Fr. Louis Bulletin Letter - October 29, 2006 - Wisconsin's Marriage Amendment Issue
The Catholic Bishops of our State have asked us to affirm Wisconsin’s 153-year commitment to human life by voting “NO” on the upcoming advisory referendum to restore the death penalty. Also, they urge us to vote “YES” on a proposed amendment to the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Consult this bulletin and our diocesan website www.dioceseoflacrosse.com
for accurate information to assist you in the formation of your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation.
The irrational attacks on the Catholic Church in our State of Wisconsinhave stepped up in recent weeks. The media widely reported that a self-proclaimed “watchdog group working for clean government and real democracy” – the so-called “Wisconsin Democracy Campaign” – that opposes the proposed marriage amendment, accused the Diocese of Madison of failing to disclose its attempts to influence the November vote on this amendment. This group demanded that our State Elections Board take action against the Diocese for failing to register its activities in supporting the marriage amendment. They cited a flier prepared by the Diocese and distributed at Saint Maria Goretti Parish in Madison. In a media release of October 18 the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Madison answered this complaint by emphasizing these facts: (1) “The Church does not play partisan politics. The Church does not support individual candidates or parties. This does not mean that when important issues (often very emotional issues) arise, the Church will remain quiet while the truths of the dignity of the human person and of Christ are being threatened. The Church and Her members have a moral responsibility to engage the culture and political world in which we live; (2) The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign has complained to the Elections Board over the appropriateness of a brochure the Diocese of Madison created for and distributed directly to is parishioners; (3) Relevant to this complaint, there are state reporting requirements; (4) There is an important exception to these requirements. These requirements do not apply when the Church communicates only with Her members. In a Catholic setting, an item in a diocesan or parish mailing that goes only to Catholics would be exempt, as should be materials distributed at Catholic activities in Catholic venues.”
The Bishop of Madison, Robert C. Morlino, stated the following regarding the complaint lodged by the so-called Wisconsin Democracy Campaign: “Saint John the Baptist laid down his life to protect the marriage bond. Throughout the history of the Catholic Church the Popes, the successors of Saint Peter, have similarly defended the marriage bond specifically, even up to the present in the case of Pope Benedict XVI. It is my responsibility and obligation to maintain that communion. When, in parish settings or other Catholic contexts, I insist upon the truth of what reason and faith teach us about marriage, I am maintaining that communion. To claim that I must pay a fee and report to the state about my teaching activities in Catholic venues blatantly violates the rights of myself and my sister and brother Catholics to the free exercise of religion. To have my teaching about marriage in Catholic venues called ‘electioneering,’ so as to seek the imposition of penalties from the State, seems an attempt to intimidate the Catholic Church as we try to teach the truth in an admittedly volatile atmosphere. Such persecution would surely be inappropriate. I wish only to protect the truth about marriage and to proclaim that there is no right to redefine marriage. I stand against denying anyone's basic human rights, and as we move ahead in the future, I will do everything to support authentic human rights for all people. The right to redefine marriage is not one of those authentic human rights. I pray that the Lord will give our citizenry wisdom to act prudently and truthfully with regard to the marriage referendum.”
Congratulations and thank you to Bishop Morlino and the Diocese of Madison for their swift and definitive response to this thinly-veiled attempt to bully the Catholic Church into silence. As Bishop Morlino rightly points out, not only was this “complaint” evidently an attempt at intimidation of the Church, but also a persecution as it sought to impose penalties on us for our free exercise of religion. It is rather ironic that a group committed to “clean government and real democracy” should promote the violation of a right guaranteed by the First Amendment of our United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”! It is a principle also enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948): “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.” One final note – is it not rather strange that this watchdog group did not register a similar complaint with regard to the Bishop’s stance on the death penalty?
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!