ATLANTA -- Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore argued that it is an “injustice” to imply that the Knights of Columbus’ support for defending religious freedom creates a sense of partisanship.
At a June 13 press conference at the U.S. bishops’ spring general meeting in Atlanta, the archbishop was questioned by Jerry Filteau of the National Catholic Reporter about funding for the bishops’ campaign to defend religious liberty.
Filteau said that he had heard “rumors” that much of the funding for the bishops’ effort is coming from the Knights of Columbus, whose head, Carl Anderson, is a former Reagan administration official.
He suggested that there may be “a partisanship aspect to the whole thing.”
“Oh my goodness, Jerry,” Archbishop Lori responded.
“Think of what the Knights of Columbus does for the Catholic Church and for many other humanitarian causes,” he said. “To try to say that is in some way partisan is, in my opinion, sort of an injustice.”
“It seems to me the Knights have been very generous to a whole variety of causes,” the archbishop observed.
He acknowledged that the organization has contributed to the bishops’ religious-freedom efforts, but added that “other groups have as well,” including Our Sunday Visitor, the Order of Malta and many others.
“So it is not just one group,” he said. “It is not in any way partisan, either in its spirit or in its funding.”
Archbishop Lori added that “the generosity that we’ve experienced has been heartening.”
Recent months have united Catholics from across the country in efforts to defend religious liberty from numerous threats, including a federal mandate that will require employers to offer health insurance that covers contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs.
The mandate has drawn widespread criticism for violating religious liberty. The bishops have worked with individuals and groups of various faiths to speak out against the regulation and ask the Obama administration to respect the rights of those with religious objections.
Among the bishops’ efforts to protect religious liberty is the upcoming “Fortnight for Freedom” event in which Catholics and other believers are invited to engage in prayer, education and advocacy for a restoration of respect for fundamental religious rights.
“The question that we’re addressing is a question of religious liberty,” said Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City. “It’s not a question of birth control.”
“And the only reason we’re addressing it now is because it came up now,” he added in response to questions about it being an election year.
He explained to the media that the bishops did not choose to raise the subject now, but, rather, the Obama administration did by issuing the mandate.
The bishops are “simply responding” to a single, “very focused point, and that is that the government cannot define religion for us,” he said. “It’s not about us mandating birth control or anything like that.”
Bishop Wester acknowledged that the topic “is certainly political,” but added that “that’s not something that we intend it to be.”
Instead, he said, the bishops and other Catholics are “very grateful” for the religious liberty they enjoy in America, and they realize the “need to be vigilant” and to “address these issues as they come up” in order to prevent “a slippery slope.”
Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, also commented on the question of partisan intent.
“We are trying to speak about principles, but principles do have traction,” he said.
Whether the topic is religious freedom or the economy, the bishops must address issues as they arise and cannot wait for “a perfect, non-political time,” he said.
Bishop Blaire observed that “it is always a challenge to bring the Gospel into the real world” so that it connects with people’s “everyday experiences as individuals, as a society, as a government.”
However, it is the job of the bishops to “try to bring Catholic social teaching to bear on the real world,” he stated.
Unfortunately, when the bishops do this, Bishop Blaire said it often happens that some people create “an interpretation that maybe is not intended.”
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Actually, there is not one single problem with being partisan. I will gladly lay claim to that title. As a KNIGHT, I am truly unequivocally a Catholic Conservative partisan, in every way, manner, shape and form.
The question posed by that NC Reporter guy was silly, stupid and naive.
I just wished the bishop would have been less diplomatic. Sure, there is broad support for the effort the bishops are undertaking but that does not make us any less partisan. Being partisan is a good thing. Now being a true Catholic and Democrat, while impossible in principle, is most assuredly a bad thing.
Rob
St.Louis,Mo
This is why I don’t read the Reporter…what planet do these folks live on, where everything must be viewed through a political lens?
Simply consider EUTHANASIA instead of CONTRACEPTION.
What if ObamaCare required all HealthCare Insurance to cover EUTHANASIA ... ???
How would reporters like Jerry Filteau call this a ... WAR ON WOMEN ... ????
Partisanship? ...The national catholic reporter has been the current administration’s mouthpiece for three year’s running.
Still, the KofC HAS become not just political, but Republican in recent years. There is far more activity on issues where the Catholic Church agrees with Republican positions (such as abortion and gay marriage) than Democratic ones (such as immigration and foreign policy).
.
And yes, I do think Carl Anderson’s background as a Republican official has a lot to do with that.
The National (fish wrap) Reporter would love to make this a partisan issue. They are the most liberal news organization in the Church and make the LCWR look as though they are in step with the Magisterium. They really ought to be stripped of the name Catholic. They are without a doubt part of the serious problems we have in the Church and have been a divisive and bitter enemy of anything that is critical of their liberal agenda. When Archbishop Chaput was assigned to Phila, I could not believe
the angry and hateful comments that they allowed on the story simply because he was a conservative and sincere leader who stood by Catholic teachings on abortion, gay marriage and other issues. No matter the response from Archbishop Lori regarding the Knights, you can bet they will put a liberal spin on it to make it look like an attack on their beloved Obama and pro-abortion Democratic psuedo Catholic political politicians who run on the fact they call themselves Catholic but vote and support the complete oppsoite of Catholic teaching. I don`t even have to name them because by now we all know who they are.
