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BK80734
Guest
This column is from The Rocky Mountain News. I copied it from here: rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_2961128,00.html
I think I mentioned in another post something about “2 of the 3 bishops in Colorado;” really, there are four counting this auxilliary bishop, and I shouldn’t have let such a good priest slip my mind that way.
The column from which Griego’s meeting with Bishop Gomez originated, “‘Lousy Catholic’ Broken-hearted by Decree,” can be found here (I recommend reading it): rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_2891949,00.html
Griego: Confusion, compassion on lunch menu
June 14, 2004
rockymountainnews.com/drmn/images/columnists/tina_griego.jpgThe bishop and I met for lunch. He ordered enchiladas, no cheese. I ordered a calorie-soaked Reuben and fries figuring I was on the road to hell, anyway. I vote Democrat. Most Democratic candidates support abortion rights, and, according to some bishops, my support for them may place my soul in jeopardy. Not to mention the fact that I, too, support abortion rights and am, therefore, at odds with my church. “Out of communion” the bishops call it. A lousy Catholic, I called myself in the column that led to the lunch.
I called the bishop - Auxiliary Bishop Jose Gomez - the day the column ran. He baptized my son. I like him very much. “Where did you get the idea that there were perfect Catholics?” he asked me, sounding amused, and then puzzled. “I do not know where you are going with this.” Am I still a Catholic? I asked. Yes, he said, his voice gentle.
[edited here for length–BK]
Bishop Gomez, I should say, is as orthodox as they come. He listened to me for a long time that day, and - contrary to some half-formed expectation - he did not leave shouting: “And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
[edited here for length–BK]
It’s the hardest job of a priest, I heard a monsignor say recently, to be a good shepherd to his flock, to guide people, stubborn and self-absorbed, who proclaim their faith as long as it doesn’t become inconvenient. We must persuade them, he said, that we say what we say out of love. Like I said, that message is definitely not getting out.
It doesn’t help that some bishops appear to be willing to hold the Body of Christ hostage in order to goad the flock. Recant or reap the consequences. Since most Democrats support abortion rights, it is no wonder that some see these pronouncements as de facto endorsements of Republican candidates. The right to choose becomes the right to choose Communion or the party. The right to belong versus the right to leave.
I oversimplify, I know. Then again, I just read that President Bush, during his recent visit to Rome, nudged a Vatican cardinal to encourage American bishops to speak out more on political issues such as gay marriage. I’m assuming that doesn’t include the war.
Bishop Gomez says it’s hard to say whether someone who votes for a candidate who supports abortion rights is in mortal sin and so should refrain from Communion. Questions arise. Is the parishioner well-formed in the faith? Does the candidate have an established record of supporting abortion rights? All this must be taken into consideration, he says.
[edited here for length–BK]
Abortion has become a main issue, he says, because the sanctity of life is the human right that supersedes all others. Don’t bother bringing up war and the death penalty. There are exceptions in those cases that do not exist with abortion.
The bishop tells me - as Archbishop Charles Chaput has - that he does not want a church made up of blind followers. They want thinkers, searchers.
What should I do? I asked him. Study, he said. Study your faith. Go to the source. Read documents, letters, the Catechism. “This, ultimately, is why the bishops are speaking out. We want people to know their faith so they can enjoy practicing it and eventually go to heaven.”
In your search, he predicted with confidence, you will come to know the truth.
“What if I find I still can’t agree?”
“Then you should question your belonging to the church. It doesn’t make too much sense to say we are in communion when we are not. But we shouldn’t become indifferent to our faith. If you like your job, you study, practice, try to learn more. Let’s not pretend to be a practicing Catholic while not knowing the life and teaching of Christ.” I’m not sure what the public outcome of this week’s meeting will be. I’m actually not sure how much it matters outside the politics. The questions that need to be answered, the journey awaiting, must, in the end, be personal.
I think I mentioned in another post something about “2 of the 3 bishops in Colorado;” really, there are four counting this auxilliary bishop, and I shouldn’t have let such a good priest slip my mind that way.
The column from which Griego’s meeting with Bishop Gomez originated, “‘Lousy Catholic’ Broken-hearted by Decree,” can be found here (I recommend reading it): rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_2891949,00.html
Griego: Confusion, compassion on lunch menu
June 14, 2004
rockymountainnews.com/drmn/images/columnists/tina_griego.jpgThe bishop and I met for lunch. He ordered enchiladas, no cheese. I ordered a calorie-soaked Reuben and fries figuring I was on the road to hell, anyway. I vote Democrat. Most Democratic candidates support abortion rights, and, according to some bishops, my support for them may place my soul in jeopardy. Not to mention the fact that I, too, support abortion rights and am, therefore, at odds with my church. “Out of communion” the bishops call it. A lousy Catholic, I called myself in the column that led to the lunch.
I called the bishop - Auxiliary Bishop Jose Gomez - the day the column ran. He baptized my son. I like him very much. “Where did you get the idea that there were perfect Catholics?” he asked me, sounding amused, and then puzzled. “I do not know where you are going with this.” Am I still a Catholic? I asked. Yes, he said, his voice gentle.
[edited here for length–BK]
Bishop Gomez, I should say, is as orthodox as they come. He listened to me for a long time that day, and - contrary to some half-formed expectation - he did not leave shouting: “And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
[edited here for length–BK]
It’s the hardest job of a priest, I heard a monsignor say recently, to be a good shepherd to his flock, to guide people, stubborn and self-absorbed, who proclaim their faith as long as it doesn’t become inconvenient. We must persuade them, he said, that we say what we say out of love. Like I said, that message is definitely not getting out.
It doesn’t help that some bishops appear to be willing to hold the Body of Christ hostage in order to goad the flock. Recant or reap the consequences. Since most Democrats support abortion rights, it is no wonder that some see these pronouncements as de facto endorsements of Republican candidates. The right to choose becomes the right to choose Communion or the party. The right to belong versus the right to leave.
I oversimplify, I know. Then again, I just read that President Bush, during his recent visit to Rome, nudged a Vatican cardinal to encourage American bishops to speak out more on political issues such as gay marriage. I’m assuming that doesn’t include the war.
Bishop Gomez says it’s hard to say whether someone who votes for a candidate who supports abortion rights is in mortal sin and so should refrain from Communion. Questions arise. Is the parishioner well-formed in the faith? Does the candidate have an established record of supporting abortion rights? All this must be taken into consideration, he says.
[edited here for length–BK]
Abortion has become a main issue, he says, because the sanctity of life is the human right that supersedes all others. Don’t bother bringing up war and the death penalty. There are exceptions in those cases that do not exist with abortion.
The bishop tells me - as Archbishop Charles Chaput has - that he does not want a church made up of blind followers. They want thinkers, searchers.
What should I do? I asked him. Study, he said. Study your faith. Go to the source. Read documents, letters, the Catechism. “This, ultimately, is why the bishops are speaking out. We want people to know their faith so they can enjoy practicing it and eventually go to heaven.”
In your search, he predicted with confidence, you will come to know the truth.
“What if I find I still can’t agree?”
“Then you should question your belonging to the church. It doesn’t make too much sense to say we are in communion when we are not. But we shouldn’t become indifferent to our faith. If you like your job, you study, practice, try to learn more. Let’s not pretend to be a practicing Catholic while not knowing the life and teaching of Christ.” I’m not sure what the public outcome of this week’s meeting will be. I’m actually not sure how much it matters outside the politics. The questions that need to be answered, the journey awaiting, must, in the end, be personal.
