Ted: Politicos "Need To Be Re-catechized"

Remind me: who was it who said that the archbishop-emeritus of Washington was running afoul of doctrinal lines?

Everyone's favourite grandpa/uncle spoke yesterday to the plenary of the Canadian bishops on relations between bishops and Catholic politicians....

"We are not just another constituent or community leader," Cardinal Theodore McCarrick told the annual meeting of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. "We are their pastors and their teachers."...

Catholic politicians need to be told they cannot call themselves good Catholics if they support policies that go against the church's stand on the issues, he said.

"Our concern is not politics, nor just particular policies, but their faith and even their salvation. These dialogues are not about winning votes, but saving souls," he said.

The same message must be passed on to ordinary parishioners, as well, he said, and they should be told to consider their church's teachings when it comes time to vote.

"No compromises," said McCarrick, who retired over the summer. "We teach what we teach, but we do it with respect and love."

McCarrick, 76, said he and other church leaders have had some success persuading Catholic politicians to put Catholic doctrine into action when forming policy.

But he remains frustrated by Catholic politicians who have attended church all their lives and may have even been educated in Catholic schools and universities, and yet support policies that go against the church.

"They need to be re-catechized," he said.

McCarrick rejected the argument of some politicians he has met that they have a duty to uphold the constitution and civil rights of all citizens, so cannot allow their religious beliefs to dictate policy on issues such as abortion.

Remind me: who was it who said that the archbishop-emeritus of Washington was running afoul of doctrinal lines?

Letters seeking Cardinal McCarrick's forgiveness can be sent to...

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