Raymond Arroyo: Watching the Train Wreck
13 November 2008
This week the bishops of the United States forcefully and unanimously issued a statement in support of life. Unfortunately, it came a week too late. In the aftermath of a hotly contested presidential election, few Americans care and almost no one is listening.
This is a bit like a switchman watching two trains hurdling toward each other on the same track-- and after the crash, once bodies and mangled metal are strewn in all directions, he decides to step forward and switch the tracks. Prophets are those who speak the truth BEFORE the harm comes and horrible decisions are made. They warn mankind. Lamenters show up after the fact and weep. The Catholic Church can be proud that this election season she provided the nation with a number of true prophets who spoke in clear and unified voices.
For the record it should be stated that the bishops have always been, at least on paper, stalwart supporters of the right to life. They have written numerous letters on the topic and issued scads of documents defending this foundational right. All of this is commendable, and their consistency is to be hailed. But in this post literate age, words are not enough. One must give solid voice and witness to truth. More than 100 bishops this campaign season used their voices to fearlessly call their flock to defend life. These daring men are the only ones with the moral credibility today to issue post election warnings, or to decry the new administration’s plans to fund abortions and lift embryonic stem cell restrictions. As for the rest of the Conference, questions remain: What did they think would happen when Senator Obama, before the election, promised to pass the Freedom of Choice Act? It is designed to remove every restriction on abortion from sea to shining sea and mandate government funding. Did anyone imagine that Catholic Health Institutions would be immune from these policies? Why the sudden indignation and moral outrage now that the new administration is merely making good on its promises?
Through silence, and in some cases open advocacy, a majority of Catholics have had their political wishes fulfilled. Either the support was insincere in the first place or the current reaction is- but maintaining both positions is not credible. As the Reverend Jeremiah Wright famously said, “The chickens have come home to roost.” We’ll see what impact all the current crowing has.
This is a bit like a switchman watching two trains hurdling toward each other on the same track-- and after the crash, once bodies and mangled metal are strewn in all directions, he decides to step forward and switch the tracks. Prophets are those who speak the truth BEFORE the harm comes and horrible decisions are made. They warn mankind. Lamenters show up after the fact and weep. The Catholic Church can be proud that this election season she provided the nation with a number of true prophets who spoke in clear and unified voices.
For the record it should be stated that the bishops have always been, at least on paper, stalwart supporters of the right to life. They have written numerous letters on the topic and issued scads of documents defending this foundational right. All of this is commendable, and their consistency is to be hailed. But in this post literate age, words are not enough. One must give solid voice and witness to truth. More than 100 bishops this campaign season used their voices to fearlessly call their flock to defend life. These daring men are the only ones with the moral credibility today to issue post election warnings, or to decry the new administration’s plans to fund abortions and lift embryonic stem cell restrictions. As for the rest of the Conference, questions remain: What did they think would happen when Senator Obama, before the election, promised to pass the Freedom of Choice Act? It is designed to remove every restriction on abortion from sea to shining sea and mandate government funding. Did anyone imagine that Catholic Health Institutions would be immune from these policies? Why the sudden indignation and moral outrage now that the new administration is merely making good on its promises?
Through silence, and in some cases open advocacy, a majority of Catholics have had their political wishes fulfilled. Either the support was insincere in the first place or the current reaction is- but maintaining both positions is not credible. As the Reverend Jeremiah Wright famously said, “The chickens have come home to roost.” We’ll see what impact all the current crowing has.
(Note: He ended with Cardinal George's statement. But since I posted it elsewhere I decided not to put it here as well.)
posted by Al @ 5:42 AM
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