Scandals won't mute church's political voice, bishop vows at Red Mass

The Roman Catholic hierarchy will not let the ongoing scandal over child sexual abuse impair its ability to speak out on political issues, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops vowed during Washington, D.C.'s "Red Mass" Oct. 6.

"I would argue most powerfully that those scandals must not silence nor limit the excellent influence that religious voices have in the formation of our governmental and societal policies, whether they be war and peace, the death penalty, stem cell research or questions of poverty," said Bishop Wilton Gregory.

The mass, traditionally held before the start of the Supreme Court's term, is a special service for members of the legal profession. It is so named because of the red vestments worn by the celebrant. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist attended this year's event, along with Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and Antonin Scalia.

Also attending were Attorney General John Ashcroft, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams.

During the homily, Gregory alluded to the sex scandal, telling attendees that he recognized the necessity of a "cleansing needed within our own house." But he insisted that the focus on the scandal would in no way stop the church's lobbying on public policy issues.

"All too often in recent years, it has been a sign of our time that some urge that the role of religion in public life be marginalized and even suppressed," he asserted.

The Catholic hierarchy has often used the Red Mass as a platform to lobby Supreme Court justices on behalf of the church's stands on church and state, religious school vouchers, abortion and other concerns.