Bloodless Coup

The Phoenix Diocese Goes Off the Deep End

There are so many things to get annoyed with in terms of the direction that the Roman Catholic Church is taking of late that I'm surprised that I can still be rather stunned by some of their actions. But hey, some of the bishops continue to dive to ever new lows that even I didn't think likely. Take this, for example. The Bishop of Phoenix has banned pro-choice and pro-gay rights speakers from his churches. That those two positions are made equivalent is eyebrow-raising on its own. But really, banning anyone who holds those views from speaking at all on church property? I understand not giving them communion. I understand not letting them make comments at or disrupt a religious celebration. In other words, I understand passing rules that respect the church's position when it comes to their religious activities. But just banning anyone who might possess those views from ever speaking on church property? Making church proprerty non-free speech zones for a whole class of people just because the bishop doesn't like what someone might think? I guess that's just the way things are in Pope Ratzy's church - inching ever backwards.