Ed Garvey: Morlino's actions a step backward

Ed Garvey  —  9/23/2008 5:29 am

From Pope John XXIII to Bishop Robert Morlino, it's a long and disappointing journey to be sure. It could be called "from hope to despair." I remember when it was fun to be Catholic. Midnight Mass, the smell of incense, the majesty of song and ritual. And when the people got their pope, John XXIII, pure optimism filled the churches.

Pope John opened the windows, old books on ecumenism were dusted off, and young and old could dream that the church of Dorothy Day was in full bloom. John F. Kennedy was elected president and that raised hopes even higher. The church leaders did not attack Kennedy, and JFK made clear he believed in separation of church and state.

It was exciting at home and abroad. The liberation theology in Latin America gave us hope the church would break ties with corrupt dictators, and surely the ban on birth control would disappear along with celibacy. A fresh breeze was felt in the church.

What went wrong? Why are we back to another Pope Pius rather than celebrating a latter-day John? Why are gays being punished? Why are people who liked the church so angry? Who stole the fun and excitement? The envelope please

A couple of hints. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that the music director at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Verona was fired. Canned. Why? Not poor performance. Allegedly because five families complained about his "gay lifestyle" and then "Bishop Morlino's office became involved, leading to his dismissal," according to the fired music director. Instead of defending the music director, Morlino sided with the narrow-minded self-appointed judges.

How do we know which side the bishop was on? We are told that Morlino does not comment on personnel matters, but he made Monsignor James Bartylla available to the media. Bartylla runs a program called "Courage." (I am not making this up.) The program counsels people with "same-sex attraction." You know -- gays. Not courage to stand up to bigots. No, courage to deal with their sin! The feeling of same-sex attraction is dangerous. The "condition" is not a sin, per se. The sin is acting on the attraction. Jimmy Carter lusting in his heart was OK, but if he acted on it he would likely go to hell.

So, one must ask, how does the bishop know if there has been a forbidden act? Did someone investigate? Violate privacy? Sad moment for the church.

Instead of moving away from the military in Latin America, Bishop Morlino agreed to serve on the board of visitors to the place that has promoted techniques that violate human rights: the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas. It's a slap at John XXIII, a message to the clergy to get in line.

And there is the survey the bishop authorized concerning the new cathedral. According to the company he hired to survey priests on a confidential basis, the bishop "sought the names as well as the comments of priests who had been interviewed." Wow!

And last week? Oh yes, it is time for presidential politics again. Morlino gratuitously attacked Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden for being concerned about the health of the mother while opposing most abortions. Vote for John McCain seems to be the message.

Bishop Morlino, I know lots of people who loved the church but are astounded by your actions. They can barely see the church of John XXIII. They would like to tell you to open your heart to those who need you and to keep your church out of politics. Read JFK's Houston speech to the Protestant bishops on church and state. Good reading.

Ed Garvey is a Madison lawyer, political activist and the editor of the fightingbob.com Web site.

Ed Garvey  —  9/23/2008 5:29 am