In a surprising twist for a church bulletin, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in San Diego has made headlines for its controversial messaging. Typically, church newsletters focus on prayer requests and potluck contributions, but the recent bulletins took a more alarming turn.
On October 16th, a flyer titled “Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics” found its way into the weekly bulletin. It boldly stated that voting for Democrats could lead church members to eternal damnation, citing the party’s stances on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage as contrary to Catholic teachings. “It is a mortal sin to vote Democrat,” the flyer proclaimed ominously, warning that those who die in a state of mortal sin “descend into hell” immediately after death.
Just two weeks later, another bulletin article claimed that Hillary Clinton was under Satan’s influence, attempting to sway voters on abortion—a theory that seems to have bypassed Occam’s Razor entirely. As you can imagine, this has sparked quite the uproar, especially since IRS regulations prevent tax-exempt organizations like churches from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
In response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego denounced the flyer and article, asserting they do not reflect the church’s teachings. Bishop Robert McElroy reminded the clergy that while they have a role in explaining Catholic doctrine in relation to public policy, they must refrain from endorsing specific candidates or engaging in partisan politics. “It’s not a mortal sin to vote for Democrats,” he assured, adding, “the church doesn’t take positions on this.”
But who was behind these inflammatory messages? The diocese indicated that the October 16th flyer was inserted without the pastor’s approval, while the authorship of the follow-up article remains murky. Reverend Thomas Albright, the pastor, admitted to not reviewing the flyer, yet he expressed agreement with its extreme stance. In fact, he told parishioners they would face dire consequences for voting Democrat. Three weeks prior, during a homily, he had already addressed the same contentious issues, implying that votes should align with Catholic values.
As for the second bulletin that characterized Clinton as a servant of the devil? The diocese has also disavowed it, stating, “There’s no Catholic teaching on national debt or the Second Amendment. Those are civil issues, not church matters.” It turns out Reverend Albright authored that piece too, but claimed he never suggested voters should specifically avoid Clinton.
In a peculiar twist of irony, a recent poll shows that Trump holds a substantial 20-point lead among Catholic voters over Clinton.
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In summary, the church’s attempt at political guidance has sparked controversy and confusion, raising questions about the intersection of faith and politics and the responsibilities of religious institutions in electoral matters.