Archbishop John Nienstedt: Episcopal Courage in Defending Marriage and Family

By Deacon Keith Fournier
9/24/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Archbishop John Nienstedt is a Bishop who understands his vocation as a teacher and demonstrates Episcopal spine

In one of his pastoral letters the great Bishop of Hippo, Augustine, wrote these words concerning the ministry of a Bishop, "Believe me, brothers and sisters, if what I am for you frightens me, what I am with you reassures me. For you I am the bishop; with you I am a Christian." Augustine once compared a Bishop who lacked courage to preach the Gospel and defend the faith to "a scarecrow standing in a vineyard." Archbishop John Nienstedt is a Bishop who understands his vocation as a teacher and demonstrates Episcopal spine in an age which desperately needs to witness it.

Archbishop John Nienstedt.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Catholic Online) - In one of his pastoral letters the great Bishop of Hippo, Augustine, wrote these words concerning the ministry of a Bishop, "Believe me, brothers and sisters, if what I am for you frightens me, what I am with you reassures me. For you I am the bishop; with you I am a Christian." St. Augustine once compared a Bishop who lacked courage to preach the Gospel and defend the faith to "a scarecrow standing in a vineyard."

Archbishop John Nienstedt is a Bishop who understands his vocation as a teacher and demonstrates Episcopal spine in an age which desperately needs to witness it. With his brother Bishops in Minnesota he is engaged in a six week catechetical campaign to ensure that the faithful understand the truth about marriage and the family and society founded upon it. The November 2, 2010 election has great implications in Minnesota because of efforts to undermine authentic marriage.

A DVD entitled "Preserving Marriage in Minnesota" is being sent to all Catholics this week to assist them in informing their political participation based upon the truth concerning Marriage as revealed in the Natural Law, confirmed by Revelation and consistently taught by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. On Catechetical Sunday, September 19, 2010, this courageous Bishop urged the faithful to support a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman ordered toward love and the bearing and raising of children.

On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, he gave a radio interview on this vital effort to defend marriage and the family and society founded upon it. The Bishop could have spoken on a Catholic, other Christian or other favorably disposed station. However, he chose to do the interview on National Public Radio. Once again, he showed his confidence in the truth and his courage in speaking it.

Even the title given to the interview by NPR demonstrates the slant. The Archbishop is defending marriage. However, in an example of the Orwellian "Newspeak" accompanying the issue, the Network called the interview, "Archbishop John Nienstedt on Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriage."

Readers should note the efforts to question the funding of the video and insinuate it was improper, which it was not. Notice as well as the Bishop's pastorally appropriate, perfectly proper and absolutely legal encouragement to the faithful to act in the political arena in a manner consistent with the truth. The interviewer was seeking to intimidate the Bishop. This is one of the ploys of those who oppose the truth concerning marriage and life in the current "Dictatorship of Relativism". They attempt to label every moral issue as "political" in an effort to frighten Bishops from addressing them. The Bishop handled the effort well and did not back down. He is to be commended and he deserves our prayer.

Below we present excerpts from the interview. It was conducted by by Tom Crann, of Minnesota Public Radio, aired on "All Things Considered" and can be found here:

*****************************
Tom Crann: How much did this DVD mailing cost and who paid for it?

Archbishop John Nienstedt: I personally do not know the cost of the DVD or the mailing. It was an anonymous person -- who asked to remain anonymous -- came forth and said that they would be very happy to support this project.

Crann: Summarize for us, the content of this DVD, if you could, please.

Nienstedt: The bishops of the state have an obligation by ordination to be teachers. And we all know the state of marriage in our society today -- the fact that ... four to five out of every ten marriages ends in divorce, the rate of cohabitation has gone from half a million in 1965 to over 5 million couples today. One out of every three Americans over the age of fifteen has never been married. And there are 19 million children being raised by single parents.

So the state of marriage is not very healthy in our society, and marriage is inherently something that involves our faith. It's a commitment for life, a life-giving commitment that is open to the procreation and the raising of children.

