Will They Cardinal George, Will They?

Francis Cardinal George, Archdiocese of Chicago, writing as President of the USCCB, sent president-elect Obama a letter "to outline principles and priorities that guide the public policy efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)." While he does mention defense of marriage & defending the life of the unborn, they are treated as just 2 of several issues, not the primary issues they should be. (emphasis from USCCB copy of text)

"We stand firm in our support for marriage which is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children. No other kinds of personal relationships can be justly made equivalent to the commitment of a man and a woman in marriage."

"Most fundamentally, we will work to protect the lives of the most vulnerable and voiceless members of the human family, especially unborn children and those who are disabled or terminally ill. We will consistently defend the fundamental right to life from conception to natural death. Opposed to abortion as the direct killing of innocent human life, we will encourage one and all to seek common ground that will reduce the number of abortions in morally sound ways that affirm the dignity of pregnant women and their unborn children. We will oppose legislative and other measures to expand abortion. We will work to retain essential, widely supported policies which show respect for unborn life, protect the conscience rights of health care providers and other Americans, and prevent government funding and promotion of abortion. The Hyde amendment and other provisions which for many years have prevented federal funding of abortion have a proven record of reducing abortions. Efforts to force Americans to fund abortions with their tax dollars would pose a serious moral challenge and jeopardize the passage of essential health care reform."

While these are good sounding words, they leave plenty of wiggle room for both the Bishops & the laity to not do a thing to oppose abortion or defend marriage. There is a time to be polite & there is a time to lay things on the line bluntly. This is 1 of those times we need to be blunt.