The pile of stuff to read that I missed last week is dwindling. Here's a Dave Kranz column I missed which discusses the former Bishop of Sioux Falls Robert Carlson, abortion, and the last election. Excerpt:
Carlson became the subject of letters to South Dakota newspapers, praising him for his stand; criticizing him for telling people how to vote.
He frequently clashed with former Sen. Tom Daschle over abortion. Daschle once took his disagreement with the bishop to the Senate floor. Even though Carlson and Daschle never acknowledge it, at least one story in the national press said Carlson told Daschle he could no longer call himself Catholic.
In the aftermath of Daschle’s defeat, his staff pointed to Carlson as a prominent reason for that outcome. He didn’t shun credit.
News of Carlson’s transfer to Saginaw fueled new discussion about the reason for the transfer. Either he was promoted for helping defeat Daschle, or the unlikely scenario that he was penalized by the Catholic Church for his political action.
Now I understand better this letter which appears in today's Argus Leader:
David Kranz's March 8 speculation for Bishop Robert Carlson's move to Saginaw, Mich., was ridiculous. Bishop Carlson's move to Saginaw has nothing to do with the Sen. Tom Daschle-abortion issue. Nor was it a penalty for his political action.
John Paul II looked at Bishop Carlson's track record in the Sioux Falls diocese - his ordaining of 33 men to the priesthood in 11 years, his loyalty to the magisterium, his administrative acumen, and said, "We can use him in another diocese."
Bishop Carlson said to his priests, "I expect obedience from my priests, so I could not do less than to go to Saginaw out of obedience to the Holy Father."
Fr. Charles J. Duman Salem
Recent Comments