Religion Notes: A Prelate Speaks Out

Ari L. Goldman reported in The New York Times, May 19, 1990.

Although it is highly unusual for a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church to lambaste the work of his colleagues publicly, Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland of Milwaukee showed little restraint when he analyzed a pastoral letter on women's concerns being drafted by fellow bishops.

In his May 10 column in The Catholic Herald, his diocese's publication, Archbishop Weakland wrote that the draft was so flawed and unsatisfactory that the whole project should be abandoned.

...

The draft is the second by the bishops. ''I found it 'preachy,' '' the Archbishop wrote. ''A strident, negative, judgmental tone seemed to dominate. Apparently the authors felt that to persuade their readers, vinegar was better than honey. I felt wrung out after reading it.'' ...