U.S. Election Message to Catholic Bishops: Time to Clean House

The problem is systemic throughout North America and most of Europe

Commentary by Steve Jalsevac

November 10, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The

impassioned teaching to the faithful by many US

Catholic bishops during the US election was

something not seen for many years, and, for

millions, not ever in their lifetimes. It was

wonderful to behold; but, as we mentioned a few

times, it was late, very late. Despite the many

statements from bishops exhorting their flocks to

vote pro-life, Americans who identify themselves

as Catholic voted 54% for the pro-abortion

extremist Barack Obama. Why? It's not difficult to

figure out.

The US Church is in a huge mess, a mess that





cannot be expected to be repaired overnight with

 

any number of bishops’ statements. Indeed, it



should be obvious that the message of this election



 to the Church is that it's time to clean house and



 repent, renew and rebuild - for the good of all.







When many bishops (still only some 100 out of





 300) suddenly began to courageously teach the



 undiluted truth, apparently no longer afraid of



criticism, not nearly enough Catholics were



 disposed to properly respond. Most current



 Catholics have been raised in a negligent, divided



and often rebellious US Church. The strong



teaching especially fell deaf on the ears of those



 who don't regularly attend church - now a



majority of Catholics. They have for too many



years been deprived of the continuous formation



that would have allowed them to respond to the



bishops’ exhortations to put things in an eternal



 perspective.





The problem is systemic throughout North





 America and most of Europe. It concerns far more



 than the lack of sound teaching on abortion and



 other moral issues. "Catholic" institutions, and



 those running them, are to a large degree



 spiritually dead or at best lukewarm and far from



being truly Catholic. For too many years the



bishops have allowed this to happen. Without the



 nourishment of a true Catholic identity, these



 nominally “Catholic” institutions cannot produce



 good fruit.





What does this mean for non-Catholics? Well, had





 Catholics voted as Catholics, Barack Obama



 would not have been elected. More than that,



 many more principled candidates would have



 received support to run and would have been



 elected, Catholic or not. Their religious



 denomination would not have made much



 difference, as long as they adhered to core Judeo-



Christian principles.





As Rabbi Yehuda Levin has repeatedly indicated, if





 Catholics got their act together, America would be



much better off morally and culturally. As well,



people of all traditional faiths, such as Orthodox



 Jews, would be more protected from persecution.





Many of us saw it coming - what the election of





Obama would mean for life, family and freedom of



 religion and conscience. Already there is strong



evidence that our worst fears of an Obama



 presidency will soon be fulfilled.  Barring some



 special intervention from God, we are in for a very



 rough time, like nothing we have ever seen in the



 past in North America. God could be said to have



 judged His people and found them very wanting.



 So, we get Obama and all his minions.





Now for the good news. There is significant hope





 for the US Church in that there are still enough



 good bishops, priests and faithful laity to make



 renewal and rebuilding a feasible goal. Hope is



 never lost for true Christians. In fact it is integral



 to the faith. A hopeless Christian is an oxymoron.



Furthermore, the current situation is exactly the





type of situation that has generated great renewals



 of faith and heroism in the past. The wheat will be



 separated from the chaff. Those amazing



 statements from bishops prior to the election are a



 precursor to much more heroic shepherding to



come. Finally, the bishops are awakening.



Christian leaders of other denominations disposed



 to fidelity to their spiritual roots will do likewise.





This is not a time for pointing fingers and for anger. It is rather a time for





repentance and for renewing our commitment to promoting the culture of



life. The culture of death reigns because of the



persistent failings of Christians and their natural



 allies. Now we must accept our responsibility



 and work with God to restore what we have



 rejected. He will provide all the help needed.

See Part II





US Election Message to Catholic Bishops Part II: This week's Bishops' Assembly



http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08111412.html

See Part III:









US Election Message to Catholic Bishops Part III: The Broken Window Strategy







http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08112014.html





See Part IV



Series on US Election Message to Bishops Concludes With Part IV



http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08112810.html