic, in public a liberal, just don’t ask him to reconcile the two.
Is the Church justified in withholding sacraments from politicians like Kerry who lead the country in directions opposite of important Church teachings? The Times implies that the answer to this question is no, that abortion and embryonic stem cell research are merely conservative litmus test issues. To agree with the Times, and with John Kerry’s position on abortion, one must believe that Jesus Christ would have no problems with the use of abortion as a contraceptive in the third trimester- this is laughable. Abortion and embryonic stem cell research are not litmus tests but theological issues touching on the sanctity of human life.
The Church has both New Testament precedent and moral urgency supporting any move to withhold sacraments from public leaders like Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Tom Daschle who proclaim themselves Catholic in political campaigns but do not live their faith through their votes on critical social justice issues like abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
Posted by publius at April 2, 2004 10:34 AM