Our Bishop Joins the Chorus!

I am very pleased that our bishop of Allentown Diocese has added his voice to the 61 other bishops that have spoken out against Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama. It is important because it sends a message to those inside and outside of the Church regarding the correct view of the sacredness of life. It will allow Catholics no wiggle room to claim to be fully Catholic and yet not supportive of the teachings of the Church.

Some feel this whole scandal is yet another stain against the Church. I see it as an opportunity to further promote the moral teachings of the Church to a country that has lost its moral compass. Again it is sad that our Catholic learning institutions have deviated so far from the Barc of Peter and the Church's distinctive teachings, but God has a way of "writing straight with crooked lines." I keep thinking of then Cardinal Ratzinger's statement just before his election that the Church may have to get smaller. I suspect that may include some Catholic institutions deciding they no longer want to remain within the fold.

"When there is a doubt about the meaning of a document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where does one find an authentic interpretation? A fundamental, canonical and theological principle states that it is found in the local bishop, who is the teacher and law-giver in his diocese."

"I stand in solidarity with my brother bishop and share the sentiments that he expressed in his letter," wrote Bishop Cullen. "As does he, I regret that this situation has taken place and call on the leadership at Notre Dame to face the issue squarely."