Politics in the pulpit

[on_the_hill]

On Sunday the homily got very, very close to an endorsement of a presidential candidate.
The priest told us what the USCCB guidance was for voting — which is on the face of it questionable for a homily — and then told us, without naming names, which candidate we must reject.

The priest is new to the parish, a transitional pastor while we await assignment of a permanent pastor. There seems to be an edge to his homilies that skirts close to politics and he’s gotten too close this time.

My wife and I will be tuning him out from now on, and my goodness we’re thankful he’s a temp.

 

[Anrakyr]

My wife and I will be tuning him out from now on, and my goodness we’re thankful he’s a temp.

Regardless of your position on politics priest can put the church in grave danger of legal sanction with this attitude.

 

[umamibella]

I so wish I could attend Mass. I would happily sit and listen to anything the priest and his co celebrants wanted to say.

Regardless of your position on politics priest can put the church in grave danger of legal sanction with this attitude.

There is free speech in USA

 

[InThePew]

There is free speech in USA

There is indeed but free speech doesn’t allow political campaigning (basically telling people who to vote / not to vote for) by charitable nonprofits. Besides that, the code of Canon Law also prohibits the clergy from promoting (or opposing) any political party/candidate so as to avoid causing division in the parish.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sorry you ran into politics in the pulpit. Quel drag. So far there’s only one deacon in our area who does that, and he’s at a church I fortunately don’t visit often as it’s a bit far away.

I feel quite justified in praying my Rosary or reading stuff on my mobile phone during such homilies.

 

[LisaB]

We were told who to vote for in the last election. No names were mentioned but given that one candidate was pro life and the other wasn’t, it wasn’t difficult to read between the lines. I don’t see any issue with it. At the same time I can’t imagine anyone at my parish voting for a pro-abortion candidate, so the priest was preaching to the choir on that one.

 

[neophyte]

We were told who to vote for in the last election. No names were mentioned…

In that case you weren’t told who to vote for. Being told about the moral principles that should inform how a Catholic should vote is different thing, and a priest who never does that isn’t doing his job.

 

[neophyte]

The priest told us what the USCCB guidance was for voting…

Good for him.

 

[umamibella]

There is indeed but free speech doesn’t allow political campaigning (basically telling people who to vote / not to vote for) by charitable nonprofits. Besides that, the code of Canon Law also prohibits the clergy from promoting (or opposing) any political party/candidate so as to avoid causing division in the parish.

Serious question to you as I know you are a priest , is the stance of the USCCB on discussing the policies to vote for or against the same thing? I ask this because it is pretty obvious which party will be standing for what policy.

 

[BartholomewB]

There is free speech in USA

It’s a question of tax exemption for churches. Freedom of speech allows a priest to say whatever he wants in his homilies, but if next Sunday he slips in a thirty-second plug for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, or the Starbucks conveniently located right opposite the church, or MAGA hats, or that nice Kamala Harris, he may find his church reclassified as a commercial business and be hit for big bucks in back taxes.

 

[Gorgias]

The priest told us what the USCCB guidance was for voting — which is on the face of it questionable for a homily

The morality of faithful citizenship is questionable material for a homily? Really?

and then told us, without naming names, which candidate we must reject

Did he frame it up in terms of policy stances? Talking about policy and morality is acceptable.

My wife and I will be tuning him out from now on

Is that because he’s recommending that you don’t vote for the candidate you prefer, by chance?

Regardless of your position on politics priest can put the church in grave danger of legal sanction with this attitude.

Not if he talks about morality and policy.

There is indeed but free speech doesn’t allow political campaigning (basically telling people who to vote / not to vote for) by charitable nonprofits.

Indeed. And it all depends on how it’s phrased.

And yet, that doesn’t imply that Catholics are required to vote for candidates who aren’t from that party.

 

[Feanor2]

I don’t want want to hear about politics at mass. I especially don’t want to hear thinly veiled endorsements of candidates on either side.

 

[SpaghettiCowboy]

Wow, politics at Mass. Who would’ve thought we’d be subjected to that? Good thing we don’t have to put up with it here, on the CA’s “liturgy and sacraments” forum…

 

[MtnDwellar]

Is there any public forum from which a priest may promote his politics ie interviews, blogs, internet forums?

 

[redcatholic]

Sounds like the priest is guiding you in a way that you don’t want to consider.
Those of us that are conservative in theology and politics have had to deal with political homilies for decades.

 

[Genesis315]

“It is a part of the Church’s mission ‘to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it.’” (CCC 2246, quoting Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes 76)

 

[CelticWarlord]

My wife and I will be tuning him out from now on

When my parents first moved out here to western Canada in the early 50’s they ran across politicizing sermons from every church they attended and finally stopped going altogether. Dad was a professor of Political Science at the university and was very well versed in the workings of government. He just became fed up with the misinformed opinions that were being put forth as “preaching”.

 

[Gorgias]

I would recommend you read the USCCB’s “Faithful Citizenship”, on their website.

I don’t want want to hear about politics at mass.

OK. But issues of morality, especially those of national importance? I’d say that those are ‘fair game.’

 

[Feanor2]

Is the Truth that Catholics are obligated to vote for Trump?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Here is what the US Bishops teach, I’d encourage you to study it for yourselves:

https://www.usccb.org/offices/justi...ment/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship

Also from the Bishops:

In order to avoid violating the political campaign activity prohibitions, parishes, other church organizations, and their representatives should remember these guidelines:

• Do not endorse or oppose candidates, political parties, or groups of candidates , or take any action that reasonably could be construed as endorsement or opposition.

https://www.usccb.org/resources/dos-and-donts-guidelines-during-election-season