WEYBURN, Saskatchewan, October 5, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Weyburn, Saskatchewan lawyer Tom Shuck has for the past few decades been a dedicated pro-life activist. In response to recent, unprecedented actions by some Canadian and especially American bishops, Schuck was compelled to write an article for the October, 2004 issue of Canada’s National Pro-life, Pro-Family newspaper, The Interim, about his reaction to this long awaited development. Schuck states that “For the first time, Catholic bishops have spoken out on the incompatibility of the Catholic faith and a politician’s position that supports abortion. It has been a long time in coming. One cannot overestimate the significance of even a few bishops speaking out, and distancing themselves from their own bureaucracies”.
The Weyburn lawyer also addresses the serious obstacle that secular-minded Catholic bureaucracies have presented against what could otherwise have been major advances for the pro-life cause.
Schuck writes, “The Catholic ‘social justice’ bureaucracies in both Canada and U.S.A. have been so enamoured by government social programs, however, that in recent years, the abortion issue has been buried by other issues the CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops) identified as important, but that usually just required more money to fix. In a materialistic society, it is only natural that some would perceive that the greatest sin is one that denies material things to others. But to trade the innocent lives of some for material benefits for others is the pinnacle of materialism.” Schuck goes on to discuss the apparent support given pro-abortion politicians by the Canadian bishops’ social justice departments and “the moral depravity in which we live which has had a political leadership largely supported by Catholics and Catholic leadership”. He explains “They considered abortion as an acceptable trade off for what they perceived as better social programs offered by the political left”. Sensing that Church leaders may finally become strong, consistent partners in the battles for life Schuck writes, “In the future, we can hope that more bishops, who in the past simply went along with the majority of bishops in accepting pro-abortion Catholic politicians and distributing CCCB material, will now take a more critical look in light of the abortion issue.
See the Complete Tom Schuck article : Finally, Some Ecclesiastical Leadership https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/041005a.html See also An Urgent Appeal to Catholic Church Leaders for Stronger Leadership During Elections https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/040402b.html SJ