Oct 14, 2008 6:30 am US/Pacific
Voting Guideline For Catholics Causes Controversy
DALLAS (CBS) ―
A controversy is emerging from a letter written by both North Texas bishops that calls candidates who support abortion rights evil. The letter suggests that the souls of Catholics may be on the line if they vote for the wrong person, CBS station KTVT-TV in Dallas reports.
The three-page letter caused some churchgoers in Dallas to leave in protest when it was read Sunday.
Enrique Macgregor was one of the people who walked out of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas midway through Sunday's service.
"This was a message that was divisive it was not appropriate," he said. "I come to the church to hear the message of love. This was a message of hate."
Macgregor says about two dozen others also left in protest while the priest read the letter.
It was co-authored by Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas and Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth.
The letter, which is on both dioceses' Web sites, is intended to provide "clear guidance on the proper formation of conscience concerning voting as faithful Catholics."
It goes on to say, "to vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or 'abortion rights' when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil."
Paul Dickel was also at Sunday's service and takes issue with the letter. "I feel like that Bishop was really testing the division between church and state."
Some say the letter indirectly endorses John McCain and is an effort to discourage Catholics from voting for Barack Obama.
But Annette Gonzales-Taylor, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Dallas, disputes that notion and told KTVT, "The church does not endorse any specific candidates. One of the roles of our catholic bishops is to instruct our flock on the teachings of the Catholic Church."
The letter was only read in some catholic churches. In cases where both candidates support abortion rights, the bishops want Catholics to look at other issues that "limit the evil done."
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