Tobin interviewed by Catholic press on party switch

The National Catholic Register has a new interview with Bishop Thomas Tobin regarding his recent change of party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. In the interview Tobin downplays the importance of his political affiliation pointing out “I made a point of saying that, as a Catholic, my baptismal certificate was more important than party affiliation” while conceding that “the state Republican Party caucus also unanimously approved same-sex ‘marriage.'”

On the apparent softening of the Roman Catholic Church’s message regarding LGBTQ issues due to recent statements by Pope Francis, Tobin said, “The message hasn’t changed, but the messenger has.” In other words, according to Tobin it’s the same old church with a shiny new boss.

There’s nothing explosive or game changing in the interview, but it does manage to provide a peek into the carefully worded worldview of one of Rhode Island’s most powerful and outspoken religious leaders.