In Christopher Manion, PhD's provocative "Charity for Sale," he notes: "it’s easier to get money from politicians than from voluntary donors. And why is that? It’s not their money" (p. 20).
In addition to shifting from the essential to what is open to prudential judgement, Manion seems to suggest that bishops have shifted their focus away from financial appeals to the faithful:
- "how often do you hear complaints from the USCCB regarding federal funding of 'family planning' programs, except when they include abortion?" (p. 20) Catholics should NOT be supporting 'family planning' that promotes anything other than the lifelong bond between one woman and one man in which each marital act is open to new life.
- "Canon law gives the Diocesan Ordinary, not the university, the right and the duty to bestow and to remove the name 'Catholic' from any institution or endeavor in his diocese (c. 216)." (p. 68) Why isn't the lack of conformity to Catholic identity automatically resulting in "Catholic" being stripped from an institution's name?
- "Today, the roles have been reversed. The hierarchy treats its prudential views as magisterial, while it is silent on the magisterial truths opposed by its liberal and progressive allies in government and the elites." (p. 73) If so, bishops and other clergy need to be called on this!
- "U.S. foreign aid programs did finance mandatory “components” of contraceptives and abortifacients. They still do. And curiously, the USCCB still advocates full funding of those programs." (p. 137) God help us!