by George Neumayr, contributing editor to The American Spectator
But say this at least for Sister Obamacare: she displays gumption that the waffling U.S. bishops lack. She still wears the pants in the clerical family.
She spun Obama’s “compromise” effortlessly, while the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was caught flatfooted. [...] USCCB president Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan initially praised Obama’s con job as a first “step in the right direction.” This gave the White House nearly a day of good publicity with which to confuse Catholics.
“Encouraging” words from the USCCB, declared CNN’s Wolf Blitzer last Friday. Other networks and newspapers soon followed with rosy reports that blared, “USCCB: Obama compromise a ‘step in the right direction.’”
Later that Friday, the USCCB issued a new statement pronouncing Obama’s revision “unacceptable.” But the damage was already done.
Keehan must chuckle at the cluelessness and doctrinal timidity of the bishops. The USCCB still can’t decide if “Catholic” pols whipping the Church in America on issues like abortion and gay marriage should be denied Communion. This is too tough a call for the USCCB, so no uniform policy exists. (In a typical comment from the USCCB crowd, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. has said that he won’t withhold Communion from Nancy Pelosi, as that “style” of confrontation makes him uncomfortable.)
While the bishops dither, Keehan ruthlessly organizes the Little Sisters of Leftism for Obama’s reelection. Her task is a little trickier this year but she could still pull it off.
In 2008, many bishops, priests, and nuns voted for Obama and they probably will again. At the end of the day, they are Democrats first and Catholics second. Besides, they agree with Obama on issues like birth control. They, too, view the Church’s teachings as passé.
Read the entire article at The American Spectator.
My comment: I would add that, sadly, there are also those who are conservatives first and Catholics second.
