An Associated Press article looks at Voice of the Faithful’s waning influence. Finally, we’re starting to see others recognize what we’ve been seeing for a while: that VOTF’s day has come and gone, although there are still some last vestiges of deference. For example, the reporter says that getting 1,000 people to their Mass on Boston Common on August 15 showed its “continuing power to mobilize Catholics.” I don’t think it shows that at all, especially when you consider that the majority of people there were either the hardcore, long-time membership or the disaffected parishioners from a handful of the churches slated to close.
Fr. Richard McBrien, predictably, thinks VOTF is here to stay, but most others disagree. It’s funny that the reporter made it sound like he wishes VOTF didn’t lack focus and was better organized.
The article does throw some cold water on the claim of 30,000 membersembers of their flock that by voting in favor of the legalized killing of children they are in violation of the law of God and the precepts of their own religion.
But when Democrats mount the pulpits and rail against the Republicans, and when the hosting ministers make Sunday services look like a political rally, it’s just a friendly gathering.
Well, William Donohue of the Catholic League isn’t going to let them get away with that. The League has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service about a church in Miami where a predominantly black Baptist church hosted Al Sharpton and Terry McAuliffe who gave blatantly partisan and political speeches, advocating for one candidate against another. McAuliffe said, “Bush has misled us for four years and will not mislead us for the next four years. Get out to vote and we’ll send Bush back to Texas.”
“…Catholic students who attend Catholic colleges are more likely to lose their faith or become dissenters on Church teaching than those who attend secular or other-religion colleges.”
Should Catholics contribute to Catholic colleges which celebrate their commencement exercises by inviting pro-abortion figures to give the commencement address? Or by celebrating Ash Wednesday by having students take part in a lewd play which has the most lewd language and descriptions when it comes to lesbianism? Would it be a sin for a Catholic to give to such a college where the Jesuit President of the college says that the pro-choice position which advocates legalising abortions, but making abortion rare and safe, is arguable within Catholic theology? Or would there be a proportionate reason why a Catholic could in good conscience contribute to such a Jesuit Catholic college?
Also is it preferable for a Catholic student to attend a Baptist college, which took the position that these types of campus activities are forbidden, as well as forbidding dancing or drinking at campus parties, over such a Jesuit college, where these activities are allowed?
Thank God in Heaven! It’s about time that someone took the Dems to task for this blatant abuse. It doesndents who attend Catholic colleges are more likely to lose their faith or become dissenters on Church teaching than those who attend secular or other-religion colleges.
What are the bishops doing about it? Nothing, it seems. Rather they’re more concerned with not offending theologians or harming their “academic freedom.” Also notice that not a word comes from the college and university administrations. Are they supporting the mandata? Are they pushing their theologians to do the right thing? Are they creating a true Catholic intellectual environment? I guess we already know the answer to that.
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