Why the Ottawa Catholic School Board can’t just blow off the Kenyan bishops

Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru

There may be some people wondering if the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) is morally required to comply with the request from the bishops of Kenya asking Canadian Catholics to stop funding a contraception-distributing clinic in Kenya run by Free the Children. After all, some would argue that the OCSB falls under the jurisdiction of the Canadian bishops. Is the request from the Kenyan bishops morally binding on the OCSB?

Evidently, the answer is yes: the OCSB is morally obliged to comply, otherwise both the organization and the Board members risk compromising their communion with the Catholic Church. Let’s see how.

Direct cooperation with evil is the crux of the issue at hand. Given that this is a matter of faith and morals, it  falls directly within the field of responsibility of the episcopacy. Which evil are we talking about? Contraception. Is there any wiggle room in the Church regarding contraception? None.  (more...)

Why the Ottawa Catholic School Board can’t just blow off the Kenyan bishops