Congratulations to Archbishop William E. Lori on his statements at the recent Knights of Columbus convention in Anaheim, Calif. – more importantly, for his courage and leadership in making them. Perhaps his example will embolden the timid among us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to re-assert our First Amendment religious rights.
His actions also remind us that our Church teachings and “deeply held religious beliefs” actually come from Jesus, through the Church. They do not come from politicians who masquerade as Catholics but promote or mandate policies that pervert those teachings and fundamentally transform them into their moral opposites.
It’s time to step outside our self-imposed prison of fear concerning things like tax-exempt status, separation of Church from State, offending some political figure or group, etc., and re-engage in open and honest dialogue as fully-participating citizens about our country and our culture – where they are and where they’re heading – always in the over-arching context of doing the right things, the right way, for the right reasons. And the time to start is right now.
Bud Nason
New Windsor
Parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle, Libertytown