Call to Action

Originally posted at Talk to Action.

The Catholic Right, Part Seventy-two

In the wake of the passage of California's Proposition 8, I was left wondering how such a forward-thinking state could simultaneously help propel an African-American to the White House while denying gay people the dignity of marriage equality. I was also left wondering about the misplaced priorities of a vocal and increasingly belligerent faction of the hierarchy, and how that faction and its allies are adversely affecting both American Catholicism and the greater society.

The hierarchy along with the prominent assistance of the Knights of Columbus did more than its share to roll back marriage equality in California. But among the reform minded Catholics that spoke out against Prop. 8, was the independent Catholic lay group Call to Action.

Originally Posted at Talk to Action

This past January, my wife and I learned that The Diocese of Brooklyn-Queens plans to close St. Finbar, where my son attends Catholic elementary school, in June. Among the factors to its closing, the one that stands out to me is the Church's refusal to be accountable over the most basic matters of integrity and concern for the safety and well being of Catholic families. This, combined with distorted doctrinal and political priorities, are the underlying causes of a declining membership, and the hemorrhaging of Church funds.

St. Finbar's is a parish with Catholic school located in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Throughout its history it has provided students from Pre-K through the eighth grade with a Catholic elementary school education. In recent years it had smaller class sizes (my son's second grade class has five other students besides him). But we didn't mind because it kept him on his toes while providing him with a lot of personal attention from the teacher.

This originally was posted at Talk to Action.

The Catholic Right, Forty-seven in a Series

Since my last report on the ever obstinate, darling of the religious right, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, head of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, I have received enquiries such as this:

I noticed your quotebox section said "The President of CTA/Nebraska and a representative from CTA/USA will attempt to deliver the petitions to the bishops at their Monday meeting since they were unable to deliver the petitions under threat of arrest by Bishop Bruskewitz this summer. A press conference and the petitions delivery will take place Monday, November 12th at 1pm at the [ United States Conference of Catholic] Bishops' meeting at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Maryland. National representatives from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and Voice of the Faithful will speak at the event."

Well - what happened at that meeting on November 12th?  I think that information would have some relevance in this context.

Sad to say, what happened was nothing short of a disgrace.