CNA Staff, Jan 29, 2021 / 04:14 pm (CNA).- The polarization of American politics means that Catholics must be a force for unity rather than “divisively tribal,” and clergy especially need to be careful that they don’t let their personal politics compromise their Christian mission, Bishop Donald Hying of Madison has said.
“All Catholics have to be careful to engage in political life in a manner that reflects the Gospel, but clergy need to exercise special caution so that their political activity is consistent with their vocation in the Church,” he said in a Jan. 27 reflection on the “current state of general acrimony.”
Clergy should not voice “overt and purely political opinions regarding individuals, parties, election results, the current news cycle,” nor should they engage in ad hominem attacks.
“Such actions threaten to politicize the Church and divide our people even more,” he said.
“I am not implying that we should be silent in the face of evil, injustice, and wrongdoing, but we need to stick with the moral issues and refrain from the personal attacks,” Hying said.
While bishops, priests and deacons can vote and hold political opinions, Hying said, their task is “to preach and teach the Catholic faith to the laity and to lay out the revealed priority of moral issues.” Pastors who fail to preach the truths of the Catholic faith, however, “fail in loving our people.”
“The task of the laity is to form their consciences and apply the teachings of the Church to the spheres of politics, economy, society, and culture,” said the bishop.
He reflected on the state of the country in January 2021: “the anger and vitriol is palpably toxic.”
“Our cultural, political, and social divisions, exacerbated by COVID; the elections; and the violence in our streets and cities have unfortunately entered into the Church and are seriously wounding our unity in Christ,” he said.
“We now seem to have Biden Catholics and Trump Catholics, perhaps just the latest incarnation of traditional and progressive Catholics, but a division that is louder, angrier, and far less compromising than all the previous rifts in the Body of Christ.”
“Any words of moderation, actions of conciliation, benefit of the doubt given to another point of view, or attempt to find middle ground is dismissed as betrayal and disloyalty to the truth,” he said.
“If we do not even desire to heal the divisions among us, how can we ever rediscover our unity in Christ? The bishop asked. “The painful experience of these past months tells me that we as fallen human beings can become divisively tribal. We instinctively associate with the people who think, act, and live as we do.”
He emphasized that Christ calls members of his body to “a far greater reality, indeed a supernatural unity, founded in the very life of the Most Blessed Trinity.”
“Jesus served, loved, died, and rose from the dead to establish a New Covenant in His Blood, a redeemed humanity of every race, tribe, and tongue, incorporating every culture, nationality, class, and people into the Church,” Hying continued. “For us Christians, water is thicker than blood, for the communion we discover in the waters of Baptism is far deeper and significant than the ties of race, nation, political party, and even family.”
“If we are bound together in Christ as His Mystical Body, then how can we keep tearing each other apart? We are brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.
He suggested Catholics should spend the time before Easter in deeper prayer, penance, and almsgiving.
“How can I be more patient, kind, gentle, and compassionate to others, especially those I disagree with? Get off social media and get in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Stop watching so much news and start reading the Good News. Spend the time on volunteer service to help the poor instead of writing angry emails,” said the bishop, who added: “Examine your conscience regarding the sins of calumny, rash judgment, violent anger, and malicious speech. And then go to confession.”
At the same time, Hying said vocal partisans are not necessarily representative of Catholicism.
“Most Catholics are simply trying to live their faith, focus on Jesus Christ, become holy, and do God’s will. Many people had questions and concerns about some of President Trump’s policies and actions, as many do about President Biden,” he said.
He said that the Catholic bishops in the US do consider abortion the “preeminent” national issue because it is “intrinsic evil as the deliberate taking of human life in its fragile beginnings.” At the same time, he said, “‘preeminent’ does not mean ‘only’.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has always tried to work with every presidential administration to support moral policies and oppose others, said the bishop.
“The fact that President Biden is a baptized Catholic who attends Mass and asserts faith as the guiding principle of his life gives greater urgency to the need to challenge those of his policies which are opposed to moral teaching based on the natural law,” he said. “Some may mistakenly assume the Church is taking political sides, but Her actions are always inspired by the truth of God’s revelation and the dignity of the human person. And that cuts both ways, as the Word of God is ‘sharper than a two-edged sword’,” said Hying, quoting the Letter to the Hebrews.
