What a priest can/cannot discuss during his homilies

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A few years back, my previous priest told me that during homilies, a priest CANNOT discuss our elected officials/candidates, (pro OR con) etc., but they are allowed to discuss the issues, such as war, poverty, abortion, immigration, etc.

Yesterday at mass, in his homily, the priest essentially slammed an elected leader. This is the first time I have heard something like that during the mass, and was quite taken aback, and found it disturbing.

Please clarify with regards to what a priest can/cannot discuss during his homilies.

Thank you!
Chayla
 
The 2014 Homilitic Directory (at vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20140629_direttorio-omiletico_en.html ) includes:

"6. Pope Francis observes that the homily “is a distinctive genre, since it is preaching situated within the framework of the liturgical celebration; hence it should be brief and avoid taking on the semblance of a speech or lecture” (EG 138). The liturgical nature of the homily sheds light on its unique purpose. In considering this purpose, it might be helpful to say what the homily is not.

It is not a sermon on an abstract topic; in other words, the Mass is not an occasion for the preacher to address some issue completely unrelated to the liturgical celebration and its readings, or to do violence to the texts provided by the Church by twisting them to fit some preconceived idea. Nor is the homily simply an exercise in biblical exegesis. The people of God have a great hunger to explore the Scriptures, and pastors should provide them with opportunities and resources that enable them to deepen their knowledge of God’s Word. However, the Sunday homily is not the occasion for in-depth biblical exegesis: there is not the time to do this well, and more importantly the homilist is called to proclaim how God’s word is being fulfilled here and now. Next, the homily is not catechetical instruction, even if catechesis is an important dimension of the homily. As with biblical exegesis, there is not the time to do this properly; furthermore, this would represent a variation on the practice of presenting a discourse at Mass that is not really integral to the liturgical celebration itself. Finally, the time for the homily should not be taken up with the preacher’s personal witness. There is no question that people can be deeply moved by personal stories, but the homily should express the faith of the Church, and not simply the preacher’s own story. As Pope Francis warns, preaching that is purely moralistic, doctrinaire, or simply a lecture on biblical exegesis detracts from the heart-to-heart communication which should take place in the homily, and which possesses a quasi-sacramental character, because faith comes from what is heard (cf. EG 142)."
 
Chayla said:
A few years back, my previous priest told me that during homilies, a priest CANNOT discuss our elected officials/candidates, (pro OR con) etc., but they are allowed to discuss the issues, such as war, poverty, abortion, immigration, etc.

Yesterday at mass, in his homily, the priest essentially slammed an elected leader. This is the first time I have heard something like that during the mass, and was quite taken aback, and found it disturbing.

Please clarify with regards to what a priest can/cannot discuss during his homilies.

Thank you!
Chayla
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Some of the reasons you may have heard about have to do with civil law. In the United States a religious organization might lose its tax exempt status by addressing individual candidates for election. Generally there is not a problem with more basic issues since Catholics can make very different decisions as to best ways of handling issues – especially since most laws and politicians are neither 100% for nor against Catholic teaching.

Other nations also have laws regarding what religious leaders can say publicly without risking political repercussions that would harm the Church as a whole…
 
Chayla said:
A few years back, my previous priest told me that during homilies, a priest CANNOT discuss our elected officials/candidates, (pro OR con) etc., but they are allowed to discuss the issues, such as war, poverty, abortion, immigration, etc.

Yesterday at mass, in his homily, the priest essentially slammed an elected leader. This is the first time I have heard something like that during the mass, and was quite taken aback, and found it disturbing.

Please clarify with regards to what a priest can/cannot discuss during his homilies.

Thank you!
Chayla
Click to expand...
This usually comes up with regard to US Tax law. In order to maintain tax-exempt status, a Church must not explicitly endorse a particular candidate or party. The idea is to not unduly influence an election.

It is not “off limits” to criticize the action of an elected official, even by name, especially if that person does something that is closely tied to an issue of concern to the Church.

For example, if an elected official were to do something that furthered the legal but immoral access to abortion or human trafficking, and a priest mentioned this in a homily, that would not be illegal.

Now, it might get a little more tricky if the official was currently running for office.
 
Chayla said:
A few years back, my previous priest told me that during homilies, a priest CANNOT discuss our elected officials/candidates, (pro OR con) etc., but they are allowed to discuss the issues, such as war, poverty, abortion, immigration, etc.

Yesterday at mass, in his homily, the priest essentially slammed an elected leader. This is the first time I have heard something like that during the mass, and was quite taken aback, and found it disturbing.

Please clarify with regards to what a priest can/cannot discuss during his homilies.

Thank you!
Chayla
Click to expand...
In your thinking, what is the difference between “essentially slammed” and “slammed?” Was a specific person mentioned by name, or only his/her policies?
 
Is there a law about what political leaders can say about religion?
 
Not long ago, the sermon was mainly about the parishes’ budget. This was at that the Catholic church that I attend. I was not happy with that and thought it was probably out of order. If we didn’t have our two grandchildren with us, I would have up and left.

My church has always had an annual meeting after the church service once a year to go over the budget of the parish, etc. NOT during the actual service.
 
You said:
Is there a law about what political leaders can say about religion?
Click to expand...
No. But the Catholic church officials cannot endorse or appear to endorse a candidate. It has to do with the Church’s tax exempt status.
We had a school principal that was obviously an Obama fan, and she forbade the Catholic teachers for having Catholics for McCain bumper stickers.
The priest got really angry and said that it was forbidden to favor any candidate over another. One can talk about the issues as they relate to Catholics voting with their conscience, yes.
But no talking about specific politicians.
At least that’s the tone around here. YMMV. 🤷

Interesting thread.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
In your thinking, what is the difference between “essentially slammed” and “slammed?” Was a specific person mentioned by name, or only his/her policies?
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This was a specific person mentioned by name. I will NOT name this person, but I would imagine that EVERY member of CAF knows very well who that person is.

And what the priest had to say was absolutely scathing. Although I disagree completely the this “slammed” person’s abortion policies, I thought that the priests remarks were completely uncalled for. The priest didn’t trash the policies, he trashed the person.

I’m an older person and have been attending Sunday Mass all my life and never heard anything like what this priest said. Those who know me describe me as “conservative.”

I do not want to give out more info, as I’m mainly interested in learning about what priests can & cannot say. I’m not interested in starting a debate here.
 
Chayla said:
This was a specific person mentioned by name. I will NOT name this person, but I would imagine that EVERY member of CAF knows very well who that person is.

And what the priest had to say was absolutely scathing. Although I disagree completely the this “slammed” person’s abortion policies, I thought that the priests remarks were completely uncalled for. The priest didn’t trash the policies, he trashed the person.

I’m an older person and have been attending Sunday Mass all my life and never heard anything like what this priest said. Those who know me describe me as “conservative.”

I do not want to give out more info, as I’m mainly interested in learning about what priests can & cannot say. I’m not interested in starting a debate here.
Click to expand...
I sympathize with you having endured such a homily. The priest may be right in recognizing the error of a certain candidate’s views, but if he speaks without love then he is like “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” and many will ignore what he has to say, either because they disagree with him or they do not perceive any love in his words. Our pastor can give us the truth about church teaching on issues while still expressing love for the person, because he knows that many in his congregation have children, relatives, and friends who may suffer or have to endure with certain issues that are contrary to church teaching. The purpose of his homily/sermon is to save souls not lose them.
 
You said:
Is there a law about what political leaders can say about religion?
Click to expand...
About religion in general, no. But government leaders cannot endorse a specific religion in the course of their duties.
 
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