Time and time again since Archbishop Burke issued a press release yesterday concerning his opposition to the use of Sheryl Crow as a performer for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, people (on KMOX, on the Internet, etc.) have argued against the Archbishop, saying, "It's about the kids... and who cares about what the performer's personal beliefs are, as long as the money raised goes towards helping the kids?"
I'm sorry, Bob Costas et all, but that argument doesn't fly. First of all, saying that, as long as the greater good is served (i.e. helping the kids), we shouldn't worry about the means used to acheive that good, is a utilitarian argument. The end does not justify the means; this is not only a teaching of the Catholic Church, but also a long-held philosophical stance opposed to the utilitarian philosophy present in much of American society.
Another problem with the arguments 'for the kids' is that the issue the Archbishop is addressing has nothing at all to do with whether or not we should raise funds for the Children's Hospital. Rather, the Archbishop is making the point that Catholic institutions have a moral responsibility to ensure they do not bring scandal upon the Church. If the Hospital, which is supposed to hold to the Catholic teaching of abortion as a moral evil, hires a publicly outspoken musician who supports abortion and embryonic stem cell research, this will cause many to think the Church is being hypocritical. This is why the Archbishop was forced to resign his position as the chairman of the fundraising board: he did not want to bring this potential scandal upon the Church.
Please, please, please watch and read the actual statement of the Archbishop [Archstl.org] and the Question/Answer section on the Archdiocese's website! If you're going on only what you hear on the radio or read in the Post-Dispatch, you are getting very tainted news.
[UPDATE: They're discussing this issue on KMOX right now, and it seems many speaking about the issue are ignoring the main issue just as much as Bob Costas and others have... and also please remember that I speak on this Blog not for the Church, but concerning my own opinion.]