They’d Agree On Abolishing The Death Penalty

Maybe the Catholic Church should first applaud a governor that has the guts to say the death penalty doesn’t work. From the Norwich Bulletin:

Norwich, Conn. — On one of the coldest days in decades with dozens of Eastern Connecticut parishioners outdoors marking the 38th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the bishop of Norwich said he would like to speak with Connecticut’s new governor on the subject of abortion.

“Yes, it’s something he would like to do,” Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich Director of Communications Michael Strammiello said, speaking for the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich, on Monday.

The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, which helps connect the state’s three bishops including Cote to public policy debates, is working to arrange a meeting with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Strammiello said. Malloy is an Irish Roman Catholic who sent a note of support to a Connecticut Coalition for Choice news conference at the state capitol on Thursday, according to Susan Yolen of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

“The conference is working toward something,” the diocese spokesman said. “Through that we expect all the right people will be brought together.”

Malloy is willing to meet “with all types of people from various organizations,” spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said Monday, although she wasn’t sure if the conference had submitted a written meeting request form.

Planned Parenthood is generally satisfied with the political climate for abortion in Connecticut but national Republican congressional gains in the November elections are a “source of concern,” Yolen said. More Republican votes likely means more restrictions on abortions, she said.

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2 comments

  1. *** Maybe the Catholic Church can also discuss ways to stop child molesting among its clergy with the new governor too, as well as justice for victims in general. *** “Build more prisons & they will come.” ***

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    1. Mojo,
      If you are interested in the subject of Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse, it is likely you won’t get to discuss it with a Bishop. They do not want to discuss, dialogue or hear what you have to say. Personally, I have written to our local Ordinary, Bishop William Lori, and asked for a meeting/discussion on multiple occasions but he has not been open to such a conversation. The extent of the clergy abuse scandal around the world is not published in the Fairfield County Catholic and the Bishop’s blog hasn’t touched the subject that has troubled so many Catholic people still in the pews. (The Bishop’s blog has been “under maintenance” for at least nine months.)

      However, Governor Dan Malloy’s wife Cathy has been for years and still is Executive Director of a Stamford-based agency that assists victims of sexual abuse and assault. She is knowledgeable about the suffering of victims/survivors and what it takes to work towards healing. Who knows, if the Bishops want to talk about abortion in black and white terms with our Governor, perhaps he will invite Cathy to be at the table and then all can address the clergy abuse scandal in the same full light of day.

      Programs like Safe Environment providing a few hours of training about sexual predation may help make an adult aware of predatory behavior. But to ignore public reporting of the names and addresses of clergymen who have been credibly accused of abusive behavior of youth and for whom legal expenses and financial settlements (as well as continuing compensation for some) undercuts the triumphal institutional claims of accomplishment. It is dangerous to have such sinners and criminals, whether still priests or based on Rome action, set down to the lay state with status dissimilar to “sexual offenders.” It allows a continuing community danger.

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