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One of the things that is truly conspicuous to me is the collective abdication of prophetic leadership by the U.S. Catholic bishops on matters of fundamental justice in recent years. Racism. Immigration. Economic and healthcare inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.
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Before I go any further, I want to be clear that there have been individual bishops who buck this trend and do admirable, daily work on justice issues. But I'm talking about the U.S. Catholic hierarchy as a whole, and as channeled through the @USCCB.
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All we get from most Catholic bishops are anodyne statements
A black man is murdered by cops? "We are saddened"
ICE is disappearing children from parents? "We are concerned"
The pandemic bill has billions for corporations but nothing for food stamps? "We are disappointed"
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A black man is murdered by cops? "We are saddened"
ICE is disappearing children from parents? "We are concerned"
The pandemic bill has billions for corporations but nothing for food stamps? "We are disappointed"
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You could create a bingo card of @USCCB and diocesan statements that express "concern," "disappointment," and "sadness" over acts of systemic injustice that cry out to the Heavens. Blood spilled. Families torn apart. Lives lost. Where is the language that reflects this sin?
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When it comes to matters of racism and xenophobia and economic exploitation, where is the righteous, defiant, morally outraged language that was used for the Obama Administration's HHS mandate? Where is the unflinching, fiery rhetoric that is deployed for all things abortion?
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Beyond language—where is the action? When the Catholic bishops decide something is a priority, we get Fortnights for Freedom, parish bulletin inserts, homily talking points, and millions for legal funds. Where's that, when it comes to victims of ICE cages and police brutality?
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Hundreds of thousands of Catholics march in DC and cities all over the country every year to protest legal abortion, and many U.S. Catholic bishops are proud to be featured in those demonstrations. Where are the marches for racial and economic justice? For immigrants' rights?
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If U.S. Catholic bishops are so afraid of offending GOP political allies, the Trump Administration, or wealthy white donors that they become unable or unwilling to speak prophetically on issues of racial, economic, and structural justice, then we have a serious problem
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And if Catholic bishops are so focused on resuming in-person Masses and financially preserving the institution during this pandemic, that they don't speak out prophetically on matters of fundamental justice, we won't have to worry about those pews ever being packed again.
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If the finances/bureaucracy take priority over the Gospel, let the institution collapse
If political alliances for SCOTUS judges and school vouchers take priority over the Gospel, let our political clout dissipate
If we cease to preach the Gospel, nothing else matters
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If political alliances for SCOTUS judges and school vouchers take priority over the Gospel, let our political clout dissipate
If we cease to preach the Gospel, nothing else matters
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Ending on a note of hope: all is not lost. There is still time. Especially heading into the election, the Catholic bishops have an opportunity to speak out, educate, and exert leadership on matters of justice. It will cost. It will cause blowback. But the Gospel always does
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