Posted on 05/17/2007 9:59:15 AM PDT by presidio9
The Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, STL, president of Human Life International, (HLI) today said "Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) and seventeen other members of Congress who describe themselves as Catholic not only are ignorant of their faith but also need a civics lesson."
Father Euteneuer was responding to their statement about Pope Benedict XVI in a press release from DeLauro's office which stated that the Pope's recent comments that Catholic politicians risk excommunication and should not receive Communion by saying, "Such notions offend the very nature of the American experiment and do a great disservice to the centuries of good work the church has done."
Father Euteneuer said, "It is an embarrassment that a Catholic, much less a member of Congress should make such an absurd statement. Even if this statement were true, the Holy Father answers to a Higher Power than Rep. DeLauro and the Gang of 18."
"The truth is," Father Euteneuer said, "nothing threatens the American experiment more than the legal but unjust killing of human beings by abortion which stands in stark contrast to the very first right enumerated by our Declaration of Independence: The Right to Life. The humanity of the unborn child is no longer even debated. It is a scientific fact. Abortion is murder, and murder is against the law. Like Dred Scott before it, which violated certain citizens' Right to Liberty, Roe v. Wade is bad, dishonest law and will eventually fall."
"Excommunication is a pastoral and medicinal penalty, not a political one. The Pope is well within his free expression of religion guaranteed by the US Constitution-and his pastoral duty-to warn any Catholic when their eternal salvation is jeopardized by their actions" Father Euteneuer said. "This is what the Catholic Church teaches and what Catholics believe. If the Gang of 18 believes otherwise, honesty and integrity requires they find another church that tells them what they want to hear. If they have that much of a problem being Catholic, no one is forcing them to stay. We certainly don't need their hypocrisy."
There are currently 131 Catholics in the US House of Representatives and 24 in the Senate. Several pro-life Democrats were elected to the House in 2006. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic and a Democrat, is a supporter of abortion rights; House Majority Leader John Murtha is also a Catholic and a Democrat. Murtha has been described as pro-life, having received a 70% rating from the National Right to Life Committee, possibly because of his support for embryonic stem-cell research. Other Catholic Democrats in the House include John D. Dingell Jr. of Michigan, who serves as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is the longest-serving member currently in the House.
Founded in 1981, Human Life International is the world's largest pro-life, pro-family organization that is dedicated to defending life, faith and the family, with branches and affiliates around the world.
ping
Cafeteria Catholics of note: Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Joseph Biden (D-Del.)
That reads like a list of “who is who” in anti family legislators.
Bravo! Well said, it's long been time for someone to speak out, especially after the glossing over of the issue during the Kerry run. But honesty and integrity are not exactly the gang of 18's strong points.
I was just about to re-post that comment myself. Very, very well articulated by the priest.
I like Father Euteneuer. He does not mince words. Nor does he play favorites politically - he will correct any Catholic public figure who publically brings scandal to the faith, regardless of the letter after his or her name.
For example, here is Euteneuer taking on cafeteria Catholic Sean Hannity. Hannity has no defense for his heresy, so he goes on offense with “judge not lest ye be judged” (which is a stupid thing to say to a priest) and making ad hominem attacks against Euteneuer for pedophilia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usTWwSbpWRc
Euteneuer is dead on target. These 18 ccongress critters are like fleas demanding an elephant’s attention.
Wow? Jack Murtha is pro-life??? Didn’t know that... Well we just need to find a Catholic that is a Republican to beat him next time around...
I agree, and timely, too. During the last election, some Priests actually seemed reluctant at best to publicly challenge these CINO’s.
Amen to that! Imagine! How long has it been since CINO's have been publicly challenged like that? No dancing around the issue, either! I imagine there are probably some CINO constituents who will rush to their defense, at least privately, which is part of the problem.
Wow !! Finally, someone on “our side” with enough guts to fight back, and stand up to the evil. About time!! I fear for his safety, he is taking a terrible risk. I don’t think this “Gang of 18” is going to appreciate having the obvious pointed out to them. I wish I had his courage.
‘I wish I had his courage.’
Why should he have fear when he has the truth? THIS is the Church’s doctrine. No if’s and’s or but’s according to the Holy Father.
The CINO’s do have the option of finding another religion that wouldn’t condemn their actions. They are out there.
Agreed!
Oh, but.....we have no right to impose our religious views on the PEOPLE, the anti-God people say. But the politicians DO have a right to vote pro-life, don’t they? Otherwise, why are there votes if everybody has to vote anti-life?
I’d like to see some of the CINO governors taken to task as well, starting with the reprehensible, NARAL-approved Jenny Granholm here in Michigan. She lives to veto pro-life legislation in our state.
Perfect response!
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
THANKS for this thread!
PING, incase you weren’t ping-ed before.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.