The USCCB shamefully shills for statist solutions for almost every problem facing mankind. It is no coincidence that the demise of the Church throughout Europe is a direct result of its surrender to socialist government, and such governments have become the only and exclusive arbiter of a perverse secular morality. First, the USCCB chronicly ignores the principle of subsidiarity (a nifty analogue to our once cherished constitutional federalism) in favor of bureacratic and massive government programs. The US catechism can barely articulate this noble, sensible, inspired teaching (Rerrum Novarum sp). Second, the USCCB confuses government's insatiable appetite for power and control with charity. Government is about compunction and compulsion (don't pay taxes and you go to jail); our Faith is about charity (we give of ourselves because we love Him). Our liberty is born from God's greatest gift to us---free will. Our greatest gift to Him is our return of that liberty voluntarily, without compunction, to do His will. The USCCB abuses its prudential judgment imho in its relinquishment to governmental solutions for just about everything. With an affinity for governmental and global NGO alliances, the USCCB is making a pact with the...dare i say (as a figure of speech)...the devil-- in this sense. Another thing that really makes me angry is this document **doesn't mention the name Jesus at all.
