Catholic Politicians vs. Catholic Doctrines

To what degree should the votes and policies of Catholic politicians adhere to the doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church? This has been a difficult issue for Catholics for a long time - especially in America where democratic values are considered paramount. The fear that Catholic politicians would have greater allegiance to the Vatican than to American citizens has long fueled anti-Catholic prejudice and bigotry; now, Catholic bishops are looking for ways to create the conditions for a return to the prejudice and bigotry.

New York Newsday reports:

"There is a too-common pattern of ignoring the values of our faith and pursuing a political agenda divorced from fundamental moral principles," said Bishop John Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., chairman of a group charged with developing guidelines. "Some Catholic politicians defy church teaching in their policy advocacy and legislative votes - first and most fundamentally on the defense of unborn life, but also on the use of the death penalty, questions of war and peace, 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."

Here, Ricard is engaging in a sort of bigotry of his own. Just because a politician, even a Catholic politician, doesn't adhere to the dictates of the Vatican doesn't mean that the politician's actions are divorced from moral principles. The only way to assert that is to presume that there are no moral principles outside of Roman Catholicism - and that is, indeed, bigoted.

Yes, some Catholic politicians defy church teachings. If they voted based upon what the church told them to vote, they would in effect be imposing church teachings on all Americans - Catholic as well as non-Catholic. Neither group deserves that; if anyone wishes to adhere to Roman Catholic teachings, that should be their choice and nothing more. Throughout the world, however, Catholic leaders seek to impose those teachings upon everyone. And then they wonder why people develop anti-clerical and anti-Catholic attitudes. Is this a function of being disingenuous or just incredible naivete?

"Does the code [of canon law] permit us to impose sanctions - and if it does, is it pastorally wise to do so?" asked Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. "Because no bishop wants to count anyone out, ever. At the same time, we're challenged by people who feel the situation is scandalous - and rightly so - to do something." But some warned of dangers. "This is one of the most complicated, delicate, difficult, politically loaded [questions]," said Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond, Va. "We should be careful not to look like we are trying to influence an election."

Some want to excommunicate Catholic politicians who don't obey the Vatican and vote the way the Vatican tells them to - but such heavy-handed tactics would likely backfire. Catholics, many of whom don't always obey the Vatican either, will be outraged. Non-Catholics will be even more incensed - and they may be less likely to vote for someone who will listen to the pope more than their constituents. That's where anti-Catholic prejudice and bigotry develop. Yes, politicians make moral judgments all the time - but that's very different from voting based upon the doctrines and dogmas of one particular church, imposing that church's views on people who belong to churches that disagree. That's theocracy, not democracy. But that is, unfortunately, what the Vatican appears to really want.

Read More:

• Religious Right
• Religious Intolerance & Bigotry
• Roman Catholicism
• Popes