Priests, as representatives of their Bishop in his diocese, are asked at times to speak during the homily on moral issues and how they impact our Christian lives lived out. Our English lexicon is a living language which often times may create confusion in the understood meanings (interpretations and usage) of words used in public discourse. In the profession of public speaking an old saying exists: Communications is less of what’s said and more of what’s heard. With that understanding, our chosen words are very important.

Catholic moral teachings in light of modern cultural considerations on issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, marriage and other issues can be viewed by the secular world as “political discussion.” It is not. Yet “morality” in today’s everything is viewed and expressed in terms of opinion—what “I personally believe", rather than in fact. And all political associations and media factions have added to this intensity of public discourse. Our culture have moved us away from being a nation of people who agree-to-disagree yet work on commonly held views to warring factions which pit people of differing opinions into enemy camps, with seemingly the sole goal of
ostracizing opponents from public debate. Thus, one who disagrees with you becomes a “bigot” or a “heretic.” This is a sad commentary on the state of human discourse.

The teachings of the Catholic Church on issues of life—either in the womb, near the tomb or somewhere in between as well as issues of family and marriage, social justice and oppression, and the dignity of man and woman—are always considerations of morality, not politics. As Catholics, we believe we are made in the “image and likeness of God” and so our discussions and beliefs for the human person—life, dignity, freedom, etc.—must all begin from a moral starting point.

The Church has not politicized, for example, the issue of abortion. Rather our culture has. The consistent teachings of our Church on the issue of [right to] life remains one of morality since we believe the child yet to be born is desired by God to grow into the fullness of His image and likeness through their right use of His gifts given to them at conception. Therefore, when a Catholic priest’s homily speaks to our faith’s pro-life teachings, he does not enter into a public policy debate but rather instructs with the Church’s teachings on life as a gift from God.The hearer must then decide how they will incorporate this Church teaching into the formation of their consciousness. And
so the priest not only has every right to speak on this issue but is obligated to represent the Church’s teachings, not his own. What a priest may not do is to call for the election of candidate “A”
versus “B” in his homily or promote one particular party over another in the homily. The fact that a candidate, party or any person publically disagrees with the teachings of the Church does not mandate the silencing of the Church nor does it change the genesis for our moral teachings— whether on life, the economy or the environment or others.