Catholic Bishops and Gun Control

Since the school massacre in Newtown a week ago, there has been a deafening silence from two groups who were extraordinarily vocal during the presidential election. The National Rifle Association and the U.S. Catholic Bishops have been noticeably silent. That the NRA was silent was not surprising since their solution to any problem is more weapons. The Catholic Bishops, on the other hand, wage an anti-abortion war on a "right-to-life" argument.  One would think they would be using a every media outlet to decry the wanton destruction of life that occurred in Newtown.  They expressed sympathy for the victims, but did not lash out at the use of semi-automatic assault weapons and handguns.

Today, a week later, both groups broke their silence.

The NRA held a news conference at which one of their high-priced lobbyists tried to explain to the rest of us idiots that assault weapons and handguns are not the problem. Our problem, he tells us, is that we need more guns in our schools.  And while guns are good, our problem lies with the media, television, and video games. 

Also today, at about the same time, the US Catholic Bishops seemed to get on board with the calls of other religious organizations with a statement recognizing a need to regulate firearms. They called on all Americans, especially legislators, to address national policies that will strengthen regulations of firearms and improve access to health care for those with mental health needs. "The U.S. bishops called for laws limiting the sale and use of firearms, particularly assault weapons and handguns -- as well as making 'a serious commitment to confront the pervasive role of addiction and mental illness in crime.'"  (Catholic News Herald 12/21/12)

Some, however, have noticed that today's statement was not quite as strong as their 1975 statement: "Handgun Violence: A Threat to Life, Statement on Gun Control." In that statement the bishops said: 'with few exceptions, -- i.e. police officers, military use -- handguns should be eliminated from our society." 

The question is: have the bishops backed off of that position?

The position of U.S. Catholics seems clear. A CBS poll on 12/14/2012  found that 69% of Catholics are in favor of strict gun control. (That same poll found that only 37%b of white evangelical Christians favored strict gun control.)

Perhaps, an even more important question is: will the U.S. Catholic Bishops pursue gun control with the same enthusiasm and finances that they have invested in the anti-abortion issue?