I am writing in response to Father Richard McBrien’s column in the March 17 issue of The Catholic Messenger concerning the election of Archbishop Timothy Dolan over Bishop Gerald Kicanas.
Fr. McBrien continually describes the election as a conservative over liberal process. Politics is not — and should not — be involved in matters of the Church in the way Fr. McBrien emphasizes.
I often read how the “Spirit” should move us, or how we let the “Spirit” move in the Church. That being said, can’t the bishops and cardinals of the Church be moved by the Spirit in choosing the head of the USCCB and/or the pope?
It appears that when a vote doesn’t go Fr. McBrien’s way, it’s politics that was behind the vote. Because the Holy Spirit guides the Church, Fr. McBrien won’t get the changes he wants – whether it’s election of the pope, the appointments of bishops by the pope, or election of the president of the USCCB.
Ben Snyder
Richland