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By Bishop John, February 2, 2012 12:41 pm

Over the last 100 years, there has been a strong tie between American Catholic citizens and the Democratic Party. Catholic immigrants, sensed early that union membership would help them to progress economically, and the democratic party was a strong supporter of unions. This informal alliance was only natural. In other important areas, such as racial relations, opposition to the death penalty, and health care for all, that bond only strengthened. However, roughly 20 years ago, a real rift has developed. The Democratic party in its national platforms, has consistently espoused a women’s right to choose, while the Republican party has decided to take a powerful anti-abortion stance. For many Catholic democrats, this has created a very real tension. They like so much about what the party has accomplished since the 1920′s, yet they cannot see themselves as being on the side of a group that takes a pro-abortion stance.
Nevertheless, many Democrats stayed with the party, and started their own group- the pro-life Democrats. Now, however, a new situation has developed that makes it even more difficult for Catholics. The recently enacted legislation for national health care had a great deal of Roman Catholic support, but very real problems are presenting themselves as the regulations are developed. There is an old saying in politics, “the devil is in the regs”…

The Obama administration is directing that all hospitals, social service entities, clinics, etc., that provide health insurance to their employees must cover contraception and abortion. The Catholic Bishops have repeatedly urged the administration to grant an exclusion for entities in this country that find this policy morally objectionable and immoral. As of this date, the administration has refused.

25% of the electorate in this country is Roman Catholic. I think that the Democrats are making a very bad political judgement, and, from my Catholic prospective, an even worse moral judgement.

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By Bishop John, October 8, 2011 6:38 am

October 9th, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, our Lord presents us with a parable of a king who decided to throw a great dinner in honor of his son and all the usual people, the “proper” people, were invited but for strange reasons those invited not only declined the invitation, but treated the king’s messengers improperly, ranging from indifference to violence. The king punishes his ungrateful neighbors but sends out yet more messengers to bring in guests from the highways and the byways.

This parable has multiple layers and applications. It reminds us that God’s love is a free gift and can be rejected. It stresses that His love is universal and goes out to everyone. It also points out that the invitees must respond properly in order to benefit from God’s infinite largess. Speaking just for myself, I am often conscious of God’s power, his infinite wisdom and other attributes that must be preceded by the adjective “infinite.” I must admit, however, that I don’t always think about the generosity of God. I think that I should give it more thought because I will be counting on it. Won’t you?

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