PHOENIX, Ariz. — When speakers withdrew from a Church-hosted memorial for victims of a recent heat wave, it put Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix in the hot seat.

The controversy, sparked by a report in the Arizona Republic, put the spotlight on a diocesan policy to shun people who have views contrary to Church teaching from speaking at Church-related events or on Church property. That policy was enacted last year.

While the Diocese of Phoenix denied that anyone was excluded, and subsequent reports failed to identify anyone who was barred from speaking, the newspaper's report has raised again the controversy surrounding a policy that makes several local politicians and political activists, including Gov. Janet Napolitano, unwelcome.

Napolitano is outspoken in her support of abortion. Others may be barred for support of same-sex “marriage” or euthanasia. Each is feeling the impact of Phoenix's attempt to implement “Catholics in Public Life,” the guidelines for speakers and guests, published last year by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The brief statement called on all Catholics to teach clearly the Church's commitment to the legal protection of human life from conception to natural death, and persuade public officials to support the protection of life through “effective dialogue and engagement.”

The bishops wrote, “The separation of church and state does not require division between belief and public action, between moral principles and political choices, but protects the right of believers and religious groups to practice their faith and act on their values in public life.”

Therefore, Catholics should uphold these principles by not supporting or honoring political figures “who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

Ron Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, said it's up to the local pastors and schools to decide, “but there is certainly a primacy of issue of concern to the Church, with the sanctity of life at the top of that.”

He said, “For these issues, it doesn't matter what faith you are, or whether you're an elected official or not, these matters are intrinsically evil and it's our intention not to give a platform to those who have publicly stated a position that supports evil.”

Varying Policies

Although Napolitano, a Methodist, was forbidden to speak at a Scottsdale Catholic Church last October, the governor's spokeswoman, Jeanine L'Ecuyer, felt it was a small matter.

“The governor thinks it's unfortunate, but the Church has the ability and the privilege to make its own decisions,” L'Ecuyer said.

Ultimately, L'Ecuyer said, the public votes for or against an elected official on a variety of issues, “which, regardless of faith, people can agree upon.”

While Bishop Gerald Kicanas, in the adjacent Diocese of Tucson, has allowed the governor to speak, he said his diocese's position is not at odds with the Diocese of Phoenix.

“Each bishop has the responsibility to determine who can speak in Catholic institutions,” Bishop Kicanas said. “However, Bishop Olmsted and I work together to address issues in the state of Arizona.”

Diocese of Tucson spokesman Fred Allison said the governor was allowed to speak at a Catholic church for the 15th anniversary of the Pima County Interfaith Council, and again at the memorial service for a Pima County deputy sheriff, killed in the line of duty, but, in both cases, she spoke in her official capacity as governor.

“To characterize their policies as being opposed to each other would be unfair,” Allison said.

Uniform Approach

He said implementation of the bishops' conference statement still varies widely, from Bishop Lawrence Brandt of the Diocese of Greensburg, Penn., who issued a detailed statement on criteria for speakers, to Bishop Jerome Listecki of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis. who requires prior approval for any speaker, to the positions taken by Bishops Kicanas and Olmsted.

Because a more uniform approach is needed, Allison said this is expected to be a major topic of discussion at this year's meeting of the bishops' conference.

The La Crosse policy, issued July 25, requires prior approval of the bishop for “any person under consideration to lecture, present a workshop, give a retreat or otherwise speak or give an address on faith and morals on diocesan property.”

“There's been a great deal of confusion experienced by a number of dioceses around the country” on the issue, Bishop Listecki told Catholic News Service. “Various Catholic speakers are given a platform by some local churches and institutions, and some of the speakers hold positions contrary to the Catholic teaching. At times this is not always obvious, and when it's discovered it becomes a source of embarrassment to the Church and at times a misunderstanding to the Catholic faithful.”

In order to get the bishop's approval in La Crosse, the host organization must provide documentation on the proposed speaker for the bishop to review. A form must be submitted with the documentation, which is to include a curriculum vitae; a letter establishing that the proposed speaker is a Catholic in good standing; for priests, a “celebret,” which shows that he has permission to celebrate the sacraments outside his diocese; and for college and university professors, a “mandatum” from their bishop if they have one.

Deeply Divided

For non-Catholics, the curriculum vitae must be accompanied by written assurance that a speaker's presentation will not conflict with Catholic teaching.

If the bishops are talking, Catholic colleges are still deeply divided, with many in defiance of the bishops' statement, said Patrick Reilly, president and chief executive of the Cardinal Newman Society, which has taken on dissenting Catholic colleges in a series of public protests.

Reilly said, “Our mission is renewal of Catholic identity at Catholic colleges.” He said the colleges are often centers of public dissent, either through advocacy of positions contrary to Church doctrine or “inviting speakers to public events that create scandal.”

He said, “Although the argument from the colleges is, ‘Why not let everyone speak,’ their position suggests that the Church doesn't take the actions of public officials seriously, which is wrong.”

Even if John Kennedy said in 1960, “I do not speak for my Church on public matters and the Church does not speak for me,” Reilly said the Catholic Church “does tell us what to do. I think that was one of Pope John Paul II's greatest contributions, making the distinction between personal and political authority.”

He said, “The Church doesn't make day-to-day decisions for us on political issues, but there's a responsibility to adhere to Catholic teaching, because the Church does have moral authority.”

Philip S. Moore writes from Vail, Arizona.

Catholic News Service contributed to this report.