An excellent posting yesterday from Geoff Farrow, the California Catholic priest punished for opposing prop 8. He details the strategy of the California Catholic bishops as they involved the Mormons in the battle for prop 8 (http://fathergeofffarrow.blogspot.com/2008/12/checking-rearview-mirror-before-driving.html):The brilliance of inviting the Mormons to become involved is twofold. First, they bankrolled a significant share of the costs for "yes on 8." Second, they take the PR body punch for having done so. The Catholic hierarchy of California donated only a small amount of the total funds, their proclamation on Prop. 8 was understated and almost apologetic. The Knights of Columbus anted up the lion's share of "Catholic" cash, thereby relieving the bishops of California financially and in PR fallout. In brief, it was brilliant. The Mormons shell out the cash, take the PR hit for having done so and the Catholic bishops sneak away whistling in the dark. After all, it was the Mormons and to a far lesser extent the Knights of Columbus who wrote the checks. Everything goes back to business as usual and the gays are kept down in their place. I think it is time to review the role of organized religious groups in political campaigns. It is one thing to express a view on various moral issues. It is quite something else to operate as a PAC (Political Action Committee).
I think it is time to review the role of organized religious groups in political campaigns.
Yes. We should be pushing the federal government as hard as we can to investigate and correct the misuse of church funds to cross the church-state line.
If theocrats are able to get away with what they did in this last election, and are allowed to whistle off into the dark with their guilt unexamined, the future of our democracy is imperiled.
