True, but it a democracy made up of a diverse population (especially diverse religions) one must exercise that prudential judgment with great care especially if one holds a public office. One has a duty under those circumstances to exercise that office in accordance with the Constitution-the document to which the office holder has sworn, before God, to support and defend. That does not preclude such an office holder from exercising their freedom of religion and expression work to change the law within the confines of their sworn oath. I have always thought that our Bishops ignore this nuance of the law that public officials face. Full disclosure-I oppose abortion and always thought that Roe was a badly decided law.
"...and those who want to avoid a protracted fight."
These bishops are the weak link in the chain of the perennial teaching of the Church. Expediency is never a Gospel virtue.
The McElroy contingent is an obvious source of discordant doctrine.
The "expediters" are their acolytes. They fit in the same camp.
Well... I'd raise a question about that on this front, I think:
Is it a repudiation of the Christian Gospel to say that abortion is a preeminent political priority instead of the preeminent political priority?
I think it is not a repudiation of the Gospel. The Gospel is wide and other issues, such as euthanasia can and should be preeminent.
Politics is always a matter of prudential judgment.
True, but it a democracy made up of a diverse population (especially diverse religions) one must exercise that prudential judgment with great care especially if one holds a public office. One has a duty under those circumstances to exercise that office in accordance with the Constitution-the document to which the office holder has sworn, before God, to support and defend. That does not preclude such an office holder from exercising their freedom of religion and expression work to change the law within the confines of their sworn oath. I have always thought that our Bishops ignore this nuance of the law that public officials face. Full disclosure-I oppose abortion and always thought that Roe was a badly decided law.