IT is an honest-to-goodness dilemma that some bishops and priests face, something over which they sincerely agonize. In the face of evil, to remain neutral is to allow evil to triumph. Some are honestly convinced that in the forthcoming elections, pastors are duty-bound to see that the flock does not fall for supporting the wrong candidates.

And so, as pastors, they must make their partisan choices clear — and pass these on to the people to whom they preach. Many of those who have expressed this position are my friends, known to me to be persons of goodwill and exemplary ministers of the Church. But I remain firm in my conviction that bishops and priests should keep their partisan choices to themselves.