One of Bishop Olmsted’s first assignments as a priest was at my parish in Lincoln, NE when I was a child. He is now the Bishop of Phoenix. He is a Bishop that can be admired by all Catholics for his clear teaching and direction. Here are a few of the questions and answers and the link to his booklet Catholics in the Public Square
Bishop Olmsted’s first assignments as a priest was at my parish in Lincoln, NE when I was a child. He is now the Bishop of Phoenix. He is a Bishop that can be admired by all Catholics for his clear teaching and direction. Here are a few of the questions and answers and the link to his booklet Catholics in the Public Square
Is it mandatory for Catholics to follow what the Pope or Bishops say on political issues?
Because they are the leaders of the Church, it is always important to respect statements from the Church’s hierarchy. It is the role of the Pope and the bishops to teach clearly on matters of faith and morals, including those touching on political issues.
There are some matters, however, on which Catholics may disagree with the Church’s hierarchy. In some cases, for example, a Catholic may agree with the teaching of the Church, but come to a different prudential judgment about its application.
Examples of these issues might include an instance where someone agrees with the Church’s teaching on “just war” or “capital punishment,” but reaches a different conclusion as to whether the facts of the situation constitute a “just war” or the “rare” circumstances where capital punishment may be used under Church teaching.
It should be emphasized, however, that despite these examples, there are other issues, such as abortion or euthanasia, that are always wrong and do not allow for the correct use of prudential judgment to justify them. It would never be proper for Catholics to be on the opposite side of these issues.
Why does the Church set such high standards for Catholics?
The high standards to which Catholics (and all Christians) are called come from Christ. We find them in the Sacred Scriptures. For example, Jesus said (Jn 14:15), “ If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He also said (Mk 8:34-36), “ Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
We also find in the Sacred Scriptures admonitions such as those of St. Paul to Timothy where he writes (I Tim 4:2-5), “ Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.”
There are cases where Catholics in public life serve with great courage and distinction. They measure up to the high standards set by Christ. There are others, sadly, who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin where the risk of scandal is great. In the matter of abortion, for example, abortion is the killing of a completely innocent life and thus bad news for both unborn children and their mothers. It is a horrible wrong. It is intrinsically evil.
We have a serious obligation to protect human life, and especially the lives of the most innocent and vulnerable among us. Whoever fails to do this, when otherwise able to do so, commits serious sins of omission. They jeopardize their own spiritual wellbeing and they are a source of scandal for others. Should they be Catholics, they should not receive Holy Communion.
Bishop Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix
One of Bishop Olmsted’s first assignments as a priest was at my parish in Lincoln, NE when I was a child. He is now the Bishop of Phoenix. He is a Bishop that can be admired by all Catholics for his clear teaching and direction. Here are a few of the questions and answers and the link to his booklet Catholics in the Public Square
Is it mandatory for Catholics to follow what the Pope or Bishops say on political issues? …
Bishop Olmsted’s first assignments as a priest was at my parish in Lincoln, NE when I was a child. He is now the Bishop of Phoenix. He is a Bishop that can be admired by all Catholics for his clear teaching and direction. Here are a few of the questions and answers and the link to his booklet Catholics in the Public Square
Is it mandatory for Catholics to follow what the Pope or Bishops say on political issues?
Because they are the leaders of the Church, it is always important to respect statements from the Church’s hierarchy. It is the role of the Pope and the bishops to teach clearly on matters of faith and morals, including those touching on political issues.
There are some matters, however, on which Catholics may disagree with the Church’s hierarchy. In some cases, for example, a Catholic may agree with the teaching of the Church, but come to a different prudential judgment about its application.
Examples of these issues might include an instance where someone agrees with the Church’s teaching on “just war” or “capital punishment,” but reaches a different conclusion as to whether the facts of the situation constitute a “just war” or the “rare” circumstances where capital punishment may be used under Church teaching.
It should be emphasized, however, that despite these examples, there are other issues, such as abortion or euthanasia, that are always wrong and do not allow for the correct use of prudential judgment to justify them. It would never be proper for Catholics to be on the opposite side of these issues.
Why does the Church set such high standards for Catholics?
The high standards to which Catholics (and all Christians) are called come from Christ. We find them in the Sacred Scriptures. For example, Jesus said (Jn 14:15), “ If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He also said (Mk 8:34-36), “ Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
We also find in the Sacred Scriptures admonitions such as those of St. Paul to Timothy where he writes (I Tim 4:2-5), “ Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.”
There are cases where Catholics in public life serve with great courage and distinction. They measure up to the high standards set by Christ. There are others, sadly, who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin where the risk of scandal is great. In the matter of abortion, for example, abortion is the killing of a completely innocent life and thus bad news for both unborn children and their mothers. It is a horrible wrong. It is intrinsically evil.
We have a serious obligation to protect human life, and especially the lives of the most innocent and vulnerable among us. Whoever fails to do this, when otherwise able to do so, commits serious sins of omission. They jeopardize their own spiritual wellbeing and they are a source of scandal for others. Should they be Catholics, they should not receive Holy Communion.