Bishop bash trump - what about abortion?

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This is the headline in the cited article:*
**Bishops Losing Their Moral Authority With Trump Rhetoric
*It is hard to argue with this assertion. Nor is Mr. Hudson the first person to suggest it.
*I suggested that it is a mistake for bishops to squander their credibility as teachers of faith and morals by issuing pronouncements, especially politically partisan pronouncements, on matters beyond their competence as bishops. *(Fr. Richard Neuhaus, First Things)
Unless the bishops would see their credibility drop to that of media critics, these are voices they ought to heed.
*By issuing policy statements on matters that lie beyond their specific competence, and that pertain rather to experts in secular disciplines, the bishops diminish their own credibility in speaking about matters with which they are specially charged as spiritual leaders of the church. *(Cardinal Dulles)
Ender
 
Ender said:
This is the headline in the cited article:*
**Bishops Losing Their Moral Authority With Trump Rhetoric
*It is hard to argue with this assertion. Nor is Mr. Hudson the first person to suggest it.
*I suggested that it is a mistake for bishops to squander their credibility as teachers of faith and morals by issuing pronouncements, especially politically partisan pronouncements, on matters beyond their competence as bishops. *(Fr. Richard Neuhaus, First Things)
Unless the bishops would see their credibility drop to that of media critics, these are voices they ought to heed.
*By issuing policy statements on matters that lie beyond their specific competence, and that pertain rather to experts in secular disciplines, the bishops diminish their own credibility in speaking about matters with which they are specially charged as spiritual leaders of the church. *(Cardinal Dulles)
Ender
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Mmm, but there is morality and there is policy. One could use the above argument to complain about bishops having an opinion on abortion too. But bishops’ advice is indeed warranted where policy issues touch on morality. And many people are of the opinion that Trumps rhetoric and actions do touch on issues of morality.
 
The Bishops (those who feel so motivated to speak and write) are telling us more about themselves than about the new President.
 
The moral authority of the office of bishop does not come from the Republican party, the Catholic Advocate, or this Dr. Hudson. The article is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.
 
I agree with the author to a certain extent - I think his complaint, if I understand it correctly, is that certain bishops have gone out of their way to criticize Trump’s immigration policies, while during the election they said nothing about Clinton’s pro-abortion, anti-religious freedom stances. I don’t think his complaint is so much that they complained about Trump during the election, but that they complained ONLY about Trump during the election. Did these same bishops also warn against the Democratic Party’s pro-abortion stance and their attacks on the religious freedom of the Church and its institutions? I didn’t hear about it if they did. People complained about the Church being too laser focused on abortion before Pope Francis, well, it works both ways when talking about immigration as well.

It’s interesting, my priest talked about voting during his homily the last Sunday during the election, and the main point he made (without endorsing a candidate or even mentioning their names) was that the Supreme Court was at stake, which IMO was a subtle nod towards Trump. I also saw online several other priests giving homilies making similar points. I wonder how many others are of the same mind.
 
I have been reading about this author. It seems he campaigned for the Catholic vote for Donald Trump, so maybe he is a little hypersensitive on the subject. I mean, seriously, it is not like any bishop has changed the consistent message about the need for immigration reform, respect for people regardless of their country or religion, and pretty much everything else they say now. They have not changed. It is the country that is changing.

As for Dr. Hudson’s current position, I cannot find if it is Catholic or not. There is not enough information for me to even know his diocese to see if he has approval to use the name “Catholic” in his new organization.
 
The Church has traditionally suffered when she cozies up to secular power. And the ‘social justice warrior’ (SJW) attitude of some of the US Bishops clearly has disposed them toward heavy political affiliation, if not direct involvement. Thus, their seemingly abject disappointment in the 2016 election has caused them, like all activists, to sound off at every opportunity. I do not consider this a sign of maturity.

Calling this election the entry into a “dark” period - before a single action has been taken! - is unsubstantiated hyperbole, if not outright hysteria. Almost two years ago now, in a sobering take on the whole SJW mindset, Monsignor Charles Pope wrote an absolutely pertinent piece warning of social justice concerns becoming the 21st century’s idol. Clearly, neither clergy nor laity is exempt from the left’s non-aborted baby of “social justice.”

blog.adw.org/2015/05/beware-the-strangest-idol-of-all-a-reflection-on-how-even-works-of-charity-cannot-eclipse-obedience-to-christ/

Before any condescending, accusative or judgmental replies follow, please understand that my personal belief is that charity is the first of the theological virtues and must take precedence in our donations of time, talent and treasure.
 
The fact that being in favor of Social Justice is now considered a pejorative in some circles is as illuminating and it is disappointing.
 
TMC said:
The fact that being in favor of Social Justice is now considered a pejorative in some circles is as illuminating and it is disappointing.
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Not to take sides in this debate (I’m not American :)), but I agree. The fact that “social justice” is misused by one faction to mean LGBT and other libertine nonsense, and by another to abuse anyone who does not live up to their stereotypes, is lamentable. Both sides should try living in a part of the world where social justice concerns of the most basic kind are still very, very real. 😦
 
TMC said:
The fact that being in favor of Social Justice is now considered a pejorative in some circles is as illuminating and it is disappointing.
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That was my thought. I would like to see all these conservative, orthodox Catholics be a voice for social justice in the Republican party; I would like to see all the liberal, orthodox Catholics be a voice for the cause of the unborn and weak in the Democratic Party.
 
ShrodingersCat said:
Mmm, but there is morality and there is policy. One could use the above argument to complain about bishops having an opinion on abortion too.
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Abortion is a moral issue. The church has condemned its practice for 2000 years. The fact that it has become a political issue does not change the fact that for the church it is a moral concern. Given that the church has an unambiguous doctrine condemning the act it is entirely appropriate for any member of the clergy to speak out about it.
But bishops’ advice is indeed warranted where policy issues touch on morality. And many people are of the opinion that Trumps rhetoric and actions do touch on issues of morality.
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The belief that other political issues “touch on morality” is usually (a) an excuse for clergy involvement in politics, and (b) justification for morally condemning people who hold a contrary political position.

Most political issues, in that they directly affect the lives of real people, are serious social issues, but the fact that an issue can have extensive real world consequences does not make it a moral issue. There is virtually never a moral choice involved in determining the best solution for any particular problem, although most believe otherwise. You can test this claim by picking any political issue whatever and identifying what moral choice is involved in resolving it. Other than the handful that involve acts the church has declared intrinsically evil, I don’t think you can identify one.

Ender
 
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