The Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland, responding to erroneous reports circulating across the internet says neither he nor any of the diocesan personnel involved in the Faithful Citizenship parish presentations has ever endorsed, either directly or indirectly, any candidate for the presidency of the United States or any political party.
The reports have attempted to tie The Faithful Citizenship, non-partisan presentations in the Diocese?s parishes, to support for a specific presidential candidate or to a political party. Such reports have attempted to suggest that the presentations give the impression that Catholics can vote for the promotion of intrinsic evils and ?feel good about it.?
These reports are false and mischaracterize the content of the Faithful Citizenship presentations.
The Faithful Citizenship presentations are based directly on the statement of the Catholic Bishops of the United States in their most recent version of the Faithful Citizenship document from October 2011. The Bishops? statement is quoted extensively throughout the course of the presentation, including the portions of the Bishops? statement that clearly indicate that intrinsic evils, such as abortion, must always be opposed and that a Catholic can never in good conscience vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil if it is the voter?s intent to support that position.
Bishop Lennon noted, ?There is no evidence that the Faithful Citizenship presentations are biased, but reflect the straightforward teachings of the United States Bishops and the Catholic Church on how an individual?s faith relates to his voting choices. This issue has been grossly distorted by a few individuals who wrongly claim to represent the entire Right to Life movement and whose purpose is not to shed light on authentic Catholic teaching but to remake and narrow the scope of Catholic teaching to fit their own personal agenda.? Bishop Lennon also noted that it is very telling that the detractors have given no specific example of any statement made at the forums that is contrary to Church beliefs and teaching.
Further proof of the non-partisan nature of the Faith Citizenship presentations was addressed in an email to a Diocesan official. In that letter, a locally prominent Right to Life leader who attended one of the sessions wrote about the Diocesan presenter who has been the focal point of criticism as well as the content of the presentations. The Right to Life leader wrote, ?When (name withheld) made her presentation, it wasn?t something she made up. It was a USCCB (U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops) power point that was being used all over the country. Again, it emphasized that Catholics had the responsibility NOT to vote for someone who supported the intrinsic evils. This was emphasized over and over, even though all social injustices were discussed.?
9/26/12