I was gratified to read the commentary by Father Thomas Kessler in the Feb. 15 edition.
Like many of my fellow Catholics, I am disappointed and disgusted by the lack of leadership of our Catholic hierarchy in the United States in failing to publicly name and censure those Catholics who supported, and in some cases applauded, the recently passed New York legislation and similar bills working their way through legislative bodies in other states. Where is their moral leadership? Where is their outrage?
I lived in California until two years ago. I was very active in my parish there and have many friends and family there and in other dioceses across the nation. As we talk and chat, every one of us is appalled at the lack of leadership from our shepherds.
My personal feeling is that our leaders are running scared because of the continuing focus on sexual abuse cases. But that does not excuse or make acceptable the total lack of leadership on this infanticide movement. Maybe, just maybe, one courageous Church leader will come out and essentially say: “Laws such as the recently passed New York law concerning abortion up until moment of birth are completely anathema to the teachings of our religion. Therefore, any recognized leader – political or otherwise – who supports such laws and identifies themselves as a Catholic deserves the censure and outrage of all Catholics.”
Will that happen? I don’t think so. I’ve waited for years for any Church leader to come out and censure any of the Kennedys, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Andrew Cuomo and too many others who espouse views contrary to Catholic teaching, justify their behaviors with “I’m a Catholic but…”, and then publicly receive Communion. I don’t wonder any more why so many Catholics are leaving the Church and finding the Christian evangelical movement more acceptable. For me, I will stay with my Church but I have lost respect for most of our current Church leaders.
Rosemary Hagerott lives in Hendersonville.