Bravo to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for publishing this column by Colleen Carroll Campbell reminding folks of that fact, in light of bigoted criticism of St. Louis Archbishop Raymond BurkeÂ’s decision to resign from the board of Cardinal Glennon ChildrenÂ’s Hospital in a dispute over the hospitalÂ’s decision to sponsor a fundraiser featuring scandalously pro-abortion singer Sheryl Crow.

Crow has the right to her opinions. But it makes no more sense for Burke and the Catholic institutions he oversees to lend Crow a platform than for Planned Parenthood to appoint Burke emcee of its next Gala for Choice.

Some critics have argued that Burke had no business objecting to Crow because many Catholics disagree with his views on these issues. Yet Burke's stance reflects more than his private opinion; it is also the official teaching of the Catholic Church. The Church holds that abortion is a serious moral evil because it destroys innocent human life, and it opposes embryonic stem cell research and cloning for the same reason. Church teaching insists that one must never cooperate in these acts or give even tacit approval to them. There are no exceptions allowed — not for socially conscious rock stars, not for fiscally conscious charity organizers, not even for bishops operating under the glare of media scrutiny.

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Burke's resignation from the foundation board clarified how seriously the Catholic Church takes its teaching about the sanctity of human life from its earliest stages. That teaching may not be popular or politically correct, but Burke has the right to defend it. To vilify him for speaking out because he wears a bishop's mitre is the epitome of religious intolerance. Such intolerance should frighten religious believers and free speech defenders of all political persuasions.

I wrote a much shorter letter to the editor in Chicago back during my seminary days, defending Joseph Cardinal Bernardin against charges that his statements in defense of unborn human life were unAmerican. I'm glad to see this much more complete defense of Archbishop Burke in a major daily.

Posted by: Greg at 11:06 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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