And so the church is very concerned about the state of marriage. The church also knows that in this state, a year ago, two pieces of legislation were introduced to the legislature suggesting that the definition of marriage should be changed. And so given that climate, we intend to and have been teaching what we believe is the God-given reality of marriage. Marriage isn't something that we create as human beings. It's already a given from the work of creation by almighty God. ...

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

John D
2 years ago
Daniel, did you just realize this now? In order for a church to remain tax exempt, they can only reinforce their particular religiuos beliefs. For instance, a church can advocate for the pro-life position, but it cannot specifically advocate one candidate over another. It leaves it to the parishoner to connect the dots. This is nothing new and there is nothing wrong with it. Church's are entitled to give their opinions on social issues. The parishoners listen, think, and eventually vote. Why does this bother you?
Edward
2 years ago
The "CCC" states that Catholics have a moral obligation to VOTE (2240); That socialism and excessive intervention by the government can threaten personal freedom and initiative (1883); That human life must be respected and protected absolutely from conception with the rights of a person (2270); That homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered, contrary to the natural law, and under no circumstances can they be approved (2257). - This leaves out most Dems and RINOs, so we must pay attention. And yes, the CCC states that Bishops first responsibility is to be Teachers in accord with the Gospel and Lord's command (888). Bishops do not tell us who to vote for, just the requirements for our voting. Archbishop John Nienstedt is absolutely correct. If everyone read the CCC, Bishops would not need to remind us of our OBLIGATIONS regarding Faith and Morals.
Daniel Sturm
2 years ago
John and Diane,

You sure know how to take the ball and run with it—the other way.

You cannot possibly assume any of my beliefs from what I posted.

Let's get back to the subject.

Here's Nienstedt's quote again: "Well, we, and I'm particularly, are very scrupulous about not endorsing any candidate of any party. That's not our position."

My issue is that Nienstedt states he is "not endorsing any candidate of any party."

But he is! In a very clear and direct manner he is endorsing candidates of a particular party and is couching his endorsement under the guise of teaching.

He is not being forthright, therein lies the joke.

Now—if anyone replies to this—please stay on the subject, and please don't go flying off with your assumptions regarding my beliefs.
Diane
2 years ago
Thank God for Archbishop Nienstedt and our many courageous Bishops. I will only vote for politicians that are prolife,pro traditional marriage and pro family. To Daniel Sturm- If you are refering to the Dem. party then I suggest that you petition them to remove the proabortion and pro same sex marriage planks from their party platform. You cannot blame the Church for what the Dem. party has done to itself.Although the Bishops do not mention parties or politicians by name we Catholics have come to know just what the Dem. party now stands for. You do not have the right to tell any Catholic what party or person to vote for.The Bishops have the right and obligation to remind Catholics that they must vote prolife if they want to be true to the 2000 yr. old doctrines of the Church. To vote for a politician is to give that politicians party the power to enact their party platform. The Bishops are teaching as they should. Either accept it or move on. Quit attempting to sow dissent in the Church.
r. short
2 years ago
thank you Archbishop Nienstedt- we need a video like this in Rhode Island!!!
christina
2 years ago
May God bless and reward Bishop Nienstedt.
John
2 years ago
Daniel,

Why is that a joke? The Church has taught that homosexual behavior is sinful, dangerous, and disordered for 2000 years now. Now a candidate happens to come along and agree with that teaching. Is the Bishop continuing to teach the Truth now wrong just because it's an election year and someone who is running for office agrees with the teaching? Must the Church shut it's mouth during election year because someone may be running on a similar Truthful message?
Daniel Sturm
2 years ago
"Nienstedt: Well, we, and I'm particularly, are very scrupulous about not endorsing any candidate of any party. That's not our position. "

LOL! What a joke arch! What a joke!
Anne
2 years ago
There is no UNITY in the US. Our Bishops, Priests, Nuns and Laity need to use the Church's gift of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition" in each Diocese. Until this is done, everyone will assume their personal opinions are correct with various heresies throughout the US.

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