Bishop Martino: Hero of the Faith
Bishop Martino of Scranton, PA deserves our prayers and our thanks. Not only has he spoken out forcefully on the issue of abortion in the coming election, he “crashed” a panel forum discussion on politics and faith in his diocese that was stirring confusion and dissent. Here’s the relevant passage from the local news coverage:
Martino arrived unannounced in the midst of a panel discussion on faith issues and the presidential campaign at St. John’s Catholic Church on Sunday. According to people who attended the event, the bishop chastised the group for holding the forum and particularly took issue with the discussion and distribution of excerpts from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position on voting issues. The document defines abortion and euthanasia, as well as racism, torture and genocide, as among the most important issues for Catholic voters to consider.
“No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese,” he was quoted as saying in the Wayne County Independent, a Honesdale-based newspaper. “The USCCB doesn’t speak for me.”
What a brave shepherd he has turned out to be. May the Holy Father give us more like him.
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It would be nice if the USCCB, when one of its committees publishes a document that is non-binding because it was neither approved unanimously by the entire conference nor approved by Rome, would have an opening disclaimer saying as much. It would help clear up confusion about the authority of the USCCB, a confusion that Servant of God Pope John Paul II dealt with in Apostolos Suos. Almost unanimous approval is not enough.
Comment by brendon — October 22, 2008 @ 1:40 PM
Taylor Marshall brings in a host of Apostolic Fathers to make his case that abortion and Catholocism don’t go together.
http://culture11.com/blogs/credo/2008/10/22/abortion-and-the-catholic-fathers-of-the-church/
Comment by Justin — October 22, 2008 @ 2:16 PM