Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, California, has instructed all
the pastors in his diocese to refrain from endorsing or condemning
political candidates in this year’s election.“Let me stress again that while we have a moral role to play in explaining how Catholic teaching relates to certain public policy issues, we must not and will not endorse specific candidates, use parish media or bulletins to favor candidates or parties through veiled language about selectively chosen issues, or engage in partisan political activity of any kind,” the bishop wrote in a letter to all pastors.
The message was apparently a response to press reports about a parish newsletter that said Catholics would be guilty of serious sin if they voted for Hillary Clinton.
Bishop McElroy reminded the pastors that partisan political activity could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of the Church.
He told them that any political materials circulated by parishes should be approved by the diocese, the Catholic bishops of California, and the US bishops’ conference.