Bishop Morlino Defends Conservative Priests from Liberal Laity

In a letter recently, Bishop Morlino deals with the tactics of a group of layity trying to get rid of what sounds like three fairly traditional priests using the tactics regularly employed by dissident groups like VOTF. In an emboldened section, Bishop recognizes this fact, encouragingly, by Badger Catholic.

Furthermore, activities such as protest-letter-writing seminars, leafleting of motor vehicles, doorto- door canvassing for signatures on a petition, etc (that is, exerting organized political pressure on people, where the end justifies any means) is an appropriate tactic in a political campaign, but not in the communion of faith which is the Catholic Church. Groups such as “Call to Action” and “Voice of the Faithful” regularly employ such tactics against legitimate authority in the Church. Because these groups dissent from basic tenets of Catholic Doctrine and Discipline, they are not recognized as Catholic in the Diocese of Madison, much less are they able to exercise legitimate authority. It is my hope that these clarifications will prove helpful.