More on Chaput-Ritter

There was a bit of controversy up in Denver recently when one of its most traditional and largest parishes (and my favorite), Holy Ghost, hosted a private Mass for Bill Ritter after he was elected governor. Some Catholics were angry that a parish known for tradition and orthodoxy would host a Mass for a politician who "personally opposes" abortion rights and yet wants to fund Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

The pastor wrote a letter in their bulletin yesterday explaining why he allowed the Mass. He quoted 1 Tim 2:1-4 and said "it was in this spirit that the holy sacrifice of the Mass was offered here at Holy Ghost Church on Tuesday, Jan. 9, for Governor Ritter and a group of his family friends."

The governor's Colorado Promise policy book repeats a staement from his campaign concerning his personal opposition to abortion, and his pledge to promote adoption as an alternative to the tragic choice of abortion. I hope that he remains faithful to that word. But he also states that in order to reduce the number of abortions, he intends to restore funding to Planned Parenthood and increase access to emergency contraception. This is a word I earnestly hope he does not keep.

and later...

Pray for the Governor and all in authority. Pray for the healing of those hearts and lives wounded by abortion. Pray for respect for the inviolable dignity of every human life, born and unborn. And pray that the right to life of every person again be protected and preserved in the laws of our nation.

Well... OK. I understand where Father Tom is coming from. It was not a public Mass or held in "tribute" to Ritter. And we need to reach out and minister to politicans who say they are Catholic but bend on key church teachings (usually on sex-related issues), but the church needs to be very careful about coming across as approving the mentality of "I personally oppose (x) but everyone can do what they want" philosophy. It's weak and, to be honest, shameful. It's this relativism that Pope Benedict is desperately trying to battle, and it's this relativism that is gripping and stealing the souls of many good people.

Well, I've said my piece. What are your thoughts? Do you support Father Tom in his desire to minister to Catholic politicians in this way?