There has been some coverage of a group of Catholics replying to a document promulgated by Catholics in Alliance For the Common Good. The principles they outline are as follows with my commentary bracketed:
As Catholics we should not enlist the Church’s moral endorsement for our political preferences. We should do this out of respect for our fellow Catholics of equally good will but differing political convictions and our interest in protecting the clergy from being drawn into partisan politics to the detriment of the Church’s integrity and objectivity. [We should be mindful that affairs of the State are only one part, and a relatively minor part, in seeking salvation. Mindful that the Church has acted under despots and other political arrangements, we should be willing to be docile to the pastor’s leadership. Those who would seek to offer their counsel would be wise to offer it not just during the political season and not just on political issues.]
As lay Catholics we should not exhort the Church to condemn our political opponents by publicly denying them Holy Communion based on public dissent from Church teachings. An individual’s fitness to receive communion is his or her personal responsibility. And it is a bishop’s responsibility to set for his diocese the guidelines for administering communion. [I think the emphasis here should be on political opponents. There are those Catholics who work in and out of season petitioning their bishops to address those politicians who do not support the pro-life agenda. Regardless of what one thinks of denying communion, one can’t deny that these folks are not merely acting as political operatives. I think everyone is also aware that there are many who find their outrage 6 months preceding an election. Their cries of scandal necessarily ring hollow, and those that do endeavor to do such things should be condemned.]
Catholic politicians who advertise their Catholicism as part of their political appeal, but ignore the Church’s moral teachings in their political life confuse non-Catholics by giving the appearance of hypocrisy. [Undeniably true.]
Bishops, and all involved in the leadership of The Church, should not permit The Church to be used, or appear to be used, as a partisan, political tool. [There may be times when the Church’s interests coincide with a partisan agenda, and the Church should of course act in such situations. If the authors’ believe that this has been done, I would be curious to see thier examples. In my eyes, this hasn’t been done to date, but I can understand a spirit of caution.]
As Catholics we must learn to disagree respectfully and without judgment to avoid rudeness in expressing our opinions to those whom we suspect will disagree with us, or in reacting to others’ expressions of opinion. [Reasonable enough.]
As Catholics we need to keep in mind the common humanity that we share with those with whom we disagree. We must avoid seeing them as “the enemy” in a life-or-death, winner-take-all political contest. [Reasonable enough.]
As Catholics we should never lose faith in the power of reason – a unique gift from God to mankind – and we should always keep ourselves open to a reasoned argument. In this spirit we should defend our views and positions with conviction and patience, but without being obnoxious or bullying. [Sure take away all the fun, but again reasonable.]
As lay Catholics we should not pass judgment, and should avoid public statements that undermine the authority of the Church’s leaders. American Catholics know who their Church leaders are: their Bishops, Archbishops, and Cardinals. [This I’m afraid has been the most settling development of the prior decade. I’ve seen far too much commentary pondering whether such and such a bishop has excommunicated himself by offering communion to a pro-abortion politician. I’ve seen down right wretched things written about Archbishop Wuerl among others. I’ve seen Pope Benedict and John Paul II thrown under the bus for their views on the Iraq War, and I’ve witnessed accusations of apostasy over individual bishop’s interpretations of then Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter regarding abortion and politicians. Besides harming the pro-life cause, these actions are detrimental to the spirit of civility one owes one’s rightful leaders.]
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