Providence, R.I., Apr 20, 2018 / 12:55 pm
Speaking out on political issues is not only a right, but a duty, for religious leaders, said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence in a recent interview.
"What we try and do is take the Gospel, the basis of our faith, and apply it to the issues of the day," Bishop Tobin told the Providence Journal in an article published April 17.
"Now, some people will like it, some people won't like it; some will agree, some will not. I think we have not just a right but the need to be involved in these public conversations."
Bishop Tobin said that when he speaks about issues such as immigration and gun control, he draws criticism from conservatives, who say, "Stay out of it, it's not your business." When speaking about abortion or same-sex marriage, he said, he gets the same response from liberals.