I find it hard to believe that anyone who has read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Evengelium Vitae, Living the Gospel of Life, Between Man and Woman, or any of the other statements from the Holy See or the US bishops on marriage and human life would find them “watered down”.

If there is any fault for infidelity here, it lies with those who have chosen to ignore the truth as proclaimed by the Church.

And the fact that many so-called Catholics put men like Cuomo in office is precisely the fault of the Bishops. They have watered down Catholic teaching to the point where out catechesis is not unlike the Unitarians or any other liberal heretical sect. So his complaints about what the Catholic voters do should end up right back at his doorstep – where the blame belongs.

I think we need to take into account that they’re most directly accountable to voters. We bishops make clear Church teaching, and if someone strays, we address it in private pastoral conversations. As for public accountability, that’s where the Catholic faithful have the major responsibility. It’s really not fair when Catholic voters elect politicians opposed to Church teaching, then look to the Church for reproval. Bishops are not in a position to order politicians how to vote, but we try to form their consciences on the basis of Church teaching. If Catholic voters would be clearer in terms of what they expect from Catholic politicians, that’s the clearest form of accountability.

Mr. Mechmann you can bemoan the governor of this state all you want, as I do; but bishops like Dolan, Hubbard (albany), etc DO NOTHING. He will continue to approach the altar and be given the Body and Blood of our Lord – to the shame of the Bishops……. Governor Cuomo – according to Canon Law – ceased to be Catholic the minute he publicly and knowingly pushed for society to accept what is contrary to Church teaching. And thats leaving aside his public concubinage with a married (sacramentally) woman.

But you will never hear this from Dolan
You will never see Cuomo refused Communion
You will never hear the Bishops go against him
You will never see any Bishop disciplined from Rome for this
You will never see a priest told to refuse him at the altar
But, you will see courageous priests disciplined for refusing him

I guess it comes down to, what do the Bishops fear most, the condemnation of man, or the judgement of God for denying Him? Unforunately today, the Bishops fear offending man more than offending God.

The answer to the gay marriage “debate” is not found in sociology, psychology, etc. It is found in scripture and the sure teaching of the Catholic Church – when its leaders have the guts to proclaim it.
Rome burns and the Bishops fiddle away, happy to be loved by the world…….

We are like sheep being led to the slaughter. State promotion of homosexual behavior will become fully justified, especially in schools, where small children, will be exposed to and encouraged to question their sexuality and engage in homosexual experimentation. Gay-straight Alliance clubs will increase in numbers and the explicit promotion of homosexual sex as normal will increase. Little will be said about the extreme risks of venereal diseases, cancers, alcohol and drug use, depression and other emotional problems, and suicides. This is the culture of death advancing on our hearts, our minds, our very souls.

We need an earthquake to wake up. I think Archbishop Dolan needs to step forward in a very public way as he did with abortion. Perhaps a Youtube message (Bishop Tobin’s warnings included in your 3.7.11 Varia apply to New York as well). The destruction of marriage will only happen if we let it (Tobin’s “apathy”) but we need a shepherd to frame the argument — show us the way.