Statements by Bishops on Catholics and Political Responsibility

Statements by Bishops -
on Catholics and Political Responsibility
Updated August 28, 2008

"To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom..." [Pope John Paul II - Evangelium Vitae 20]

Bishops in the United States have individually expressed concern about Catholics who publicly oppose fundamental Catholic doctrine -- especially politicians. This section includes excerpts from published statements or columns by the bishops, or interviews, with links. (Unless otherwise indicated, click title to go to the complete version on this site, or to access on the site where it originally appeared.)

The items on this page are arranged chronologically, beginning with the earliest -- so that the history of the question can be understood as it developed. This section is updated regularly.

**Index of Bishops' Statements**
Chronological Order	Alphabetical Order
Archbishop John Myers - June 1990 Bishop William Weigand - January 22, 2003 Archbishop Raymond Burke - November 23, 2003 Archbishop Alfred Hughes - January 14. 2004 Bishop Ronald Gainer- January 18, 2004 Bishop Robert C. Morlino - January 22, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - March 18, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - April 14, 2004 Cardinal Francis Arinze - April 23, 2004 Bishop Wilton Gregory - April 23, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - April 25, 2004 Bishop Robert Mulvee - April 27, 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - April 27, 2004 Bishop John M. D'Arcy - April 28, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - April 29, 2004 Bishop Joseph Galante - April 29, 2004 Bishop John Smith - April 29, 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - May 1, 2004 Bishop Carl Mengeling - May 2, 2004 Bishop Joseph V. Adamec - May 3, 2004 Bishop Thomas Wenski - May 3, 2004 Archbishop John Myers - May 5, 2004 Archbishop John Vlazny - May 6, 2004 Archbishop Elden Curtiss - May 7, 2004 Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk - May 7, 2004 Cardinal Roger Mahony - May 13, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - May 13, 2004 Bishop Robert J. McManus - May 21, 2004 Archbishop Michael Sheehan - May 21, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - May 21 & 24, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - May 23-29, 2004 Bishop Donald Wuerl - May 25, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - May 26, 2004 Cardinal Francis Arinze - May 26, 2004 Bishop John Kinney - May 27, 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - May 27 & 29, 2004 Cardinal William H. Keeler - May 28, 2004 Archbishop Nzeki of Kenya - May 30-31, 2004 (USCCB - June Meeting) Bishop Robert Baker - June 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - June (?) 2004 Bishop Raymundo J. Peña - June 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - June 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - June 1, 2004 Bishop Gerald Kicanas - June 2, 2004 Bishop William Skylstad - June 10, 2004 Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza - June 11, 2004 Bishop Gregory Aymond - June 11, 2004 Archbishop William Levada - June 13, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - June 21-28, 2004 Bishop Victor Balke - June 24, 2004 Bishop Ronald Gainer - June 24, 2004 Bishop Robert Vasa - June 25, 2004 Cardinal Avery Dulles - June 29, 2004 Bishop Anthony Pilla - July 2004 Bishop Charles Grahmann - July 2, 2004 Bishop William Lori - July 2004 Bishop John Steinbock - July 2004 Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr -July (?) 2004 (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - July 4-9, 2004) Bishop Michael Saltarelli - July 5, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - July 6, 2004 Bishop Bernard Harrington - July 8, 2004 Bishop Joseph Gossman - July 8, 2004 Bishop Victor Galeone - July/August 2004 Bishop Bernard Schmitt - July 13, 2004 Archbishop Alexander Brunett - July 19, 2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - July 22, 2004 Archbishop William Levada - July 31, 2004 Bishop George L. Thomas - August 2004 Bishop David Ricken - August, 2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - August 4, 2004 Bishop Robert Baker - August 4, 2004 Bishop Peter Jugis - August 4, 2004 Bishop Robert Carlson - August 2004 Bishop Gerald Barbarito - August 5, 2004 Bishop Rene Gracida - August 10, 2004 Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt - August 10, 2004 Bishop Bernard Schmitt - August 11, 2004 Bishop Peter Jugis - August 14, 2004 Bishop Howard Hubbard - September-October 2004 Bishop Gregory Aymond - September 2004 Bishop Leonard Blair - September 2, 3, 2004 Archbishop Harry J. Flynn - September 9,2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - September 16, 2004 Archbishop John Myers - September 17, 2004 Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio - September 18, 2004 Bishop Rene H. Gracida - September 19, 2004 Archbishop Albert Hughes - September 20, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - September 22, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - September 22, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - September 24, 2004 Bishop Michael Saltarelli - September 30. 