We expect malcontents to throw the abuse crisis card anytime he doesn’t like where the discussion is going. Commentor DP at Rich’s blog answers well:
The problem with commentary like Mr. Ahrens’ is that the abuse crisis has become a freeze-tag totem for some Catholics: “We can’t do X because of the abuse crisis.” Usually this comes from Catholics of a more leftist political bent or progressive liturgical mindset.
After all, it’s difficult to picture Mr. Ahrens demanding a stop to the bishops’ advocacy on behalf of illegal immigrants on the same grounds. Which would suggest that his justifiable outrage over the behavior of prelates and other priests is a mite too…situational.
Not that they should stop speaking on behalf of such immigrants, of course. Though I have seen non-Catholics of a right-wing bent make exactly that argument.
Perhaps the Church’s actions on liturgy and political advocacy should be evaluated on their own merits and not through the distorting lens of the abuse crisis.
