Is there no one single Catholic bishop in the US willing to stand up for the truth?

The Priestly Pugilist ^ | 1/26/2009 | Priestly Pugilist

[Balt]

Goodness! We haven't even buried Msgr. Bill Smith yet, and the politicos are making contraception an issue again after all these years.

Remember how, during the previous administration, liberals were popping veins because America was "out of step" with the rest of the world? Remember how Mr. Obama was going to talk to everyone who didn't like us, magically making them all like us again because he talked to them? Well, there could be no clearer illustration of America being out of touch with the rest of the world than a comparison of the following two stories. The first is from CNN:

Even before one reaches the front door of Canon's headquarters in Tokyo, one can sense the virtual stampede of employees pouring out of the building exactly at 5:30 p.m. Japan's birth rate of 1.34 is below the level needed to maintain the country's population. In a country where 12-hour workdays are common, the electronics giant has taken to letting its employees leave early twice a week for a rather unusual reason: to encourage them to have more babies. "Canon has a very strong birth planning program," says the company's spokesman Hiroshi Yoshinaga. "Sending workers home early to be with their families is a part of it."

Japan in the midst of an unprecedented recession, so corporations are being asked to work toward fixing another major problem: the country's low birthrate. At 1.34, the birthrate is well below the 2.0 needed to maintain Japan's population, according to the country's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Keidanren, Japan's largest business group, with 1,300 major international corporations as members, has issued a plea to its members to let workers go home early to spend time with their families and help Japan with its pressing social problem.

In the last decade it was France. Now it's Japan. Everyone, it seems, knowns instinctively that, when the economy is in the tank, artificially pumping money into the economy is only a quick fix; the long-term solution is—get ready for it—babies! And lots of 'em. A bigger population means more people participating in the economy: more people manufacturing more goods and more people consuming those goods, and—hocus pocus—the economy chugs back to health like an old Chevy after a new oil change. It never fails.

Yup. Everybody knows this. Everybody but us:

[From the Drudge Report:] Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly defended a move to add birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package, claiming "contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."

Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury. The revelation came during an exchange Sunday morning on ABC's THIS WEEK.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?

PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?

PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.

Now, let me see if I understand this correctly. The economic down-turn started here in the United States, and rippled outward to the rest of the world. The rest of the world understands—and has always understood—that a static or declining population impedes economic growth; which is why, during bad economic times, countries all over the place take measures to encourage people to reproduce, whether it's a country like France offering huge tax breaks to families with four or more children, or an industrial jugernaught like Japan shortening the work day so people can go home and make woopie. But here in the US, where the new liberal administration ran on a platform of bringing us into step with the rest of the world, it is once again a case of "We're right and everyone else is wrong!"

But what's really wrong with this picture is not the economic ineptitude on the part of a liberal government that was swept into office because everyone was hoodwinked into thinking that they were better equipped to deal with the problem; it's the fact that the point-person for this nonsensical national suicide attempt is someone who pretends to be a Catholic.

Last year, we had a post about the Archbishop of San Francisco promising to have a "private conversation" with Ms. Pelosi about her public position on abortion ("Biden, Pelosi & the archbishop: and we are still waiting..."), and we wondered—tongue in cheek—how long we would have to wait for the results. We're still waiting. Not a surprise, as Archbishop Niederauer isn't exactly what one would call a courageous apostle for truth. The question now is: What will His Excellency do now that Ms. Speaker has stated a position as contradictory to the Gospel as if she had said that Jesus is not God?

In spite of the failure of priests and bishops to state it forcefully, the fact is that the Church's teacing on artificial contraception is not up for discussion. The "wiggle room" that everyone seems to think they have because of something they think Vatican II said about conscience doesn't change that, since what everyone thinks Vatican II said, it never said. If Niederauer allows this to pass without informing Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, DC, that she should not receive Holy Communion—an instruction that Wuerl has stated he would accomodate (cf. last year's post "That Pepsodent smile!")—, and Pope Benedict does nothing when Niederauer does nothing—which is probably what Niederauer will do—, then exactly how is the command of Christ to "confirm the faith" of the faithful being fulfilled?

