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Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Bishops still struggle to find the best pro-life path Like Archbishop Chaput of Denver: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2610084,00.html The hardened optimist would maintain ties, believing that despite distasteful honorees at the dinner, the role of the homilist at the Red Mass would be a substantial one for a persuasive pro-life message. Think about it: a bishop can make a mighty impact with a good homily, and the likelihood that a lawyer will use the thank-you speech at the dinner to pound the pro-choice platform is rather small. I think the archbishop loses the opportunity to be a thorn in the side of the pro-choice position. The problem with shaking the dust from your shoes is that once the drama has died down, your present influence in the group has terminated. Moral issues on the horizon yet to be decided: cloning, stem cell research, etc. have no voice bringing a needed theological perspective. "Chaput, in a response Friday that a guild member provided to The Denver Post, wrote that the tone of the guild toward the archdiocese over the past year "has not been promising."" This sounds to me like the archbishop is complaining about uppity lay people having a difference of opinion with him. If the best a bishop can do is a stump speech on abortion telling lay people, "Obey me," then I think our leadership is wanting. There's a time and place to sever ties and take a public stand. Unfortunately, the indignant sometimes use such opportunities to walk off in a pout instead of persisently and tenaciously engage the issue. I'd like to ask Archbishop Chaput: Has your decision here furthered the pro-life movement in any concrete way?

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