Interesting. In order for Jerry Filteau to suggest that there is a partisanship, he would have to concede that President Reagan was friend of the Catholic Church and the current President is decidedly an enemy of the Catholic Church. Facts speaks for itself but I wonder if Filteau was really intending to go there.
Jerry Filteau’s question is so transparent that it would be hilarious, if it were not for the fact that it is so telling of the general positions that NC Reporter takes. They fashion themselves as the “loyal opposition” - loyal my (backside).
Rather ironic—a group supporting the bishops and church teaching are partisan, but the National Catholic Reporter and the sisters on the bus tour who support every left wing politician and program to come along, are not?
Nice response, Archbishop Lori. That such a question on an issue so innately religious came from the National Catholic Reporter, a leftist political rag for sure, is no surprise.
You would think that an issue such as religious freedom is not a partisan issue for a KofC. I find it interesting (actually dismaying) that so many people (even non Catholics) don’t seem to connect with the idea of religious freedom - one of the first and most important of our freedoms in America. There’s a big difference between a disagreement about funding for something and forcing that funding regardless of conscience. Are people such as the reporter ready to give up the right to conscience?
Call me partisan, conservative, a tea partier or a Republican. I don’t care. I have to support what I believe is correct. That is not the Democrats and their liberal/progressive party. The platform supports many things that the church says is intrinsically wrong. I wonder how the archbishop reconciles that.
It’s not the political outrage that bothers me, it’s the SELECTIVE political outrage. Both parties have serious deficiencies, but only Democratic deficiencies generate the level of protest. (Kind of like how the war protests mysteriously stopped when a Democrat took office, even though the war went on. Speaking of which, can anyone tell me what the Church’s position our most recent wars was?)
Politically conservative Catholics are just as much cafeteria Catholics as politically liberal Catholics—they’ve just ordered different items from the menu.
..as IF the NCReporter was not partisan in the extreme - left-wing Obama worship.
JD, could you have it backwards? Maybe the Republicans agree with the positions of the Catholic Church. Just for openness, I am a Democract, a Knight(PGK and currently a FN).
Sure the Knights support the Bishops. That’s what they do. I also think that the Bishops pick their fights. They have picked abortion and gay marriage and have spoken, but less, about immigration and foreign policy. Where as, once they might have leaned more Democrat(ic) at one time they now lean more Republican. Whose values have changed?
Jesus said, I am the good shepherd. The “sheep” that follow me will have everlasting life with my father in heaven.
The “wolves” in sheep clothing in His church have to be exposed or they will devoure the sheep
Let us pray for the Pope , to clean out the filthy wolves in the church.
I got to this story from GetReligion.org. Although Archbishop Lori is too gracious a man to say it, it seems that an appropriate response might have been, “That’s a clown question, bro.”
Wonder if this is a situation of double-effect. The Bishops intention is to oppose a government from defining religion.
The unintended effect, the unfortunate result of the president’s actions, is that he appears to be trying to change the subject, and that his regulation may impact the upcoming election.
Really, now.
Hospital visits are not something we look forward to.
Aside from the normal reason we may go, it is pretty expensive.
Seems hard to imagine to voluntarily go to a hospital to pick up a pack of contraceptives $$$$$$$$?
A local csv will sell them for $9-$30 for a month’s supply.
Affordable? Accessible?
I’m here shaking my head as if to say I don’t believe this!And I can tell by the questioning, that Jerry Filteau has no respect for religious clergy,No matter what position they may represent in the church.Obviously he has not been a member of the Knight’s of Columbus himself.He should be informed that our true Supreme Leader is the Holy Trinity.Our Founder was a Priest and we will support the Roman Catholic Church as necessary to complete our divine mission on this earth as created by GOD.Bless You, Jerry
If ‘“partisan” means biased in favor of a particular cause or zealous supporter of an organization As a proud Knight I plead to be partisan and supportive about our beloved order’s alleged funding of the bishops’ campaign against the HHS mandate.
Religious liberty is at the crux of the HSS mandate and is no time for being impartial or indecisive . Too much is at stake. As committed Catholics and Knights we must support our Bishops with our prayers and actions.
First, the National Catholic Reporter is a Left wing rag and is anything but Catholic. NCR is simply a propaganda tool of the Marxist Democrat Party.
As a proud KNIGHT, I completely agree with Rob from St. Louis. Well said Brother!!
I’m proud to read about many brother knights in this blog supporting the Bishops
However, I find very hard to swallow that any of us can in any way support those who promote abortion, same-sex “marriage, homosexual practices, HSS mandate which are against the teaching of the Catholic Church
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