Sometimes I wish I lived in Vietnam, where the government confiscates churches, imprisons priests and shoots lay people when they protest it. At least there you know who the enemy is. Here, Catholic lay people ascend to high public office, make pendantic statements about how the Church is wrong, and our bishops repond by pledging to "work with the administration"—and even churn out a meaningless statement on immigration reform to prove it.

Tomorrow your PP is traveling to his old seed-bed, Yonkers, New York, to concelebrate the funeral services for a friend and teacher who did more to promote the moral doctrine of the Catholic Church than all the bishops this country ever had put together. Why was he never made a bishop? If you don't know that, you haven't been reading this blog.

[al_c]

That comment is uncalled for.

[al_c]

it's the fact that the point-person for this nonsensical national suicide attempt is someone who pretends to be a Catholic.

Pretending. Exactly. Be patient... bishops from around the world will be coming down on her for her lack of understanding of what the Church truly teaches.

[ArrogantBustard]

Even better question:

"If any Catholic Bishop actually does rebuke Nancy Pelosi, will MSM report on it?"

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Yeah, they really turned out the pro-life/pro-family vote, didn't they? (Catholics voted for Obama)

Fix it or wear it proudly!

[craig_eddy]

How, exactly, is this the Catholic Church’s fault?

Our pastor took time during yesterday’s homily to request everyone who felt the urge to fill out cards which will be forwarded to our senators and house representatives. The cards voiced our opposition to FOCA.

He also commented that under no circumstance would a Catholic hospital perform an abortion, and that we would close those hospitals instead of committing murder within their walls.

[al_c]

Yeah, they really turned out the pro-life/pro-family vote, didn't they? (Catholics voted for Obama)

Yes, that much is true. But that does not mean the Church is what you made it out to be in your comment. There are a lot of Catholics ... like Pelosi, Biden, Kennedy, etc ... that are cultural Catholics. They don't follow the teachings of the Church.

Again ... you're comment was out of line.

[livius]

It’s not the fault of the Catholic Church, but it’s only fairly recently that the average pastor or even average bishop has been very outspoken about abortion and the conflict with the State. Confusion has reigned among Catholics as a result, and that was why both Pelosi and Biden felt that they were perfectly within their rights to challenge the bishops and the teaching of the Church, and why they were even supported by many Catholics, obviously

I think the Priestly Pugilist is right. Wuerl - or whoever is responsible for a politician who is claiming to be a Catholic and claiming that abortion or even birth control are ok with the Church - has got to publicly excommunicate that person. These people are not real Catholics because they don’t accept the teaching of the Church. But the problem is, they are using the name “Catholic,” because of the simple fact that they were baptized in the Catholic Church, to do enormous harm.

The bishops have got to take the next step and exercise their disciplinary powers.

[Ransomed]

Because the bishops refuse to use puplic discipline to teach what it believes about life. So uninformed Catholics think it really isn’t a big deal, ‘cause they see folks who are into baby butchery just being occasionally scolded.

Public discipline is a teaching tool for bishops. But, for some reason, they decided not to use it for 40 years in the case of life issues. So now, if they do use public discipline to teach now, the question will be what the hell were they doing for 40 years on this issue. Many, in my opinion, are not humble enough to admit they really messed up.

My priest preached on foca and the post cards too. Many are going to be shocked at the tremendous amount of opposition that will be pouring into DC in a bit. But it’s going to take public discipline to really achieve what the Church should be doing as concerns baby butchery, the worst nightmare of the baby butchery crowd. And that means it’s more of a bishop thing than a parish priest thing.

Freegards

[Tax-chick]

Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren ...

Once past the bizarre contention that Rep. Pelosi is the mother of her grandchildren, we can see that she succeeded excellently in passing her ideology to her children. A nice 1.25 birthrate there.

My parents have 2 children and 9 grandchildren, and many of their friends are quite jealous.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Look, if the Catholics turned out to be a D voting block, then what I said is correct.

