When I read this piece by Dan Bice, I actually said "Wow," out loud.
Apparently Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, who told Bice that both sides could have a given little, did not know that Walker refused to negotiate with the unions even after they agreed to accept all the economic demands that Walker had made, and that Walker persisted so he could also win other concessions, like mandatory annual union re-certification, and an end to work rule and working condition bargaining, too.
It makes me so angry listening to all the coverage the Catholic Church has gotten over the last few weeks. This is just another piece of that puzzle about why it makes me angry. Note: I'm not angry because I disagree with their religious beliefs. That has nothing to do with it.
ReplyDeleteWhat angers me about this particular piece is that the Archbishop does't even seem to care that Walker's policies have been making things harder-- during already very tough times-- on the working class and poor in Wisconsin. He seems to completely ignore how the Bishops in America called for health care for all. He seems not only ill informed on the actual politics in Wisconsin as Mr. Rowen points out. He seems ill informed about the actual aims and goals of the Catholic Church, i.e. to help the needy and the afflicted.
Couple this with the way the US media simply ignores the Catholic Church on many salient and powerful issues, for example when the Church was against the Iraq War invasion or how the Church is all for health care for all, and I'm left just sickened by the whole political culture and media culture. The media ignores the Church on so many issues. Yet when Obama's administration addresses contraception, the story becomes a full on onslaught of Obama and his supposed attack on religion. It's a joke. There are other facts too, but I'll leave it there.
Lastly, the Archbishop clearly does;t even grasp what the function of a recall is. There doesn't have to be any malfeasance involved to trigger a recall. It's a safety valve on democracy for EXACTLY THIS OCCASION: a politician or group of politicians acting in ways that they never let the public know about before the election took place. It's a political sucker-punch and the public has a right to fight back. That's why many states have these sorts of procedures written into their constitutions, including provisions to repeal or negate individual pieces of legislation.
The Archbishop should stick to nurturing people's souls because he clearly can't tell his ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to politics.
And again, I have to ask, why are we suddenly giving the Catholic Church so much political capitol?
And after a bit of soul-searching, the Dear Archbishop decides to take the plank out of his (and his organization's ) own eye, to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, to render unto the Lord that which is the Lord's, and then surprisingly concludes that he will study to be quiet, and to do his own business, and to work with his own hands, as (they) commanded him. And indeed that if he suffer it be not as a common criminal nor even as a meddler.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when I have to remind an Archbishop of scripture that I learned as a child - don't you?
Wow indeed.
He will not get payed this year.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that this is not in print form or did I miss it this morning? Regardless-the backlash from the Catholic's wallets will be severe. Email the Arch and give him a piece of your mind.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteHe's taking the same tack the Journal Sentinel does, opposing recall on process grounds (it should only be used in cases of corruption, etc.) to not seem to back Walker.
My only question is who got to Listecki: Wisconsin Right to Life (stand with Scott, he's pro-life) or the MMAC, who already gives the JS editorial page its marching orders (hey, Scott increased support for choice schools).
And yes, I'm a Catholic, and will proudly drive my car with a Recall Walker sticker to Mass.
This is all about the arch bishop receiving 40 pieces of silver in order to betray his own faith. This is the pay back for the expansion of school choice, the taxpayer's dollars with no accountability that are the life blood of this catholic diocese that is in bankruptcy. The only question for me is will he see that he has betrayed his lord and hang himself from a tree? At least Judas had the decency to do that.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes I am a Catholic - a Catholic that is ashamed of his church and its money grubbing ways.