According to Church officials, the money came from a discretionary, unrestricted central ministry fund, not from collection baskets, the Catholic Appeal or funds designated for parish support. The Knights of Columbus also chipped in $150,000. Since the Catholic Church provides an array of social services and ministries, it was felt legalization would negatively impact these efforts. Cardinal Sean O’Malley claimed marijuana was a gateway drug and he saw first hand how it destroyed lives in the inner city. The 850K was spent so late in the game however, its impact was questionable.
Poll after poll reveals the country's attitudes on decriminalizing marijuana are changing and I think a big part of this is because people are reevaluating America's war on drugs. Television host and travel guide Rick Steves makes some compelling arguments when he highlights how Europe has dealt with the problem of substance abuse.
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| Travel guide Rick Steves - For more on his view: https://www.ricksteves.com/about-rick/drug-policy-reform |
Even though marijuana is legal (or at least tolerated) in most European countries, the continent sees fewer drug-related deaths, less drug-related incarceration, and less drug consumption per capita than the United States. Rick Steves explains Europe is focused on “harm reduction” rather than punishment. Since law enforcement targets dealers instead of users, more funding is available for doctors, counselors, and clinics. It's estimated Europeans save 15 euros in police and healthcare costs for each euro invested in drug education, addiction prevention, and counseling.
What about Cardinal O'Malley's assertion that marijuana is a gateway drug? Many feel it's the criminalization of pot that forces young people to buy from dealers who have an economic incentive to get their customers hooked on more expensive and addictive hard drugs. Rick Steves writes that over three times as many Americans report having tried heroin compared to the Dutch where marijuana is available in “coffee shops”. (No one gets carded in the black market.)
The Archdiocese says numerous highly credentialed studies show legalization hurts youth and the needy and they point to recent statistics from Colorado, the first state to legalize marijuana. Rick Steves notes statistics on drug use and abuse are all over the map because most sources have an agenda which skew their findings. In other words, it's easy to embrace junk science. We know that America's war on drugs has marginalized addicts, fueled a black market, drained resources and disproportionately incarcerated minorities. I think society is wondering if it's time for a smarter, more compassionate approach.
While you expect the Archdiocese to weigh in on some moral issues like doctor-assisted suicide, spending money for defeating Question 4 seems odd. Spokesman Terrence Donilon said of the 850K, “It reflects the fact that the Archdiocese holds the matter among its highest priorities.” Last year, a few victims of the sex abuse scandal came forward to say the Boston Archdiocese was reneging on its promise of continued care and therapy. Parishes continue to struggle with maintenance issues that the collection baskets no longer cover. With all the problems facing the Catholic Church, this is what they spend money on?
As a single Catholic, I'm left to wonder why Cardinal O'Malley doesn't see people like me as a high priority. (850K actually buys over 10,600 singles a six month membership to CatholicMatch.com.) At one time, the Archdiocese even had an office of young adults but I guess it wasn't a high priority either.
It's bad enough so much money was thrown out the window on a lost cause. What's worse is when the Boston Archdiocese thinks no one will be upset by it.
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