This op-ed, written by Duane Dubey, a regular commenter here at Blogging Blue, was originally posted at LaCrosseTribune.com
In November, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a request with the Internal Revenue Service “to investigate the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for engaging in prohibited political activity in violation of its protected tax status.”
As a Catholic who loves his church, I’m concerned and will pray that the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse will not become known as the Republican Catholic Diocese of La Crosse because of any association, perceived or real, with Republican political groups whose primary and avowed purpose is to remove elected representatives and “settled law” that does not conform to their theology.
I respectfully call attention of my bishop to the freedom clauses in the First Amendment and the fact that the United States is a republic, not a theocracy. It’s ironic that from some of these political groups have sprung assassins of doctors, clinic bombers, and protesters interfering with the rights of women seeking medical treatment or advise.
I thank God we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights allowing each his or her conscience the freedom of religion and practice thereof.
Actually, the Government should keep it’s politics out of the Catholic Church!
Our forefathers, whether religious or humanists, recognized that religion is founded on different principles and exists on a different plain than government by the state. Nevertheless, such an instinctive plain of truth was considered so necessary to successful governance of the populace that a covenant was made. Thus “sincere” religious thought and practice has been allowed to continue, even thrive, without taxation. Not, however, without conditions. Foremost among these is that podiums and pulpits are not to be used for “political” purposes.
The Church has an obligation to expound on moral issues, but when she advocates for punitive and restrictive laws against citizens, she is, in my opinion, breaking her covenant and encroaching on the purview of the state. In like manner, the state breaks its covenant with the Church by violating her sanctuary with public policy mandates. There are volumes to say on these matters, but I hope this makes sense to some thoughtful soul.
Smokey says, “Actually, the Government should keep it’s politics out of the Catholic Church!”
Really? Hasn’t the government at all levels ignored the pedophile priest problem of the Catholic Church for decades?
Though this isn’t a “political” issue, citizens depend on government to protect us from the sexual predators and extortionist practices of the Catholic Church. Let’s have complete separation of church and state– and no exemption or special exceptions to any religious organization from the laws that govern the rest of us.
Elimination of their tax exemption would certainly help our fiscal crisis, and it would help the rest of us who have to indirectly support the big business of religion
Because you obviously know nothing about American Catholicism, I will only address one comment that you made, Susterich:
If you tally the millions of dollars in public aid given by members of the Catholic Church, along with the healthcare and social services provided at reduced cost by Catholic hospitals and institutions, then add that to the millions of boys and girls given a superior education along with a moral fiber in poverty-stricken as well as elite neighborhoods, you will find that you gained much more from Catholicism that you “indirectly supported.”
Thank dog you are only addressing one point after abusively outright putting down another commentator’s grasp of “American,” Catholicism. How freaking magnanimous of you to improperly frame an answer claiming your educational superiority of a subject which you apparently don’t know a damn thing about.
Voucher/religious schools (while free of the tighter restrictions placed on public schools for accepting special needs or other variously, “troubled.” youth) still don’t show that their students perform any better that those students in public schools.
Second, we are doing more than simply “indirectly,” supporting these private and religious voucher schools to the tune of thousands of dollars per student that are direct losses to public school overall health and sustainability. 2010, the direct payouts of taxpayer funds was about $7k per student.
Your opinion that there is superior education with an attendant stronger moral fiber being instilled in students in religious schools is just that, an opinion with no supporting evidence. Give us all a break from your obvious blather.
You didn’t enjoy your Catholic schooling ? You apparently still have some anger issues you need to deal with. God bless you!
Thursday Music: