Priests "disciplined" for their political views

[TechBear_Seattle]

Not so academic a question: Can the Catholic Church legally suspend priests who refuse to endorse the Church's political views? Does becoming a priest, with it's traditional vow of obedience to one's bishop, mean giving up one's political autonomy forever and ever, amen? It would seem so.

Next question: What about the vow of obedience to church doctrine taken at confirmation, especially when the Church is now agressively stating that it's purely political opinions are Holy Dogma?

Priests Disciplined For Opposing Anti-Gay Amendment
by Margo Williams 365Gay.com Boston Bureau

Posted: September 29, 2005 9:00 pm ET

(Westborough, Massachusetts) The Reverend George Lange of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westborough, Massachusetts has been removed, at least temporarily, for opposing a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage.

Lange's associate pastor was also removed. The action came after the two placed an article in the parish bulletin voicing their opposition to the proposed amendment.

"The priests of this parish do not feel that they can support this amendment. They do not see any value to it and they see it as an attack upon certain people in our parish, namely those who are gay," the item in the article said.

The state's four Catholic bishops are leading a signature drive to get the amendment on a ballot in the 2008 election.

The article continues at http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/092905massPriest.htm

[meow2u3]

1. How about punishing priests for supporting economic injustice?

Why are some members in the Church so obsessed with sexual conduct while appearing unconcerned with the widening gap between rich and poor? Is that because the conservos are in charge?

I'm sick of the one- or two-issue politics going on in the church. It really seems as if the fundies are taking over.

[Anywho6]

2. Knew quite a few priests/seminarians during the 60s and 70s...

...and they were very political and involved in the anti-war movement (most of the group that were friends of the family were actually "draft dodgers"). They also campaigned heavily for Democratic Congressman Romano Mazzoli. Then again, I can't say that I know what the Catholic Church's stand on the Vietnam War was (I was pretty young at the time). I also knew older priests with a way more conservative viewpoint, so I never got the impression that they gave up their "political autonomy forever."

[arewenotdemo]

3. Try this

http://www.reformation.org/vietnam.html

[Anywho6]

4. Very interesting conspiracy theory

It's incredible that those guys were allowed to become priests and brothers, then. I guess the Church was too busy in Vietnam to pay attention.