Catholic Mission, Religious Freedom & LGBT Rights: Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Catholic Mission, Religious Freedom & LGBT Rights: Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: MSW is correct that it does seem like the Archbishop of San Francisco is likely the most opposed to gay marriage - so much so that he won't say the g-word.  In the Arlington Diocese, a priest by the name of Scalia is part of that movement to call it "same sex attraction" and not gay.  Very Orwellian for the Archbishop of the most gay city in America and the son of a Supreme Court Associate Justice.  Archbishop Cordileone was one of the original leaders of Proposition 8, which the Supreme Court did allow to be taken up and challenged.  If he wants to live in a state with no gay marriage, its not California - and soon it won't be anywhere except the Vatican City State (and even there, one hears rumor and who are we to judge).



He is currently messing with the employee handbook in his diocesean schools - as if the pay was not enough reason to encourage a union.  Sadly, there are probably religious exemptions to forcing that and Hosanna Tabor is quite clear that teachers are ministers.  Unless the Vatican gets really gay friendly (and with as many gay priests as their are - because many of the straights left to marry or escape egos like the Archbishop), the handbood will stand, with the labor market and the existence of like minded conservatives, even in San Francisco, saving him from himself.



Let me repeat a distinction I have made before - one that liberals and libertarians should use often in course cases against these madmen in purple and red dresses - these prelates (and will not say the Church in this case, because the Church is all of us) are not seeking religious freedom, they are seeking religious power over their employees, patients in their hospitals (which is why gay marriage became a thing) and society at large (gay marriage, contraception, abortion, all the fun ones).  That distinction is key in establishment cases.  Indeed, it makes the answer obvious to all but those who believe they have the one answer on sexual issues.  Of couse, unless you are in the Curia or support their line of reason, natural law dictates individual conclusions provided use of a well informed conscience (and being told the answer does not count as informed, that is coerced - sadly, most bishops don't know the difference).



Then there is George Weigel, who lionized Reagan and St. John Paul.  His lions have gone on, but he can’t seem to find anyone to lead the circus parade.  Paul Ryan just does not seem to do it for anyone. It is certainly not the Pope from the global south, who represents a Church that is more of liberation than preservation - except he has the power to cleanse the temple, albeit kindly, without being arrested.



Enter the lawyers to defend the rights of the Church (again confusion freedom for power).  They guided us  (yes us, the work for the people as well as the bishops) into settling sexual abuse law suits and sweeping the incidents under the rug.  Look how well that turned out.  Now they are going after gay rights in employment and benefits, recruiting Catholic clients of the same mind.  Sadly, they are better at keeping up with doctrine than the real law, so their success on both abortion, ultmately sexual abuse and gay marriage has been really bad (and some of it you can blame on the doctrine which does not understand Amerian abortion law or how equal protection works - or, indeed, marriage).  The culture warriors associate with lawyers who should explain not how they plan to present doctrine as if it were high law instead of those who know the law who would tell them, regardless of the prestige of representing a bishop or cardinal, that they have no case.



MSW hits the rest really well.  Props to the Mormons for dropping the rock on gay rights and distancing themselves from their friend from San Francisco of those Proposition 8 days.  Props to the Filipino bishops who are supporting human rights before their own rights.  Refreshing, eh.  This brings us back to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (not a synod, just a discusson group, except when its a Synod). MSW has three points on what they should do in June on benefits, non-discrfimination and how their stance effects evangelization.  He is right.  They may listen to him - me, not so much - although I know a few of them as well - although they also die an retire. Culture war is great for riling up the saved, getting them to vote your way (usually Republican - which is a lost cause in San Francisco) and looking holier than thou - not so much holier.  Pointing to Jesus, salvation and the whole loving each other thing that he spoke about in his last discourse - I bet it still works, so does MSW and so does Pope Francis.  But do they have ears to hear?