Hypothetical.

Imagine say, you are a bishop in a northeastern state. You recently issued a very controversial statement that is widely considered to be a capitulation to politics and the culture of death. Imagine you hope that if you just lie low for a little while, perhaps all the outraged people will just go away. It has now been a few weeks and the brouhaha surrounding your decision is beginning to fade. Then, out of nowhere, the Pope makes a statement asking pharmacists to take a stand against the very type activity you just helped permit. That has gotta hurt.

In a timely and hard hitting statement the Pope said “”we cannot anaesthetize consciences as regards, for example, the effect of certain molecules that have the goal of preventing the implantation of the embryo or shortening a person’s life.” He added: “Pharmacists must seek to raise people’s awareness so that all human beings are protected from conception to natural death, and so that medicines truly play a therapeutic role.”

So if you were said hypothetical bishop of a northeastern state, would you continue to be anesthetized to human destruction? What would you do? Would you have the humility to admit that you made a mistake?

We shall see, hypothetically of course.