Canadian Bishop Gets It Right

[Perigrina]

I don't know if anyone here follows Canadian politics, but one of the party leaders has recently declared that his party will not run pro-life candidates.  The Archbishop of Toronto has written a letter to this leader (who is nominally Catholic).

 

http://www.archtoronto.org/events_news/pdf/justintrudeaumay1414.pdf

 

Here is my favourite bit:

 

Political leaders surely have the right to insist on party unity and discipline in political matters

which are within the legitimate scope of their authority. But that political authority is not

limitless: it does not extend to matters of conscience and religious faith. It does not govern all

aspects of life.

 

The patron saint of politicians is Saint Thomas More. He came into conflict with the political

authority of his day on a matter of conscience. The king claimed control over his conscience, but

Thomas was “the king's good servant, but God’s first.”  Political leaders in our day should not exclude

such people of integrity, no matter how challenging they find their views.

 

[Nihil Obstat]

It would perhaps not be politically expedient these days, but I wish that Cardinal Collins had said something about how the Church's authority is above civil power. In comparison, simply asserting that political power has reasonable limits seems almost banal. :P

Though of course Cardinal Collins should be congratulated for writing this letter. Most bishops are not so brave as to call out political leaders so forcefully. He is doing his job.


10. This society [i.e. the Church] is made up of men, just as civil society is, and yet is supernatural and spiritual, on account of the end for which it was founded, and of the means by which it aims at attaining that end. Hence, it is distinguished and differs from civil society, and, what is of highest moment, it is a society chartered as of right divine, perfect in its nature and in its title, to possess in itself and by itself, through the will and loving kindness of its Founder, all needful provision for its maintenance and action. And just as the end at which the Church aims is by far the noblest of ends, so is its authority the most exalted of all authority, nor can it be looked upon as inferior to the civil power, or in any manner dependent upon it.
 

Immortale Dei, Leo XIII

[Perigrina]

It would perhaps not be politically expedient these days, but I wish that Cardinal Collins had said something about how the Church's authority is above civil power. In comparison, simply asserting that political power has reasonable limits seems almost banal. :P

I see that you have an affinity for understatement.  :hehe:

[Nihil Obstat]

People seem to get all butthurt with hyperbole these days anyway.

[Didacus]

St. Thomas More is one of the best!

:flex: