Courageous ND Senator Tim Mathern challenges Catholic bishop's letter on its use of politics.
This is an interesting article because it shows how Senator Mathern directed his rebuttal toward the bishop's language in a pastoral letter, which reveals a repetition of specific memes in use in the U.S. senate campaign involving Democrat Heidi Heitkamp vs. Republican Rick Berg.
In addition to its demand that Bishop Kagan withdraw his letter, Mathern's response is interesting not only for its political science dimensions, but for the fact that he also addresses Catholic dogma on the matter of conscience. NCR summarizes the current situation regarding the bishop's letter, which will be sent this week, by stating that Bishop Kagan comes close to violating tax exempt status and by supporting Mathern's call that the letter should be retracted.
The bishop's letter and Senator Mathern's letter are appended to this article:
http://ncronline.org/node/37926
That was evidently too much for the Bishop of Bismarck, David Kagan. He has published a letter that he wants read at all Masses this weekend that -- without mentioning names -- effectively endorses Berg over Heitkamp.
As you might expect, Kagan zeroes in on social issues, with no mention of poverty, economic justice, immigration, peace in the world or human rights. He maintains, "A properly formed Catholic conscience will never contradict the Church's teachings in matters of faith and morals."
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In his press advisory, Mathern corrects the bishop's erroneous teaching on conscience: "A Catholic owes a duty to listen thoughtfully to the Bishop, but if in 'good conscience' he or she cannot give assent, the Catholic must be free to follow his or her own conscience, which is the true moral responsibility." The conscience of a good and thoughtful Catholic, in other words, might or might not square with official teaching.
Mathern also notes that Kagan urges voters not to vote for the more "likeable" candidate. This is just short of using candidates' names. Media in the state have consistently called Heitkamp the more "likeable." Mathern says, "The National Republican Senatorial Committee is currently running an ad that says: 'North Dakotans think they like Heidi Heitkamp. ... You might like Heidi ...
I add my hearty congratulations to Senator Mathern in making this reference to Catholic dogma on the matter of conscience, because IMO were Catholics more courageously true and actively committed to their own teachings on the matter, perhaps a few things in America's recent social history, such as an un-necessary war on an INNOCENT nation, Iraq, and several decades of tolerance for systemic pedophilia in the RC church, would be quite different.
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