2004 Bishop Phillip F. Straling - October 2004 Florida Bishop's Conference - October 1, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - October 1, 2004 Bishop Joseph Gossman - October 3, 2004 Bishop Rene H. Gracida - October 5, 2004 Bishop William Lori - October 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - October 5, 2004 Bishops Raymond Boland & Robert Finn - October 7, 2004 Cardinal Francis George - October 10, 2004 Bishop Edward K. Braxton - October 11, 2004 Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt - October 20, 2004 Bishop Thomas Gumbleton - October 20, 2004 Bishop Thomas Wenski - October 21, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - October 22, 2004 Bishop Kenneth A. Angell - October 23, 2004 Bishop Paul S. Loverde - October 31, 2004 Bishop David Ricken - October 2004 Massachusetts Bishops - October 29, 2004 Cardinal Justin Rigali - October 28, 2004 Bishop George L. Thomas - October 2004 Bishop George Coleman - October 29, 2004 Bishop Timothy McDonnell - October 29, 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - October 29, 2004 Archbishop Sean O'Malley - October 29, 2004 Bishop David Zubik - October 29, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - November 30, 2004 Bishop Edward U. Kmiec - January 28, 2005 Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga - February 15, 2006 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - June 15, 2006 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann - August 15, 2006 Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore - August 15, 2006 Bishop Paul S. Coakley - August 15, 2006 Bishop Michael O. Jackels - August 15, 2006 Arizona Catholic Conference - September 2006 Arizona Catholic Conference - October 2006 Illinois Catholic Conference - October 2006 Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted - October 2006 Bishop Joseph A. Galante - October 27, 2006 Bishop Paul S. Coakley - January 31, 2007 Bishop Robert Vasa - March 1, 2007 Bishop Thomas Tobin - May 31, 2007 Cardinal George Pell - June 12, 2007 Virginia Catholic Conference - October 2007 (USCCB - November Meeting 2007) Archbishop Charles Chaput - January 16, 2008 Catholic Conference of Kentucky- January 22, 2008 Cardinal Edward Egan - April 28, 2008 Archbishop Donald Wuerl - April 30, 2008 Archbishop Joseph Naumann - May 9, 2008 Archbishop Charles Chaput - May 19, 2008 Archbishop Joseph Naumann - May 23, 2008 Archbishop Raymond Burke - August 2008 Archbishop Charles Chaput - August 2008 Bishop James D. Conley - August 2008 Archbishop Donald Wuerl - August 25, 2008 Cardinal Edward Egan - August 26, 2008 Bishop Michael Sheridan - August 26, 2008	Bishop Joseph V. Adamec - May 3, 2004 Bishop Kenneth A. Angell - October 23, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - April 25, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - May 23-29, 2004 Bishop Samuel Aquila - November 30, 2004 Cardinal Francis Arinze - April 23, 2004 Cardinal Francis Arinze - May 26, 2004 Arizona Catholic Conference - September 2006 Arizona Catholic Conference - October 2006 Bishop Gregory Aymond - June 11, 2004 Bishop Gregory Aymond - September 2004 Bishop Robert Baker - June 2004 Bishop Robert Baker - August 4, 2004 Bishop Victor Balke - June 24, 2004 Bishop Gerald Barbarito - August 5, 2004 Bishop Leonard Blair - September 2, 3, 2004 Bishop Raymond Boland - October 7, 2004 Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt- August 10, 2004 Bishop Edward K. Braxton - October 11, 2004 Archbishop Alexander Brunett - July 19, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - November 23, 2003 Archbishop Raymond Burke - June 21-28, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - September 24, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - October 1, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - October 5, 2004 Archbishop Raymond Burke - August 2008 Bishop Robert Carlson - August 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - April 14, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - May 26, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - September 22, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - October 22, 2004 Archbishop Charles Chaput - January 16, 2008 Archbishop Charles Chaput - May 19, 2008 Archbishop Charles Chaput - August 2008 Bishop Paul S. Coakley - August 15, 2006 Bishop Paul S. Coakley - January 31, 2007 Bishop George Coleman - October 29, 2004 Bishop James D. Conley - August 2008 Archbishop Elden Curtiss - May 7, 2004 Bishop John M. D'Arcy - April 28, 2004 Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio - September 18, 2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - July 22, 