Quite a task

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

The U.S. bishops have taken on a large task that seems certain to spark plenty of debate. It is the writing of guidelines for themselves on how to deal with Catholics whose actions in public life stray from church teaching.

The aim, said Bp. John Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., is to help bishops make distinctions between "respect for the office and approval of the officeholder ... to distinguish between fundamental moral principles and prudential judgments on the application of those principles, between essential substance and tactics." Bp. Ricard chairs the task force - whose members are the chairmen of seven major committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - writing the guidelines.

Card. Theodore McCarrick of Washington asked for the guidelines because of a Vatican document issued this year on Catholics in political life. The document said Catholics must not promote or vote for any laws that would promote abortion, euthanasia or other attacks on human life. It says freedom of conscience allows Catholics to choose among political parties and strategies for promoting the common good, but that is not a license to vote against life issues.

The final guidelines are not expected until after the 2004 elections, but discussions last week at the Bishops' national fall meeting gave a hint of the debate that may lie ahead.

For example, one bishop spoke of the need for delicacy so it doesn't look like they are targeting specific politicians. Others said part of the problem may be that the bishops haven't sat down enough with Catholic politicians to talk about church teachings.

Bp. Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Neb., advocated a no-nonsense role in dealing with Catholic politicians whose public actions don't reflect church teaching. "Our job as bishops is to say the truth without any obfuscation," he said.

Meanwhile, Card. Francis George of Chicago said, "It's not a question of courage, it's just our role ... not only to speak the truth but also to keep unity."

Card. McCarrick warned that it's impractical to expect church leaders to cut off all contact with every politician or judge who disagrees with the church on some issues. At the same time, he said, many Catholics are confused when the church condemns certain actions by elected officials, then works closely with those same politicians on other issues.

It's unclear if or how broadly the guidelines define attacks on human life. Certainly, it will include abortion and euthanasia, but what about the death penalty, questions of war and peace and what about church teachings on the role of marriage and family, the rights of parents to choose the best education for their children, the priority for the poor and welcome for immigrants?

The bishops have before them an excellent opportunity to explain to Catholics and others what the church teaches and why. May the Spirit lead them in their efforts.