Catholic Church not speaking for flock

Cardinal Roger Mahoney recently likened the new Arizona law on immigration enforcement to “German Nazi and Russian communist techniques.” Don't shame lifelong Catholics by using nasty rhetoric. (We aren't out of the woods yet on the priest sex scandal.)

Dedicated Arizonans still live who nearly 70 years ago answered the call to fight Nazi Germany, to protect a homeland of predominately foreign born and their offspring.

But that aside, the illegal immigration issue is a major headache for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - that includes cardinals. And it's about not getting federal funds for a dear cause.

Mostly unreported was that Catholic hospitals are sustaining huge losses by serving illegal immigrants through their emergency rooms. With their survival at stake, only a national health insurance entitlement plan - Obamacare - combined with amnesty for the undocumented may save them.

As much as I have a Catholic heart for the downtrodden, and see benevolence in Catholic-run medical facilities, I plead with the USCCB prelate to get out of partisan politics based on personal taste, popular sentiment and political correctness. Otherwise, they give the speak-for-all impression that falsely represents their flock.

Instead, they should revitalize church doctrinal law, which, incidentally, is any Catholic cardinal's area of expertise and real calling.

Gerald R. Eberle

Pocahontas