My comment is in reference to an editorial written by Most Rev. Blase Cupich of Rapid City, S.D. His Excellency does a very good job of articulating the Church's belief that racism is morally unacceptable for a Christian. He makes the point that this is an important lesson to remember as our nation goes to the polls. The bishop writes: "to allow racism to reign in our hearts and to determine our choice in this solemn moment for our nation is to cooperate with one of the great evils that has afflicted our society." He is most certainly right.
But in making his point the bishop made reference to Archbishop Joseph Rummel, the man I wrote my undergraduate history thesis about. With due respect, the bishop was now very much in my territory.
Though edited in the magazine, my response appears here in its original form:
"Bishop Cupich is right to remind us of Archbishop Joseph Rummel, the courageous Archbishop of New Orleans who publicly excommunicated three lay Catholics, including a politician, for supporting the intrinsic evil of racism. Rummel is certainly a bishop to be proud of in our Church's history in this country. Ever since I studied Archbishop Rummel as a history major at Notre Dame, I have been wondering when we will have brave bishops in this era who are willing to publicly excommunicate Catholic politicians who support the intrinsic evil of abortion. Since Bishop Cupich appealed to that history, I am sure he would be willing to follow Archbishop Rummel's courageous legacy."
"Bishop Cupich is right to remind us of Archbishop Joseph Rummel, the courageous Archbishop of New Orleans who publicly excommunicated three lay Catholics, including a politician, for supporting the intrinsic evil of racism. Rummel is certainly a bishop to be proud of in our Church's history in this country. Ever since I studied Archbishop Rummel as a history major at Notre Dame, I have been wondering when we will have brave bishops in this era who are willing to publicly excommunicate Catholic politicians who support the intrinsic evil of abortion. Since Bishop Cupich appealed to that history, I am sure he would be willing to follow Archbishop Rummel's courageous legacy."
3 comments:
Archbishop Rummel was a great man. Proud to say that he and I graduated from the same college: Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH.
I tend to think that there are few--if any--Catholic politicians who are FOR abortion as an intrinsic evil. Would the bishops also excommunicate politicians for supporting an unjust war, such as the war in Iraq (so called by the NCCB)? What about capital punishment (especially now that DNA has been utilized to exonerate prisoners on death row)? Are these not "life issues" as important as abortion?
Scott - Thanks for your post. Hope Philly is still standing after all those World Series parties!
As the Church has made clear, the moral distinction here is 'intrinsic evils'; evils that are always and everywhere immoral. War, and the death penalty, which you mention, are not 'intrinsic evils' . . . they are not always and everywhere wrong - there are situations in which they are morally permissible, though always unfortunate and grave, and the Church consistently speaks out against them.
That is not the case with abortion, or racism for that matter, they are never morally permissible - THAT is why these issues are raised to a higher level of 'importance'. They're different in kind, not merely in degree.
That being said, I take your point and do indeed think that Catholic politicians who support unjust wars, or euthanasia, or . . . . excommunicate themselves by abusing the authority they exercise.
The point, for me, is the absolute inseparability of the realms of politics, law, medicine, etc. etc. from the realm of faith - especially as manifest in the Communion we share.
Finally, I do think it is fair to say that politicians who vote to defend Roe v. Wade and access to abortion are as for abortion, as those who voted to defend Plessy v. Ferguson and racial segregation were for racism. I'm just not sure there's a way around that fact that isn't mere rationalization.
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