U.S. Clergy Group Prods U.S. Bishops To Act On Dissent, Pro-Abortion Politicians

Chicago, Jul. 18 (CWNews.com) – At their annual meeting in Chicago this week, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (CCC) approved resolutions urging the US bishops to curtail public theological dissent, and to take action against Catholic politicians who support legal abortion.  The CCC, a group of American priests devoted to orthodox Catholic teaching, offered their best wishes to Pope John Paul II as he moves toward the 25th anniversary of his pontifical election. “We pledge our complete obedience and respect to the successor of St. Peter,” the group pronounced.  In public statements on the sex-abuse scandal, the CCC raised objections to “the appointment of pro-abortion politicians on the National Review Board and as commencement speakers at Catholic colleges.” The organization also criticized the US bishops for a “secret meeting” in Washington at which leaders of the US bishops’ conference sought the advice of “known dissenters” from official Church teachings.  The Catholic clergymen’s group lauded the American Life League for its “campaign against culture-of-death politicians who claim to be Catholic.” The CCC urged the bishops “to care for the souls of offending politicians with canonical penalties if necessary.”