St. Ambrose Academy Chronicle

Information on Bishop Morlino and Marriage Amendment

UPDATE: I've decided to keep this updated through the election. New links are posted at the bottom.

Recently, Bishop Robert Morlino has been the target of much criticism and misinformation regarding his words supporting the Marriage Amendment on Tuesday's ballot. We have attempted to collect links to the entire debate, in order to clearly show the truth in the matter. Links marked with a dagger (†) indicate it is primarily or fully from the Bishop or the Diocese of Madison. A asterisk (*) means it is a positive article, and a minus (-) one negative.

These links are provided not as an endorsement of the attacks on the Bishop, whom the Chronicle fully supports and prays for, but rather as a service to the readers so the rhetoric of the opposing viewpoints can be seen, and the truth exposed.

• Mar. 5: Fighting a Battle: To protect marriage, family life (†)
• Oct. 18: Church Accused of Illegal Lobbying (-)
• Oct. 19: Morlino Defends Flyer on Marriage Vote (†/-)
• Oct. 19: Bishop Says Diocese Did Nothing Wrong (†/-)
• Oct. 19: Diocese Gives Facts Regarding Marriage Amendment Activities (†)
• Oct. 30: Open Letter from Bishop Morlino (†) (PDF)
  
• Oct. 30: Morlino: Amendment Stance 'Universal Truth' (-)
• Oct. 30: Bishop Morlino's 'Personal and Confidential' Letter (-) (PDF)
  
• Oct. 30: Bishop Morlino's Letter to Priests (†) (PDF)
  
• Oct. 30: Morlino Rips Media 'Baloney'
  
• Oct. 20: Nov. 5 Recorded Homily (†) (WMA)
  
• Oct. 31: Bishop Defends His Vocal Views On Marriages , Death Penalty, Stem Cells
• Nov. 1: Morlino Has Been Consistent (*)
  
• Nov. 2: Morlino's Hard Line Draws Criticism (-)
• Nov. 2: Open Letter to Bishop Morlino (-)
  
• Nov. 2: A Bishop's Role is To Teach on Moral Subjects (*)
• Nov. 2: Bishop: All Priests Must Play Recorded Homily on Life and Family or Suffer "Serious Consequences" (*)
• Nov. 6: Some Walk, Most Stay for Mass Message
  

Also, the following was posted on the Diocese of Madison web page today:

A message from Bishop Morlino
The 11-2-06 issue of the Wisconsin State Journal contained, on page A5, an ad placed by several Catholic families, seemingly rejecting the teaching of our Church about the whole truth of marriage. Their recommendation of a No Vote on the marriage referendum would leave only the word marriage protected and not the institution of marriage itself. Such an approach does not fulfill the Catholic responsibility to protect marriage.

I know some of the signers of the document and I respect and love all of them in the Lord, as women and men of good will. I pray that God will heal their consciences. I must indicate that their criticisms of my position reflect, at least, a misunderstanding of an address which I gave last March. A reading of the whole text, especially its concluding portion, is necessary for a correct understanding. I would urge all interested parties to a more careful reflection on the whole text.

Let us pray together that the bitterness, which this whole matter has stirred in the hearts of some, will be healed soon by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you very much and God bless you.

posted by Ben E. @ 9:31 PM -- 2 comments