The Bishop’s Book

Some observations about Bishop Taylor’s recent letter

12/02/2024

Bishop Taylor asked that the following letter be read at all Masses this weekend. He discusses two important topics: a change in Holy Days of Obligation, and the urgent issue of immigration in light of the recent presidential election. I would like to share Bishop Taylor’s letter, and intermittently offer some commentary and explanations.

Bishop Taylor: "My brothers and sisters in Christ, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast of the United States and is a Holy Day of Obligation. For a period of time, when this feast fell on a Monday or a Saturday, as it does this year, it was not obligatory."

Fr. John: In the past most US bishops were well-intentioned in providing these exemptions from attending holy day Masses. Why? Well, because if you miss a holy day of obligation, it is a mortal sin, like missing Sunday Mass. So, out of pastoral concern for their flock, bishops removed the obligation so there was no sin: eliminate the cause and there is no effect.

Bishop Taylor: "However, the Vatican recently clarified that even when a Holy Day of Obligation is transferred to a Saturday or Monday, there remains the obligation to attend Mass on that day. Elsewhere in the United States a few bishops have made an exception for their diocese, lifting the obligation. We have not done that here [in Arkansas]."

Fr. John: The bishop is the chief guardian of the liturgy in his diocese and therefore we see some differences in liturgical practice from diocese to diocese. Each bishop exercises his prudential judgment for what is best for his flock. That is what it means to be a successor of the Apostles.

Bishop Taylor: "In Arkansas the obligation remains. As with any Holy Day of Obligation, individual priests can exempt individual persons from the obligation for a just reason, but there will be no blanket exemption of the diocese or of individual parishes here. One reason is that this feast is the patronal feast of the United States, and our painfully divided country is in need of more prayer and more help from the Blessed Mother’s intercession than ever before."

Fr. John: So, that is the first point of his letter, and Bishop Taylor is fully within his rights to implement fully, and not dull the cutting edge, of the recent Vatican decision that attendance at Holy Day of Obligation Masses should not be exempted. Put simply, there are no more "two-fers" where attending one Mass on Sunday satisfies the obligation for the Holy Day as well. Now, Bishop Taylor turns to his second subject, the thorny topic of immigration.

Bishop Taylor: "One such area where help from heaven is needed is in the area of immigration, about which there is much division and heated rhetoric about massive deportations."

Fr. John: Then the bishop notes the various ways we can approach this touchy topic of immigration, and his own contribution to help Catholics understand the issue more thoroughly.

Bishop Taylor: "This not just a political matter as some would have it, but also a moral matter, a human rights matter about which our Catholic faith has much to say. Back in 2008 I issued a pastoral letter on the human rights of immigrants, in which I address what our faith has to say 1) about immigration as a basic human right, 2) about the reason for national borders, 3) about the rule of law and its limits, and 4) about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. An electronic version of this pastoral letter can be downloaded from our diocesan website – dolr.org. The original print version is available by simply contacting the diocese."

Fr. John: Let me say two things about immigration. First, Bishop Taylor released his pastoral letter the first year as our bishop in 2008. I read it and I was blown away by his extensive research and keen insights about immigration. It’s not a pastoral letter; it’s a pastoral book. Even if you disagree with the bishop’s conclusions about immigration, at least read what he has to say. Don’t be ignorant but be informed. Like the popular meme states: “You can’t fix stupid.”

And second, many Catholics are justifiably angry and frustrated with how our current Catholic president ignores, or out-right fights against, Church teaching about abortion. He champions abortion on demand, and conscientious Catholics are rightly appalled. But Catholic politicians who completely ignore and even undermine Church teaching about immigration must also be held to the same standard, that is, whether or not they uphold Catholic doctrine and practice. Abortion and prolife are simpler and easier issues to wrap our minds around, while immigration is like an octopus with many tentacles to wrestle with.

And it should be said unequivocally that there is a hierarchy of human rights, meaning not all rights have equal weight and importance. The right to life is the primary and principal human right, and the foundation of all other human rights. A dead man doesn’t need rights. Nonetheless, both prolife and immigration are moral and basic human rights issues, and Catholics should be outraged whenever either issue is politically skirted.

Bishop Taylor: "This is not the only matter about which we need to pray for the intercession of the Blessed Mother on this our patronal feast of the Immaculate Conception, but it is a big issue about which our faith has something to say. It is my hope that by entrusting to the Blessed Mother this and other matters we face as a nation, we will heal divisions and find solutions truly worthy of the Lord. Sincerely in Christ, Anthony B. Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock."

Fr. John: Praised be Jesus Christ!