In A Major Test Of Ecclesiastial Authority, The Nation's Roman Catholic Bishops Are Demanding That Catholic Officeholders Follow Church Law

Church & State, Feb 2004 by Boston, Rob

holy ORDERS?

Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, Wise., is totally out of patience with Roman Catholic officeholders who break with the hierarchy's view on issues such as reproductive rights, euthanasia and stem-cell research.

Last year, Burke decided it was time for a crackdown. Several Wisconsin lawmakers in late August received letters from the prelate ordering them to toe the church line at the state capitol or risk being denied communion and other church sacraments.

"You have failed to restrict the evils of abortion when the opportunity presented itself," Burke charged in the letters. "I call upon you to consider the consequences for your own spiritual well-being, as well as the scandal you risk by leading others into serious sin."

Elsewhere the letter observed, "As a faithful member of the Catholic Church, you have an obligation to fulfill the duties of your office with regard not only to the laws of the state, but also with regard to the moral law." ("Moral law" is Burke's code language for Catholic teachings.)

Burke intended the letters to be an opening shot across the bow. In at least one case, the bishop demanded that an independent-minded member of the state legislature come meet with him to discuss the missive. But the lawmaker, Democratic Sen. ju lie Lassa, had other ideas. She did not schedule a meeting and later told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she considered Burke's letter inappropriate.

"I'm concerned that the bishop would pressure legislators to vote according to the dictates of the church instead of the wishes of their constituents because that is not consistent with our democratic ideals," Lassa said. "When I was elected, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, and that means I have to represent all the people of all faiths in my district."

Burke, who since mailing the letters has been promoted to archbishop and sent to St. Louis, was not fazed by the defiance. Days later he issued a five-paragraph directive ordering all priests in the diocese to withhold communion from dissenting politicians.

"I hereby call upon Catholic legislators, who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse, to uphold the natural and divine law regarding the inviolable dignity of all human life," read the statement, titled merely "Notification."

It goes on to assert, "To fail to do so is a grave public sin and gives scandal to all the faithful. Therefore, in accord with the norm of can. 915, Catholic legislators, who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion. They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publically [sic] renounce their support of these unjust practices."

Burke's actions put him on the cutting edge of a new crackdown by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops against church members who hold public office but disagree with the hierarchy on issues like abortion, sexuality and end-of-life matters.

If the reaction to Burke's command is any indication, the bishops are in for a rough ride. Several Catholic lawmakers contacted by the Wisconsin news media said they considered the Burke directive highly inappropriate. all indicated that they would not change the way they vote.

"It's not for people to decide whether I'm a bad Catholic because I'm going about my job in a consistent way. That's for God to decide," said Pedro Colon, a Milwaukee Democrat who serves in the Wisconsin House of Representatives. "I never thought my salvation would be a topic for public debate."

U.S. Rep. David Obey (D-Wise.), a Catholic who has supported reproductive choice, backed Burke's right to communicate with legislators, but added, "Under the Constitution, the public has a right to know that, in the end, the votes I cast are driven by my own independent judgment and conscience, not by a set of marching orders given by any church hierarchy, prelate or associated lobby group."

Burke's missive wasn't the first time he has waded into controversy. Late last year he ordered a church-run AIDS ministry to stop participating in a fund-raising walk, alleging that some of the groups taking part promote homosexuality. Burke also ordered church groups not to take part in an anti-hunger march because some of the groups in it provide artificial birth control in the Third World. he has also told Catholic parents not to let their children read the popular "Harry Potter" books.

During his tenure in La Crosse, some parishioners also criticized Burke's decision to spend $25 million to erect a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe at a time when he was also consolidating financially struggling parishes and closing Catholic schools.

Given Burke's views, it's not surprising he would be among the first to join the new crackdown on Catholic politicians. If some members of the hierarchy have their way, however, he may not be the last. During a meeting of U.S. bishops in Washington last November, church leaders formed a task force to study the issue of how to turn up the heat on straying Catholic politicians. The group is headed by Cardinal Theodore W. McCarrick of Washington, D.C.