The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, R.C. Bishop of Rockford Illinois publishes a column in his diocesan newspaper. Last week (August 10, 2006) Bishop Doran’s column was entitled: Reaping the whirlwind of abortion. Portions of the first three paragraphs read as follows:

As human beings, as citizens of a —first world country,— as Americans, and as Catholics, most importantly, we have to take count of the circumstances in which we live. We know that the only creatures of God that outlast time are those created having intellect and will. All other things, with the passage of time, break up or break down…

and

The seven ‘sacraments’ of their secular culture are abortion, buggery, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation…

Strong statements —“ I agree, especially coming from a R.C. Bishop in the United States. Also, with some exposition of the issues and catechesis on the Church’s position, effectively affirming R.C. teaching, and calling for compliance among Roman Catholics, it wouldn’t be a bad column. As a PNCC clergyman I would agree with 6/7ths of his statement.

Unfortunately, the Bishop decided to go ballistic, and not just a little.

The bookends to these statements are as follows:

I want to touch on this matter before we get too close to the November madness.

Many of the issues that confront us are serious, and we know by now that the political parties in our country are at loggerheads as to how to solve them. We know, for instance, that adherents of one political party would place us squarely on the road to suicide as a people.

and

These things they unabashedly espouse, profess and promote. Their continuance in public office is a clear and present danger to our survival as a nation.

He goes on to draw comparisons between the ‘evil political party’ AKA the Democrats and Nazi Germans. Then he concludes by calling for their extinction as follows:

It is the duty of every Catholic to support the work of the parish Pro-Life directors and commissions and to work for the extirpation from our society of all those who in any way foster or promote these things. I wholeheartedly endorse the activities of our Pro-Life Office in the sure and certain knowledge that divine justice will not allow those who act against human life to prosper.

Let me paraphrase:

It is every Catholic’s (thankfully he only speaks for R.C.’s) duty to work for the extinction from our society of all those (i.e., people —“ not just their ideas or philosophies —“ but the people themselves) who in any way foster or promote these things.

I’ve heard of defending life and the faith, but using a just cause to shill for one political party while thoroughly demonizing the other is unconscionable. Going even further than that is an abject dereliction of his Christian duty.

I imagine the Bishop is well educated, an S.T.L. and Doctorate in Canon Law —“ both from Rome. I just cannot understand why a Christian, a Prelate, and a leader would turn the message of faith and salvation into a message calling for destruction. Hate the sin, love the sinner has somehow been confused and twisted in Rockford.

…and, when someone, who has lost touch with reality, goes out to enact his command to make Democrats extinct, there will be lots of hand wringing at the Chancery.

Lee Penn over at the Conservative Blog for Peace did an excellent analysis of the whole piece in The seven unholy sacraments. Check it out.

…and just to add a bit, this from Fr John Fenton of Conversi ad Dominum: Mercy — Even for Those Who Insult You.