No socially conservative person should ever vote RAT!

[al_c]

No ... what you said about the Catholic vote was correct. What you said about the Church is total crap.

[Religion Moderator]

Either drop that subject or leave the thread.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Is there no one single Catholic bishop in the US willing to stand up for the truth?

Probably not and I think I answered why. To quote Jack Nickleson, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth."

[Salvation]

The statements by Bishops and the posts about FOCA are bolded.

Pray for LIFE!

Abortion: Obama's holy war
White House promoting 'anti-Christian' policies?
Obama changes policy on abortion (& fires (gay) Bush-era global aids coord)
Obama lifts restrictions on abortion funding
House Republicans ask Obama to disavow ‘FOCA agenda’
Obama to reverse abortion policy
Prelate (Archbishop Chaput) Urges US Catholics to United Voice

Pro-life Obama Ad Viewed over 250,000 Times in Three Days
Barack Obama Postpones Decision to Send Tax Dollars Overseas for Abortion
It's Official: Obama Will Fund Foreign Abortions
Obama to Lift Ban on Funding for Groups Providing Abortions Overseas (Mexico City Policy/Alan Keyes]
Pope Benedict Gently Encourages Obama to Respect Life After Inauguration Day
Obama’s abortion burden
White House Web Site Becomes Pro-Abortion After Obama Takeover (Within 5 minutes)
Norma McCorvey, Former Roe, Records New Television Commercial on Abortion
Cardinal George writes to President-elect Obama
Sources: Obama may quickly reverse abortion policy (Hey America, you just elected a baby killer!)

Obama Officials Confirm He Will Fund Foreign Abortions Starting Wednesday
Martin Luther King would not have voted for Barak Obama.
President Barack Obama's Pro-Abortion Record: A Pro-Life Compilation
The Coming Anti-Life Onslaught: Obama's Abortion Agenda at Home and Abroad
"A pervasive web of falsehood" ( Pepperdine Prof. confronts Catholic bloggers on abortion & Obama )
Douglas Kmiec Blasts Pro-Life Advocates For Criticizing His Pro-Obama Position
Prof. Kmiec accuses ‘right wing’ Catholic bloggers of character assassination
U.S. Bishops Launch Campaign Against FOCA
Second Black Pro-Life Leader Urges Barack Obama to Oppose Abortion (Dr. Alveda King)
Cardinal George Warns Catholic Members of Congress About FOCA

Barack and the bishops (the coming confrontation with the Catholic church)
Abortion industry asks Obama for billions in funding
Abortion, A Doctor's Conscience and Obama's Lack of Campaign Commitment (Weyrich's Final Column)
Faith-Based Hospitals Could Close If Obama Signs Freedom of Choice Act
nate Filibuster Sought to Prevent Obama's Abortion Industry Bailout Plans
Bella Babies: Lives Saved
Obama's Abortion Socialism
Dr. Alveda King stumps for Pro-life
Feminists for Life Rolling Out College Pro-Life Videos
FOCA remains a threat, Russell Shaw warns

Abortion Foes Open a New Front
Bishop Paul Loverde's Bold Defense of Life, 'Arrest me' [FOCA}
Catholic Bishop: "Go Right Ahead and Arrest Me" Rather than Obey Freedom of Choice Act
Priest: Voting For Obama Could Be 'Mortal Sin'
Calif. priest tells Obama supporters to confess
The Freedom of Choice Act showdown is coming; it will change everything
Doug Kmiec’s Departure from the Pro-life Movement
Jill Stanek: Counterfeit pro-lifers: A case of mistaken identity
FOCA's effects seen as dire, but chance of it passing considered slim
Why Kmiec Will Not Become The New Vatican Ambassador