To the Madison diocese’s north is the Diocese of La Crosse. Before the 2020 elections, La Crosse diocesan priest Fr. James Altman’s Aug. 30 video went viral for saying “You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period.”
Bishop William Callahan of La Crosse sought to correct the priest, saying he inflicted a “wound” upon the Church.
“Unfortunately, the tone Fr. Altman offers comes off as angry and judgmental, lacking any charity and in a way that causes scandal both in the Church and in society. His generalization and condemnation of entire groups of people is completely inappropriate and not in keeping with our values or the life of virtue,” Callahan said Sept. 9.
Altman’s video won support from Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, who praised him on Twitter Sept. 5.
Father James Martin, S.J., editor-at-large of America magazine, wrote an essay claiming that Catholic leaders’ criticism of President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion helped contribute to the conditions for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. He named Altman and Bishop Strickland, among others, as well as Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville.
In a brief response, Bishop Stika rejected the claim. He stood by his criticism of Biden’s abortion stand and again noted the contradiction between the president’s professed Catholic faith and his support for abortion.
[…]
Tony Evers must enjoy Communism and forcing the residents of his state to live under totalitarian rule. He does not allow the freedoms that the U.S. Constitution Affords and he is anti-God for allowing the shuttering of churches again. He abandons God and His people–maybe God will abandon Tony one day
The Dems. response to Covid has made so plainly evident the expression “Scratch a Liberal find a Fascists” applies to the Dems. across the country. Where Dems are in charge of the government, freedom of religion along with other freedoms in the Bill of Rights are under attack. Moreover they are supported by the educational institutions, and mainstream and many local media where the expression also applies. We Americans need to get on our knees and pray.
In an effort to prove he’s true blue and in charge Pres Biden was the only masked participant in a telecom Climate Change Summit with approx 40 world leaders. Reported by several news agencies Leader UK, The Sun, Yahoo Finance, creating a mini firestorm Divya Kishore’s Meaww media post summing up the overall response, “Biden only world leader to wear mask during virtual climate change summit, Internet says how embarrassing” [others, expectedly CNN were quick to deny the media photos]. Biden’s “”The cost of inaction is mounting. This is a moral imperative, an economic imperative. Time is short, but I believe we can do this” parallel’s Pope Francis’ Earth Day message. Mask wearing however has purchase for this Administration. It is now a badge of acceptance, and an instrument of domination within an ideological sphere of power. Wisconsin Gov Tony Evers, among a host of replica dummies of the President understands that pretense for public safety well. Hypocritical pretense manifest in border policy and countless Covid infected illegals given free pass into our communities. Pretense evident in governors, and powerful congressmen who refuse to follow their own commandments. Whatever value conspiracy theory may have it should be certain to us that Christianity in particular Catholicism with its intellectual compendium is an obstacle to the exertion of despotic power. Hanneman, congressman Thiesfeldt’s outcry has solid justification. What good may come out of this Administration’s excesses is the true waking up of those Catholics who voted to elect a charlatan.
With all due respect, Father Morello, I must disagree with your statements ” Mask wearing however has purchase for this Administration. It is now a badge of acceptance, and an instrument of domination within an ideological sphere of power.” I wear a mask for the protection of others. I care little what happens to myself but simply refuse to even potentially, put others as risk. I have read many of your articles and comments to articles and have even quoted you and will continue to do so. However, I believe you response here to be unreasonable. May God bless your ministry.
Jeffrey, your intentions are noble. However, IMO, the “science” justifying continual mask wearing by those who are asymptomatic, is very weak. And there is some medical science confirming that continued mask wearing presents risks in and of itself. Only a robust debate amongst those learned in the field would be able to resolve the issue. Such dialogue and encounter are seldom permitted in these “cancel culture” days.
As to the continual wearing of masks, if there was sound science there would be clear standards as to the type of masks to wear, and the circumstances under which they should be worn; something that the C.D.C and W.H.O disagreed on for the longest time. And by what scientific standards are mask wearing and social distancing imperative, unless one is taking to the streets for prolonged demonstrations as was the case last summer when the CDC pretty much gave the OK for such demonstrations to continue, never labelling them as potential spreaders?
