Ten Challenges for Catholic Leaders In the Aftermath of the Presidential Election

Brought to you by:
Tom Allio, Senior Director
Cleveland Diocesan Social Action Office
January 21, 2005

It seems that some of these "challenges" (bolded, below) are cheap shots aimed at Archbishop Burke and others who have promoted and defended authentic Catholic teaching. It is worth noting the various "code" words and phrases which are all too frequently used below, such as fundamentalism (for orthodoxy) or alienation (for intolerance of dissent) and independent statements of a few bishops (for teaching the truth and fidelity)...

1. Divisions exist within our Church that are deep and that jeopardize our ability to build community at the parish level and to be communities of salt and light to the larger society. (There is a great deal of alienation that needs to be addressed).

2. A creeping fundamentalism within the church provides space for some to demonize others (i.e. the notion that you can’t be a good Catholic and vote for John Kerry).

3. Outside organizations with significant resources are extremely well organized and energized. They are well situated to serve partisan purposes. They can and will exploit the divisions within the Church.

4. The independent statements of a few bishops has had a negative impact on the unity and teaching authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

5. Reflection and dialogue are required about how our faith should influence our politics.

6. Teaching on the consistent ethic of life needs to be strengthened not diluted. (Too much of the Presidential campaign was reduced to jingles and slogans).

7. More than ever there is a need for clarity in our teaching and messaging.

8. Greater emphasis needs to be placed upon the proper formation of one’s conscience.

9. Catholics are more than ever politically homeless. There is much work to be done among the laity to reform our political system.

10. A great challenge of our Church is to penetrate a national media that seems solely focused on the Church’s position on sexual and family matters while ignoring Church teaching on war and peace, social justice and human rights.

Of, some of these are good and should be addressed, especially numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 - provided, of course, that they are addressed in a manner which reflects the moral and doctrinal teachings of the Church.

It must be noted, however, that the divisions within the Church which are discussed above are those which stem from rebellion, dissent, disobedience, and in some cases, ignorance. This ignorance of the faithful of the teachings of the Church is (or should be) a matter of the highest priority.

Some would do well to recall the words of St Josemaria Escriva:

Faith is the humility of the mind which renounces its own judgement and surrenders to the verdict and authority of the Church.

Obedience is the humility of the will which subjects itself to the will of another, for God's sake.

We must remember that while we are to live in the world we are called to proclaim the Gospel by our words and our actions. Those engaged in perverting the moral law bring scandal and confusion, not only to members of the Church, but to all of the peoples of the world. We must offer our prayers, sacrifices and reparations to God to grant our fellow men the graces necessary for the humility to receive the light of truth for the mind and a corresponding conversion of the heart.

In that light also, we must ask to be strengthened in our own humility.

Finally, while not wishing to impugn questionable motives for these questions, I do wonder why some of them are even listed. If one were really looking to address the true challenges we face today in this age of secularism and moral relativism, there are many others that need to be addressed.