A Crisis Of Courage . . . If The Pastors Are Silent, The Flock Needs To Be Louder
By FR. FRANK PAVONE
(Editor’s Note: Fr. Frank Pavone is the National Director and Chairman of the Board of Priests for Life. He offered these comments in response to a request from The Wanderer.)
- + + So many Catholics are wrestling with this question of why their own pastor, bishop, and the Pope do not discipline the pro-abortion politicians. It’s simply a crisis of courage, a surrender to political correctness, mediocrity, and the Gospel of “Nice.”
And it seems to me that rather than getting frustrated trying to find answers that may not be forthcoming, we focus our energy on the question, “What can I do, concretely, to fill the gap of leadership?”
If enough people rebuke these politicians, maybe the leaders will find more courage to do the same. If the pastors are silent, the flock needs to be louder. Often the pastors don’t even repeat their own words, and I’m thinking particularly of the U.S. bishops’ document Living the Gospel of Life, which says in part:
“Nonetheless, some Catholic officials may exclude themselves from the truth by refusing to open their minds to the Church’s witness. In all cases, bishops have the duty and pastoral responsibility to continue to challenge those officials on the issue in question and persistently call them to a change of heart. As bishops we reflect particularly on the words of the Office of Readings:
“‘Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season, as St. Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction’” (section 28.)
And in particular, section 31 sums up the message:
“We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well-being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin. We call on them to reflect on the grave contradiction of assuming public roles and presenting themselves as credible Catholics when their actions on fundamental issues of human life are not in agreement with Church teaching. No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life.”
Let’s make these words of the bishops our words, constantly repeated night and day throughout the Church — and then maybe these words, that once came from the bishops, will find their way back to their lips.
Two other thoughts: Given that Pope Francis has said so many clear and strong words against abortion, repeat and repeat his own words and make it clear they come from him! This does not require explicitly criticizing the Pope; let the words have their own effect and lead people to conclude that more has to be done to discipline these politicians.
And finally, let’s all discipline these politicians by using that power and authority we each have as citizens: our vote!