Per Christum

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, acting like those ordained in Apostolic Succession, charged with guarding the faith, should, have called Daniel Maguire’s views “erroneous” and “incompatible with the Church’s Teaching.” His representation of his views as Catholic is deemed “irresponsible.”

So who is Daniel Maguire, and what does he teach? Maguire is a professor at Marquette university, and in his pamphlets has claimed that there is no one Catholic position on contraception or abortion, and that there is no teaching on these issues that binds all Catholics. Maguire speaks of the “extremely conservative” position held by the pope and other bishops, and then the more “moderate and sensible view” held by other theologians on these issues. Of course, it is no surprise that Maguire himself holds the “sensible” view (was the use of “sensible” a dead give-away??).

The bishops are right to do this. A fifth grader with a Catholic education could easily explain the Catholic position on abortion and contraception. A fifth grader could explain the nature of Catholic authority, vested in the authority of the bishops in union with the pope. That Maguire does not “know” this is either equivocation or wishful thinking on his part that the Catholic Church will turn into the church of him and his friends in the academy. The response of the bishops shows that the tide truly is turning toward Catholicism, and that the 1970s haven’t overrun the Catholic Church, as they have others. Sure, last night I was singing along to some 1970s songs by Todd Rungren, but enjoying rock music from the 70s is different than locking the Church into the trends of one generation.

Kudos to the bishops for doing their job.

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