Bishops asleep on weightier issues

It is with deep regret, shame and, yes, disgust, that I read in the local newspaper that another New Democratic Party MP, Joe Comartin, was publicly reprimanded from a pulpit, closely following the denial of holy communion to his fellow parliamentarian, Charles Angus. Both were punished because of their support of equal marriage legislation for gays and lesbians.

I find it deplorable that, yet again, the bishops assume that they have a moral right to censure others, who. on the basis of their individual and presumably well-informed consciences, make decisions and come to conclusions about "non-infallible" topics that differ from those held by the hierarchical church. It would not be so bad if there was some consistency in the bishops' actions, but, once again, the power of their office comes to bear solely in situations that deal with sexuality.

Why is it that the Catholic bishops become so incensed when it is a matter of birth control, homosexuality, equal marriage for gays and lesbians, etc.--all those "between the navel and the knees" situations of human experience--and yet fail dismally to censure those who support unjust wars, those who vote in favour of tax cuts for the rich whereby the rich get rich and the poor get poorer, those who do absolutely nothing for the homeless, the unemployed, the refugee. I also find it abhorrent that the bishops and their priests would punish people who disagree with them by withholding Eucharist as a for m of punishment. Is this the kind of thing that Jesus would have done? I don't think so,and neither do the vast majority of Catholics who support marriage for gays and lesbians on the basis of human rights.

Shame on the bishops. They deserve the church they'll be left with when more and more of the disenchanted, who really do want to follow the way and teaching of Jesus, leave.

Alex Campbell

Ottawa

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