http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/blog/wisconsin-catholic-bishop-contradicts-usccb-to-support-paul-ryan/ Advancing faith as a powerful force for justice, compassion and the common good. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:20:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/blog/wisconsin-catholic-bishop-contradicts-usccb-to-support-paul-ryan/#comment-46161 E.D. Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:09:10 +0000 http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/?p=16115#comment-46161 In fact, Bishop Morlino has true authority over his diocese and to speak on this matter relating to Paul Ryan, a Catholic of the Diocese of Madison. He's limited himself to speaking about what really is up to him to be able to speak about, that Paul Ryan is a very responsible layman who makes decisions in real accord with Catholic teaching; exactly how Ryan applies it is not really the competence of bishops to opine about. This blog post misunderstands and misrepresents the relationship of bishops with the national bishops' conference. Bishops govern their dioceses independently (in union with the Pope) and each speak independently. The nature of a national bishops' conference is not that it has any governing capability that can preempt the authority of a bishop in his own diocese, it is NOT a governing entity over bishops. It is a coordinating body, which in our day also serves as a voice for the bishops nationally. There were in fact multiple bishops who had words of criticism for a USCCB office that had publicly opined against Ryan's budget plan, it is not their job to take a position on something like that (which is the domain of the laity). In fact Catholics could agree or disagree on that budget. Protecting the life of the unborn and protecting our free exercise of religion, on the other hand, are non negotiable issues for Catholics, which the US bishops are ALL in accord on, really basic for anyone who is a faithful Catholic. Catholics seriously believe people have a right to food and health care, and that we personally have an obligation of service to others and their needs, but do NOT believe there is an obligation to have state-centered provision of these things. In our day, the ways in which that statism can be gravely problematic have been highlighted. In fact, Bishop Morlino has true authority over his diocese and to speak on this matter relating to Paul Ryan, a Catholic of the Diocese of Madison. He’s limited himself to speaking about what really is up to him to be able to speak about, that Paul Ryan is a very responsible layman who makes decisions in real accord with Catholic teaching; exactly how Ryan applies it is not really the competence of bishops to opine about. This blog post misunderstands and misrepresents the relationship of bishops with the national bishops’ conference. Bishops govern their dioceses independently (in union with the Pope) and each speak independently. The nature of a national bishops’ conference is not that it has any governing capability that can preempt the authority of a bishop in his own diocese, it is NOT a governing entity over bishops. It is a coordinating body, which in our day also serves as a voice for the bishops nationally. There were in fact multiple bishops who had words of criticism for a USCCB office that had publicly opined against Ryan’s budget plan, it is not their job to take a position on something like that (which is the domain of the laity). In fact Catholics could agree or disagree on that budget. Protecting the life of the unborn and protecting our free exercise of religion, on the other hand, are non negotiable issues for Catholics, which the US bishops are ALL in accord on, really basic for anyone who is a faithful Catholic. Catholics seriously believe people have a right to food and health care, and that we personally have an obligation of service to others and their needs, but do NOT believe there is an obligation to have state-centered provision of these things. In our day, the ways in which that statism can be gravely problematic have been highlighted.

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