2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - August 4, 2004 Archbishop John F. Donoghue - September 16, 2004 Cardinal Avery Dulles - June 29, 2004 Cardinal Edward Egan - April 28, 2008 Cardinal Edward Egan - August 26, 2008 Bishop Robert Finn - October 7, 2004 Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza - June 11, 2004 Florida Bishop's Conference - October 1, 2004 Archbishop Harry J. Flynn - September 9,2004 Bishop Ronald Gainer- January 18, 2004 Bishop Ronald Gainer - June 24, 2004 Bishop Joseph Galante - April 29, 2004; May 5, 2004 Bishop Joseph A. Galante - October 27, 2006 Bishop Victor Galeone - July/August 2004 Cardinal Francis George - October 10, 2004 Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore - August 15, 2006 Bishop Joseph Gossman - July 8, 2004 Bishop Joseph Gossman - October 3, 2004 Bishop Rene H. Gracida - August 10, 2004 Bishop Rene H. Gracida - September 19, 2004 Bishop Rene H. Gracida - October 5, 2004 Bishop Charles Grahmann - July 2, 2004 Bishop Wilton Gregory - April 23, 2004 Bishop Thomas Gumbleton - October 20, 2004 Bishop Bernard Harrington - July 8, 2004 Bishop Howard Hubbard - September-October 2004 Archbishop Alfred Hughes - January 14. 2004 Archbishop Albert Hughes - September 20, 2004 Illinois Catholic Conference - October 2006 Bishop Michael O. Jackels - August 15, 2006 Bishop Peter Jugis - August 4, 2004 Bishop Peter Jugis - August 14, 2004 Cardinal William H. Keeler - May 28, 2004 Bishop Gerald Kicanas - June 2, 2004 Bishop John Kinney - May 27, 2004 Bishop Edward U. Kmiec - January 28, 2005 Archbishop William Levada - June 13, 2004 Archbishop William Levada - July 31, 2004 Bishop William Lori - July 2004 Bishop William Lori - October 2004 Bishop Paul S. Loverde - October 31, 2004 Cardinal Roger Mahony - May 13, 2004 Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga - February 15, 2006 Catholic Conference of Kentucky- January 22, 2008 Massachusetts Bishops - October 29, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - April 29, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - May 13, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - June 1, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - July 6, 2004 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - June 15, 2006 Bishop Timothy McDonnell - October 29, 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - April 27, 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - May 21, 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - June (?) 2004 Bishop Robert McManus - October 29, 2004 Bishop Carl Mengeling - May 2, 2004 Bishop Robert C. Morlino - January 22, 2004 Bishop Robert Mulvee - April 27, 2004 Archbishop John Myers - June 1990 Archbishop John Myers - May 5, 2004 Archbishop John Myers - September 17, 2004 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann - August 15, 2006 Archbishop Joseph Naumann - May 9, 2008 Archbishop Joseph Naumann - May 23, 2008 Archbishop Nzeki of Kenya - May 30-31, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - March 18, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - May 21 & 24, 2004 Bishop Thomas Olmsted - September 22, 2004 Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted - October 2006 Archbishop Sean O'Malley - October 29, 2004 Cardinal George Pell - June 12, 2007 Bishop Raymundo J. Peña - June 2004 Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk - May 7, 2004 Bishop Anthony Pilla - July 2004 (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - July 4-9, 2004) Bishop David Ricken - August, 2004 Bishop David Ricken - October 2004 Cardinal Justin Rigali - October 28, 2004 Bishop Michael Saltarelli - July 5, 2004 Bishop Michael Saltarelli - September 30. 2004 Bishop Bernard Schmitt - July 13, 2004 Bishop Bernard Schmitt - August 11, 2004 Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt - October 20, 2004 Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr - July (?) 2004 Archbishop Michael Sheehan - May 21, 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - May 1, 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - May 27 & 29, 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - June 2004 Bishop Michael Sheridan - August 26, 2008 Bishop William Skylstad - June 10, 2004 Bishop John Smith - April 29, 2004 Bishop John Steinbock - July 2004 Bishop Phillip F. Straling - October 2004 Bishop George L. Thomas - August 2004 Bishop George L. Thomas - October 2004 Bishop Thomas Tobin - May 31, 2007 (USCCB - June Meeting 2004) (USCCB - November Meeting 2007) Bishop Robert Vasa - June 25, 2004 Bishop Robert Vasa - March 1, 2007 Virginia Catholic Conference - October 2007 Archbishop John Vlazny - May 6, 2004 Bishop William Weigand - January 22, 2003 Bishop Thomas Wenski - May 3, 2004 Bishop Thomas Wenski - October 21 2004 Bishop Donald Wuerl - May 25, 2004 Bishop Donald Wuerl - August 18, 2005 Archbishop Donald Wuerl - April 30, 2008 Archbishop Donald Wuerl - August 25, 2008 Bishop David Zubik - October 29, 2004