As it is, many wear paper masks which on the packaging itself make clear that they do not prevent disease. Further, initially all were told NOT to wear masks, then told to wear them; then told to wear not just one, but 2 or 3. Science isn’t that inconsistent or confusing. Unless it’s being used for ideological purposes. Further, think of the implications of everyone being assumed to present a mortal risk to others even when totally asymptomatic. With a virtually endless array of infectious diseases to choose from, you’ll be wearing a mask pretty much forever.
God created us to breathe normally and unimpeded by facial coverings during the ordinary course of our lives. One does not present a mortal threat to others by inhaling and exhaling, save for the rarest of circumstances. We have an inherent right to exist as God created us and to use our bodies in accordance with natural law. It is most unnatural to impede one’s natural functions of inhalation and exhalation. It is wrong to assume a priori, that one presents a mortal danger to others simply be breathing normally.
Jeffrey I agree if vulnerable and when in enclosed places with others masks are apparently a safety factor. However, if we’ve been vaccinated and immune the risks are negligible [although I wear it where required]. I basically agree with senator Rand Paul MD who has publicly questioned Dr Fauci’s insistence on virtual perennial wearing of masks regardless of immunity. Government federal and state are imposing masks in all circumstances even requiring children. That exaggerated policy is psychologically unhealthy and appears to be used as a means of control and submission more for political than medical safety.
The current vaccines do not make recipients immune from the virus. In particular, Dr Anthony Fauci has cautioned that early COVID-19 vaccines, which are now in use, will be focused on preventing symptoms of the virus, not blocking it altogether. This observation was made in October of last year when the vaccines were under development. Thus, those who have received the vaccines can still spread the virus. This is very likely the reasoning behind recommendations that vaccinated individuals still wear a mask under certain conditions.
It is also important to remember that these vaccines are experimental in nature. There have been no animal studies and long term clinical studies will not be completed until 2023. These are the reasons for the Experimental Use Athorizations (EUA’s).
Democrats seem to always opt for tyranny. Besides, I thought we had “separation of church and state” when it suits the Democrats but now the government can dictate to churches?
Real science proves masks cannot stop this virus, vitamin D3 and zinc give you immunity, Ivermectin helps your body fight it, asymptotic people cannot spread it, abortion does kill humans, the deep dems are antichrists and care nothing about human life, your county sheriff can make null and void any laws that are unconstitutional, and your county health department is not a law enforcement agency. Any questions, look at the science, not the political lies.
That should read asymptomatic.
Its absolutely right people must wake up God is the Supreme Being not any human organizations
God is in charge not politics the Last Judgment is coming sooner or later and there won’t be criminal atterney for anybody Come Lord Jesus come our Good Shepherd
Here in the great state of Michigan, our governor recently was found out that she traveled to FL to visit her aged father.
This was either right before or after she extolled her constituents to not vacation in FL. Tens of thousands of weddings, funerals, Christenings and other family get togethers were cancelled in the last year but she can do whatever.
What’s ultimately sad is that the various churches will not stand up and thumb nose the governor. They all scurried to close down before, then subsequently got “permission” to reopen, and comply with regulations as to how to worship.
The Catholic Church is powerful. If the bishops would stand up it would do so much good, not only for Catholics, but for all denominations, as defenders our God-given freedoms.
Vote Evers out!
Need pastors like Bishop Sheen, who was then stuck ‘back in a corner office’ because he was too successful at saving souls – or so appeared.
Very good comment. You are right when you say the Catholic Church is powerful. The problem is getting the USCCB to DO something rather than just TALK about how terrible it is our Churches are forced to close. The USCCB should be in the news almost constantly defending the Church’s beliefs and fighting for the rights of the oppressed with actions not just words. But I believe we both know the USCCB is worthless when it comes to defending the rights of the Church and realizing that THEY do have power and CAN make a difference! I have written numerous letters to the USCCB on a number of subjects and have NEVER, NEVER received a reply. The USCCB will remain useless to the American catholic until it gets a leader who realizes his responsibility to God and to His Sheep, and teaches against the sinfulness the American culture, itself, has created. And to you, Catriona, my God bless you and keep you and grant you his peace.