(RNS) San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has rejected criticism from state lawmakers over the use of morality clauses for Catholic schoolteachers, asking whether they would “hire a campaign manager who advocates policies contrary to those you stand for?”
The archdiocese sparked protests earlier this month when it unveiled morality clauses for four Catholic high school handbooks as well as for teacher labor contracts.
–
But the Rev. Jim McDermott, a columnist for America magazine, a national Jesuit weekly, said that hardly settled the issue. “(W)hy in God’s name is any place still presenting an examination of conscience in these terms?” McDermott asked.
“Truly, is it any less appalling to think that a parish might give adults this list of questions? Not because there aren’t sins in there … but because of the sick, warped vision of church and confession that it offers.”
