Chastened Catholic bishops told they have to reform themselves

[UrbScotty]

Source: Washington Post

(snip)

On Monday, various speakers reiterated that they were not about to change their beliefs or policy positions, but they indicated they have to rethink their strategy. Dolan’s approach in his presidential address was to repeatedly stress the theme of humility and the need for bishops to go to confession to renew themselves spiritually so that they can then preach their message more effectively.

Dolan’s remarks marked a striking change of tone from the assertive and even aggressive rhetoric that the hierarchy deployed during the campaign season.

Now, with Obama back for another four years, the bishops recognize that they have an uphill task in trying to change the administration’s mandate that requires employers to provide free contraception insurance coverage, and in halting the acceptance of gay rights.

They vowed to try to win their case in the courts, where possible, but said they will also try to rebuild bridges to the Obama administration.

(snip)

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/chastened-catholic-bishops-told-they-have-to-reform-themselves/2012/11/12/7ebe0df0-2d13-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html

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As a Catholic, I have been disgusted with what has been going on. Whatever happened to social justice?

At least Obama won the Catholic vote again.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I keep thinking of the Maryknolls, the Berrigans, the Catholic Workers…

But the church seems to have largely returned to its historic position of supporting oligarchs and monarchs.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Dear Bishops,

Kindly go fuck yourselves. Signed, the Women of The United States of America

[forestpath]

9. AMEN!

[Angry Dragon]

3. The only thing the Catholic church listens to is people taking their money with them

The catholic church needs to see a mass millions of people vocally leaving
then you might see change, but I do not know if it would last

[FreeBC]

4. Maybe they are listening to the donors?

I don't have any hard data on this, but the number of Catholics that don't go to church is probably roughly equivalent to the number that vote Democratic.

[hrmjustin]

5. The RC Bishops of America are a joke.

[lindysalsagal]

6. Church=same old greed and power dressed up with false divinity

Even worse than straight-up in your face honest greed.

You can't reform something that's imaginary. You can only walk away and get on with life.

[bemildred]

7. Maybe they should get back to basics, stop obsessing over all this dogma that was added in later.

Revisit the Nicean Creed in all it's facets and see if they can come up with something that makes sense to modern sensibilities.

[Heywood J]

8. "they were not about to change their beliefs or policy positions"

Welcome to the dustbin of history. Say hi to the cargo cults for me.

[joanbarnes]

10. If they stopped obsessing about abortion, they would realize contraception is the answer.

[burnsei sensei]

11. In this election, as in most, the Catholic Church was off its game entirely.

Jesus did not say one word about the unborn.
He never forced women to carry pregnancies to term.
He did talk a lot about poverty, and equated virtue with the desire and activities involved in facing and relieving it.
As I see it, the Catholics who voted for Obama and the democratic party were the truer Christians.

[dmallind]

12. Won the catholic vote? Only because of Latino turnout

White Catholics as usual valued docility over social justice and favored Romney by 17%. Catholic Hispanics followed the overall Hispanic vote 3-1 to Obama. It wasn't then likely due to their Catholicism that they barely squeezed out a decreased overall Catholic edge to Obama (he lost 4pts RC support).

[lovuian]

13. the Bishops Failed and they KNOW IT

it was a HUGE Wake up call .....

[primavera]

14. They may not have had much choice

I can't help but wonder how much of the Church's excessive zeal in this recent election is a reflection of having a former head of the Inquisition for a pope. The Church is not a democracy, they do what the pope tells them to do and, well, not to put too fine a point on it, but this present pope isn't exactly renowned for his progressive views.