From the Office of the Bishop of Tucson

[Augustinian]

It’s tough in the era of misinformation

There is a lot of misinformation going around on this. The timing of this whole thing is suspicious to say the least. It isn’t like the situation in dumps like El Salvador has just declined so precipitously in 2018.

My sneaking suspicion is that this whole episode is just a deep state scheme to try and embarrass our President.

If we do assume that its all true, then the first key to actually resolving the issue is for our President to summon the Central American despots to Mar a Lao to have the riot act read to them with instructions to get their houses in order.

 

[Ender]

The authority of Jesus extends to all aspects of life. There is nothing special about “political” decisions. In fact, political decisions tend to be especially in need of being made with Christian values as a guide.

This is sufficiently imprecise to suggest more than can be asserted. The opinions of the bishops have to be given due consideration, but in the end they are opinions and we in fact are not obligated to assent to them. As for their involvement in politics, they generally do that to their own detriment.

“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)

You may indeed ignore the guidance of all the bishops without necessarily falling into the state of mortal sin. Just admit that you are doing it.

It’s quite plain that I’m ignoring the “guidance” of the bishops when I reject their political positions, an act that is not only not a mortal sin but is not a sin of any kind. We may legitimately dissent from their prudential judgments.

“Prudential” has a technical theological meaning… It refers to the application of Catholic doctrine to changing concrete circumstances. Since the Christian revelation tells us nothing about the particulars of contemporary society, the Pope and the bishops have to rely on their personal judgment as qualified spiritual leaders in making practical applications. Their prudential judgment, while it is to be respected, is not a matter of binding Catholic doctrine. To differ from such a judgment, therefore, is not to dissent from Church teaching. (Cardinal Dulles)

 

[pnewton]

I am glad you sourced this. I suspected the excommunication thing was more of a media exaggeration.

 

[Axsenex]

What’s you’re talking about? :man_shrugging:t2: