Bishop entreats legislators to vote with conscience Gerry speaks against secularization

AUGUSTA – Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop urged state lawmakers Tuesday to guard against the secularization of American society and to listen to their consciences when voting on policy and legislation.

Bishop Joseph J. Gerry spoke for the 11th time at the diocese’s annual legislative luncheon, held at the St. Paul Center less than a block from the State House.

It was the last time Gerry is expected to speak at the event. He submitted his resignation to the Vatican in September on his 75th birthday, as required. Gerry will continue as bishop until Pope John Paul II notifies him that his resignation has been accepted.

“You can call my musings [today] by any name you want, but the kindest might simply be to say they are the reflections of an old man,” he told Gov. John Baldacci and the approximately 120 people who attended the event. “Whether you preface that with wise or foolish, I leave to you.”

Reiterating observations made by the pope about the secularization of Europe, including the weakening of the concept of the family and a lack of concern for the common good, Gerry observed that behind such signs “is an attempt to promote a vision of the human person apart from God.”

“Presently we can see a shift away from affirmations of the existence of God and of the existence of moral absolutes,” Gerry said. “We also note increased societal emphasis on personal choice, on individual freedoms at the expense of the common good, and a framework for decision making that has little to do with principles that are not strictly utilitarian.”

He urged lawmakers to continue to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman in a lifelong bond, as it did in a bill passed in 1997, rather than make changes that would allow same-sex couples to marry.

That was the only political issue the bishop addressed directly Tuesday. At previous events, Gerry has discussed specific bills and budget items the diocese supported or opposed.

To decide which legislation the diocese should support or oppose in a given year, members of the diocese’s public policy committee consult with Gerry and the diocese’s public affairs director, Mark Mutty, who lobbies the Legislature.

Daniel Snow, a Portland lawyer and member of the committee, explained Tuesday why the church ventures into the political arena.

“We are involved because we are answering the call to be faithful citizens,” Snow said. “As faithful citizens, we commit ourselves to carry the values of the Gospel and church teaching into the public square. As citizens and residents of Maine, we have the duty to participate – now and in the future – in debates over the values, the vision and the policies that will guide our state.”

Not all the legislators who attended are like the governor, Roman Catholic and Democratic. Rep. Robert Crosthwaite, a Republican from Ellsworth and a Protestant minister, embraced the bishop’s missive.

“His message is one of encouragement and hope for humanity,” said Crosthwaite, who is co-pastor of Faith Community Fellowship in Ellsworth. “He exhorted us to be guided by our conscience. He was appealing to people who have faith to use that faith in making public policy. I agree with that.”