Cardinal Keeler: Many think sanctions on politicians a bad idea

Published: 2004-06-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Many experts consulted think it would be counterproductive for the nation's bishops to impose sanctions on politicians who hold public policy positions contrary to church teaching, Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore told the U.S. bishops in a talk made public June 23. Most bishops who were consulted also opposed the use of sanctions, he said. He delivered the talk June 15 as part of an interim report to the bishops by their Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians. The bishops met June 14-19 in Englewood, Colo. The following week the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops posted the entire interim report on its Web site, www.usccb.org. It consists of presentations by Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco and Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, head of the task force. Cardinal Keeler's presentation focused on the task force's work since it was formed last fall, particularly the results of the group's consultations with Vatican officials, other bishops' conferences, fellow U.S. bishops, theologians, canon lawyers and state Catholic conference directors.

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