BALTIMORE, Maryland, November 15, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – “Conservatives still control the USCCB,” a prominent Jesuit priest tweeted after the U.S. bishops voted against electing San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy to chair their International Justice and Peace Committee.
Vote on chair for International Justice & Peace Com, McElroy 88, Broglio 127, shows conservatives still control USCCB #usccb16
— Thomas Reese, S.J. (@ThomasReeseSJ) November 15, 2016
Father Thomas Reese writes for the National Catholic Reporter.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of Military Services was elected to chair the bishops' International Justice and Peace Committee. He received 127 votes and McElroy received 88.
Bishop McElroy is among the slate of liberal bishops in the U.S. given new prominence under Pope Francis. At last year's meeting, he joined Chicago Cardinal-elect Blase Cupich in an unsuccessful bid to push the USCCB to downplay issues like abortion and religious freedom in favour of poverty and the environment.
McElroy has called the language on homosexual acts that the Church uses in the catechism “very destructive.” In a recent voter guide, he put environmentalism on par with abortion. Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, McElroy accused a priest in his diocese of “fanning the flames of hatred” after he defended the Church's “non-negotiable” moral issues and gave his parishioners strong advice on matters of prudential judgment within Catholic teaching.
RELATED
U.S. Bishops clash as Pope Francis appointees push to downplay battle for life and family
U.S. Bishop: Catechism uses ‘very destructive’ language on homosexuality
You know what’s ‘anti-gay’? Refusing to proclaim the fullness of the Gospel
Catholic Church bulletin under fire: It’s a ‘mortal sin’ to vote for pro-abort Democrats