The Consequence of Silence

Defending the defenders

Complaisant church leaders in America need to step up. From LifeSiteNews:

Army general flares: ‘where were the churches’ in fight against Don’t Ask repeal?

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One of America’s most seasoned war generals expressed frustration at the silence of Christian churches as the U.S. military’s ban on open homosexuality fell to a repeal effort earlier this year.

Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin described at the Values Voter Summit on Saturday the exasperation of pro-family leaders in Washington who found themselves abandoned by church leaders unwilling to make a stand for the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. ...

Notably, while the Vatican had released a statement in 1992 supporting a ban on open homosexuality in the military, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops remained silent on the repeal effort, leaving military Archbishop Timothy Broglio to defend the ban alone. When questioned on the controversy in December 2010, Washington’s Cardinal Donald Wuerl demurred, saying “there isn’t a specific Catholic Church position” on the issue.

Nice work, Cardinal Wuerl. That's the way to lead. Cardinal Wuerl should know better. The repeal of DADT is an obvious step in a wider, nationwide movement toward the normalization, integration and acceptance of homosexual activity. Not to get that manifests a stunning, almost incomprehensible naiveté on the part of the prelate. A scintilla of leadership and moral clarity from someone of Cardinal Weurl's influence and stature would have been expected. Sadly, he equivocates and disappoints.