Politics from the pulpit
So, if Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Central Pennsylvania makes an overtly political statement during Mass that is intended to influence the state Legislature, does that put the diocese's Federal tax exemption at risk?
Interesting question. On Sunday, during a Mass for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries, Rhoades said he was "saddened" by the California Supreme Court ruling last week legalizing gay marriage in that state. Okay so far--he's just stating an opinion based on the teachings of his church. But here's what he said next, according to the top of page one story in today's Patriot-News:
The bishop hoped the California decision "would be a wake-up call for Pennsylvania. The same kind of thing could happen here if we don't protect marriage by a constitutional amendment."
Message to Legislature: Bishop Rhoades wants you to approve the "defense of marriage" amendment to the state constitution currently tabled in the Senate.
That veers dangerously close to the kind of pulpit politicking that churches receiving an exemption from Federal taxes aren't supposed to engage in. Bishop Rhoades can preach hatred of gays and lesbians from the pulpit till the cows come home, but if he urges specific political action to carry out his beliefs, the IRS could come knocking.
Interestingly, even one of the 50-year couples quoted in the story appeared to favor civil unions for gays "so they could get health insurance." That would possibly be banned by the extreme "defense of marriage" amendment in Pennsylvania.
It's sad the Legislature wastes time on nonsense like this when the state's public schools had their mediocrity affirmed once again today by the annual Newsweek/Washington Post Challenge Index, which ranks public schools across the country on how much of an academic challenge they present to their students. It's based on how many students take Advance Placement, International Baccalaurete, or Cambridge exams each year, divided by enrollment and with the school's poverty level thrown in. There are 1,400 PUBLIC schools on the list, ranked in order.
A magnet school in Philadelphia ranked 125th, but you have to jump to #304 before you get to a regular Pennsylvania high school, Berwyn. In the midstate, Hershey came in at 1,076 and Lower Dauphin at 1,128. Another doctor town, Danville (Geisinger Medical Center) in Montour County, ranked 1,264. Camp Hill was not on the list. If you go to the Post webpage, you can easily separate out the Pennsylvania schools by searching on PA.
AP and IB aren't the be-all and end-all of high school education, but they are challenging courses that prepare students for the rigors of good colleges. They look good on academic transcripts (provided you get a good grade). It would behoove the Legislature to drop the gay marriage amendment and start concentrating on what it might do to get Pennsylvania public schools scattered among the top 100 of that list in coming years.