Vote on referenda opportunity for catechesis, dialogue

Cheri Perkins Mantz reported in our Catholic Herald on the recent advisory referendum vote favoring restoring the death penalty in Wisconsin. Among those interviewed was John Huebscher, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. He digressed into the other referendum.

"The marriage amendment has allowed people to talk more with those of a same sex orientation and understand them better," Huebscher continued. "They probably feel less threatened by a person with a same sex orientation and I think that increased understanding will pay dividends down the road."

He talks of what "they probably fear" as if he's never actually talked to anyone who favored the marriage amendment. Odd, considering he's the Wisconsin bishops' lobbyist.

Perkins also interviewed Rob Shelledy, director of Catholic Social Action for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

While the death penalty referendum passed with about a 55-45 percent margin, Shelledy said there is still action Catholics can take.

"I think it’s important for Catholics to let their elected officials know what their own opinions are and what Catholic teaching is," he said.

Is that the Magisterium or the Massingalium [6 pp. pdf] (p. 4)?

Prior to the election, Catholics for Peace and Justice, a local organization that supports Catholic teaching on the respect for all human life, formed a group to educate others about the death penalty referendum. Pat Roehrig, the group's chairperson for those opposing the death penalty, said that changes in society affected the election’s outcome.

"I think we've gotten away from mercy and forgiveness," she said. "We've become so vengeful and hateful and I think that shows up in the voting for the death penalty."

You might recall Jeff Sweetland of CPJ's death penalty group spoke of those who disagreed with him in similar terms.