While the mainstream media is focused on the sex abuse scandal, for the second time in two weeks another dependably Republican prelate has been appointed to head a major US archdiocese. Bishop Thomas Wenski, who delivered an address at the 2008 Republican National Convention, will replace Miami Archbishop John Favarola. Along with the recent appointment of Opus Dei Bishop Jose Gomez to replace Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, both moves indicate quick and decisive actions which the Vatican claims was impossible in dealing with pedophile priests and the bishops who protected them.
Catholic prelates are required to submit their resignations when they turn 75. In most cases, the Vatican doesn't accept the resignation for several years, taking their time finding a replacement. Favalora and Mahony, however, were replaced before their 75th birthdays. Why the rush?
Republican leaders will not incur the wrath of their bigoted base by supporting meaningful immigration reform, presumed to be the next legislative battle-ground. At the same time, the Catholic Church is dependent on Latinos for maintaining its numerical superiority among US religions. It will require duplicitous messaging to convince Latinos that, while the church favors immigration reform, the proposed legislation will be deficient in some way preventing support by the hierarchs - just like what happened with health care reform. Neither Favalora nor Mahony could be counted on to deliver the official fabrications.
What should trouble progressives even more is an April 20 article written by Joe Eaton of the Center for Public Transparency regarding the nearly-successful lobbying by Catholic bishops against the health care reform legislation. Eaton noted that "unlike corporate and advocacy groups that lobby Congress, churches and their affiliates are exempt from the Lobby Disclosure Act of 1995, which requires lobbyists to file disclosure forms detailing their spending and naming their lobbyists." In addition - unlike corporations, advocacy groups, PACs, 527s, candidates and political parties - religious organizations are not required by the IRS or FEC to file financial reports, disclose donor names nor amounts of contributions, any details about their organization, nor how money is spent AND this is all done with tax deductable contributions and tax exempt income.
Catholic apologists will point out that I am being biased against the Catholic Church. But no other religion has its own clandestine global financial network. The Vatican Bank with its worldwide business partners is, like the US church, completely immune from disclosure and regulation. With loyal Republican hierarchs in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Los Angeles, funding from any source, including foreign or criminal contributors, can be used to influence our elections.