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harry
August 22nd, 2012 | 10:01 am

Re: The Great Bi-Polar Catholicism

I am not surprised that Fr. Barron’s analysis of Catholic Social Teaching is very thoughtful and perceptive.

I would just add that in addition to everyone keeping “this peculiarly Catholic balance in mind as the debate over Paul Ryan’s policies unfolds,” we would also keep in mind the intense debate that should be taking place over the policies of the other Catholic VP candidate, as one cannot even pretend that Joe Biden’s policies on the life issues are anything but an assault on Catholic orthodoxy.

Ryan’s own Bishop had this to say:


Some of the most fundamental issues for the formation of a Catholic conscience are as follows: sacredness of human life from conception to natural death, marriage, religious freedom and freedom of conscience, and a right to private property. …

… Violations of the above involve intrinsic evil — that is, an evil which cannot be justified by any circumstances whatsoever. These evils are examples of direct pollution of the ecology of human nature and can be discerned as such by human reason alone. Thus, all people of good will who wish to follow human reason should deplore any and all violations in the above areas, without exception. The violations would be: abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, same-sex marriage, government-coerced secularism, and socialism. …

Vice Presidential Candidate Ryan is aware of Catholic Social Teaching and is very careful to fashion and form his conclusions in accord with the principles mentioned above. Of that I have no doubt.


Would Biden’s bishop dare say the same of Joe Biden?