Recently a local Rhode Island political pundit callously quoted on his blog a Rhode Island state representative’s claim that Catholic priests were endorsing candidates from the pulpit during the recent Rhode Island Primary Election.
The claim was later removed from the Website. This use of a reckless and unsupported statement by an elected official against the good Catholic pastors of the City of Warwick was printed free of any substantiated facts and seemingly never even verified by the pundit who is known for this left-leaning ideological stance.
However, this did not stop the erroneous allegation that Catholic priests are recklessly violating Internal Revenue Service guidelines and easily endorsing political candidates. Apparently, even in the name of “honest journalism,” reporting the truth need not be unnecessary when one uses social communications. Sadly, this attack upon the truth was further disseminated by the political advocacy group Common Cause which shamelessly passed along the baseless allegation against Catholic priests to their many adherents of “good government.” Vilifying the voice of the Catholic Church in public policy debates seems to have some common allies among journalists, political activists and even elected officials who are presumably supposed to represent all constituents, including parish priests in their districts.
The criticism of the Catholic Church as exerting too much influence in public policy in Rhode Island seems to be a hobby horse for many in our state and this reckless allegation seems to be the latest sinister attempt to attack Catholics of all political stripes. However, just as the debate surrounding the proper the role of the church in the public life of the nation and here in Rhode Island is sure to continue beyond the November elections, so shall the Catholic Church continue to strengthen the Ocean State by speaking out clearly and loudly on the public policy issues of our age and promoting the common good of all citizens, Catholic or otherwise. It is a rather unfortunate day in the Ocean State when good Catholic priests are subject to scurrilous and baseless attacks by an elected official, but it is even sadder when he is then aided and abetted by willing journalists and so-called “good government” groups. Their common cause seems to be animus towards the large Catholic community of Rhode Island rather than the common good of our state.
