Hosannas for the USCCB Doctrine Committee

Connie Marshner

A few days ago the Committee on Doctrine of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) picked up its shepherd's staff and chased away a wolf from the flock.

It read Daniel Maguire off the reservation. 

Maguire, a former Jesuit who still teaches theology at Marquette University, has been widely circulating pamphlets in which he maintains that there is no one position on contraception, abortion, or same-sex 'marriage' that can be considered binding on all members of the Catholic Church.
 
Maguire is, in other words, a major dissenter.   He's the source of much of the mythology that there is a “pro-choice tradition” in the Catholic church.

Not any more.  His pamphlets have been examined by the Committee on Doctrine, which  has declared that they do not present authentic Catholic teaching. 

Listen to these sweet, official, words and raise a hosanna from your own lips: 

“We the Committee on Doctrine of the USCCB concur that, despite his claims to authority as a Catholic theologian, the views of Professor Maguire on contraception, abortion, and same-sex ‘marriage’ are not those of the Catholic Church and indeed are contrary to the Church’s faith. We deplore as irresponsible his public advocacy of his views as authentic Catholic teaching. Lastly, we trust that this statement will clarify the Church’s teaching for all of the Catholic faithful throughout the United  States."