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August 03, 2010
Are Catholic Liberals Welcomed By Catholic Bishops?
Rick Garnett maintains that Catholic liberals are not really put upon, but are welcome among U.S. Catholic Bishops. I do not think this is so. In its statement "Happy Are Those Who are Called to His Supper" (unfortunately the link to it is not working), the Bishops told the faithful that they are not to receive communion if they engage in an obstinate refusal (I believe that this includes well considered, but persistent refusal) to follow teachings of the Bishops. As I interpret this, liberal Catholics who as a matter of conscience cannot accept teachings of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in particular are obligated to follow their conscience (though the Bishops do not even concede this), but in doing so, they have separated themselves from the Church. On the same day, the Bishops in a separate document reaffirmed the Church's teaching on birth control (see here) and in a separate document its teaching on homosexuality (the link is not working). I find it unlikely that the Bishops were unaware of the juxtaposition of these documents. I concede that the Bishops did not specify particular teachings (creating a loophole for the literal minded), but I think it clear in context that they had more in mind than the Nicene Creed. I also think that they had more in mind than the abortion issue. And one should not forget that the typical liberal Catholic disagrees with the Church on a wide variety of issues involving various facets of sexuality, divorce, and the role of women (and, of course, the same Catholic typically agrees with Church's general theology and most of its ethical teachings). I think the failure of the Bishops to specify the particular beliefs was probably caused by the lack of a consensus. But the notion that the liberal Catholic is welcome in the halls of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is difficult for me to credit.Posted by Steve Shiffrin on August 3, 2010 at 05:05 PM in Shiffrin, Steve | Permalink
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This comment of Prof. Shiffrin's is difficult to understand. Why does any set of teachings contrary to Catholic teaching deserve the kind of "respect" he thinks should be afforded them? I don't mean this in a dismissive tone. I mean only to ask about what kinds of officially heterodox teachings should be shown "respect" on Shiffrin's view.
Suppose, for the sake of argument, some professed Catholic who fell under the demented spell of Ayn Rand complained that "Randian Catholics" were not shown "respect" by the Catholic bishops. Would this be a valid complaint on Prof Shiffrin's view? In point of fact, of course, "Randian Christianity" is not and cannot be show "respect" because such teachings do not support established, settled Catholic teaching. Do you see my point? I find your complaint baffling. But perhaps the fault is mine?
Posted by: Joshua | Aug 3, 2010 7:53:27 PM
Joshua, I agree with your general point. Of course, there are heresies
that separate individuals from the Catholic Church. Although I believe
the American Bishops have an overly broad view of what persons must
believe in order to be Catholics, that was not the point of my post. My
point was that I did not believe Rick Garnett was right in asserting
that Catholic liberals are welcome in the halls of the American
Posted by: Steve Shiffrin | Aug 3, 2010 10:42:10 PM
Part of the problem is that we are using terms like "liberal" and "conservative." I cannot speak for Rick, but I assumed that when he wrote that "politically liberal" views are welcome in the halls of USCCB he was writing only about political viewpoints, not moral or doctrinal viewpoints. I also assumed that he was talking about viewpoints within the spectrum of accepted Catholic teaching. If you do not think that "liberal" viewpoints on immigration, environmental justice, health care, criminal justice, agriculture policy - to just name some - are not welcome in the halls of USCCB, check out the frequent critics from the right or USCCB's own statements.
Perhaps "liberal" views - and "conservative" views for that matter - on matters of doctrine and morals that are outside of official teaching are not welcome within the halls of USCCB, but why should they be?
But viewpoints, of course, are different than persons. Even if the positions themselves are not welcome, it does not translate to saying that the persons who hold those positions are not welcome by the bishops or in the parishes. The "halls of USCCB" and the pews are two different venues. The halls of USCCB is and administrative office dealing with official teaching. The pews are for everyone, because everyone falls short but is welcome.
Posted by: Chris D | Aug 4, 2010 10:50:38 AM
Chris, it is true that everyone who falls short is welcome in the pews.
But not everyone who falls short is told not to receive the Eucharist
and I am trying to figure out whether the Bishops are really saying
that the majority of Catholics who disagree with the Church on birth
control, for example, should not present themselves for the Eucharist.
I would be grateful if you or anyone else addressed this question.
Steve
Posted by: Steve Shiffrin | Aug 4, 2010 11:32:32 AM
Well, Steve and I will just have to disagree. Given my close familiarity with the political positions of the USCCB, it is difficult for *me* to credit the suggestion that Catholics-who-are-liberal-politically are not "welcomed", either by that organization, or by the Church generally in the United States. (That is, Chris D. understood me correctly.)
Posted by: Rick Garnett | Aug 4, 2010 2:20:41 PM
