From the Friars: Our Bishops Speak Out
In his first Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV apologized for the Catholic Church’s delay in condemning slavery and for at times allowing it. In 1839 Pope Gregory XVI issued In Supremo Apostolatus which strongly condemned the slave trade, as had other previous papal teaching. But the bishops in the United States for the most part failed miserably to speak out against this evil practice during the Civil War era. One noble exception was Archbishop John Baptist Purcell of Cincinnati.
Pope Pius XII has been vilified severely for not speaking out more clearly against Hitler and the evils done by the Nazis. The record shows that this is largely unjust as he did much to save many Jews and had the genuine predicament of causing more harm than good if he did make more explicit public condemnations. But such are the harsh realities of history and the subsequent judgements made on action and inaction in times of grave injustice.
In our time statues and monuments are destroyed and vandalized because of the record of historic figures regarding what is now seen, or perceived to be, a just cause. With this in mind I encourage everyone to read the Message from the Bishops of Massachusetts regarding the horrendous law passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Healey on August 10th. This letter is an insert in this week’s bulletin. The law removes any restrictions whatsoever on abortion up to the moment of birth.
Thank God our shepherds have spoken up. In years to come it may well be that many will say it was too little, too late. Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco, whose name means “heart of a lion”, in 2022 banned former House speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion because of her scandalous public support of legal abortion. He was condemned by many and received no support from the Vatican. Yet when the blindness regarding the evil of killing unborn children is finally lifted, Archbishop Cordileone will be seen as a noble exception as Archbishop Purcell was regarding slavery.
What can we do? Let us read the bishops’ message and take it to heart and remember that those who are of the truth hear the voice of Jesus (Jn 18:37), not those who follow the way of the fallen world.
Peace.
Fr. Peter