Abortion Advocates Downplay Potential for Passing Radical FOCA Bill
Lose-Lose on Abortion; Obama's threat to Catholic hospitals and their very serious counterthreat.
Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston stepped in it (Re: Fr. Newman)
Obama Picks Staffer of Pro-Abortion Group as Comm Director
Catholic Leader: Excommunication Possible for Backing Pro-Abortion Bill
The Death of Catholic Culture and the Election of Barack Obama (Catholic Caucus)
Pew study finds election coverage of religion was shallow (don't we know it!)
Biden experiencing troubled conscience over abortion, says Bishop Aquila
Guest Opinion: Fr. Jay Scott Newman in the Lion's Den
Interview with Bishop Hermann on the Courage to Die for Life

U.S. Bishops Cut All Funding to ACORN, Activities Funded Hard to Determine
Pew Study Finds Less Than One Percent of Election Coverage Included Abortion
Douglas Kmiec: Barack Obama More Catholic Than Previous Pro-Life Presidents
Newman in the Lion's Den (For taking care of business.)
How Tom Daschle Might Kill Conservatism [Obamacare: make us dependent, then how to shrink gov't?]
Obama Selecting Most Anti-Life&Family Rads He Can Find-plans to dismantle protection for marriage
Cardinal Stafford Stands by Criticism of Obama
Catholic Church Warns Obama of War between administration and Church
Kmiec: Barack Obama More Catholic Than Previous Pro-Life Presidents (Total Moron Alert)
Bishop discusses reasons behind cutoff of ACORN funding

Planned Parenthood Prez Falsely Says Election Means Catholics Pro-Abortion
A Pro-Life Nughtmare: Daschle Appointed as the new Secretary of Health And Human Services
Planned Parenthood CEO Claims Cardinal O'Malley Out of Step With Catholics
S.C. POLITICIAN RIPS CATHOLICISM
Election Results Don't Mean Pro-Life Movement to Stop, Limit Abortions is Dead
Pro-life movement: Both ends against the middle
Abortion: Obama’s nightmare.
A Pro-Life Nightmare: Daschle Appointed as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services
(Not Embryonic)Stem Cell Method Seen as Success (New York Times Buries the Story)
(Anti-)Catholic slur draws ire from council colleagues (South Carolina)

Catholics Who Vote for Freedom of Choice Act Could Face Automatic Excommunication ( 'bout time! )
She'd Be Perfect for the Job -- (Not!) [When did you stop beating your captured Islamo-Nazi?]
The abortion president
Catholic Bishops finally step up against abortion Democrats
The Coming "War" Between the Obama Administration and the Catholic Church
Catholic Caucus: How to Fight FOCA with all resources of the Church
Fr. Newman Responds to Diocesan Concerns about Pro-Abortion Voting Letter
What Catholics Can Expect
Election Part I: “We Have No King But Caesar [Obama?]” (Reality Alert)
Pope says Catholics in politics must follow faith

Vatican cardinal: Obama is 'Aggressive, Disruptive and Apocalyptic'
AmP Poll: Was SC priest right to suggest confession for Obama voters? [Catholic Caucus]
OKAY OF EMBRYONIC CELL RESEARCH WILL INTRODUCE HIDDEN DANGER..PROPHESIED AS 'COMPARABLE' TO ABORTION
Finally, a Religious Leader with Guts
Bishop Blasts Pro-Choice Politicians (Bishop from Biden's "hometown")
SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters
Our Pastor is in the news because of this article
SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters
Voting bishops [Catholic Caucus]
On the end of Catholic Hospitals

Catholic professor'Kmiec] draws protesters Conservative voted for Obama
Catholic Church drops ACORN funding
Obama has first telephone conversation with the Pope
Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion
Catholics gird for fight with Obama on abortion, Paterson, NJ bishop takes a leading role
Jill Stanek: Moving On After Barack Obama, How a Disabled Boy Restored My Pro-Life Fire
Catholic Bishops Urge Huge Anti-FOCA Campaign to Stop Abortion Expansion (Might Close Hospitals)
Abortion and Euthanasia Bringing about the Demise of Catholic Health Care: Catholic Obstetrician
To accept abortion is to challenge God, Lord of all things...
USCCB: Church should oppose FOCA 'early and often,' Niederauer (Pelosi's Archbishop) says

Cardinal [George]: Obama's Presidency Heals Racism, Now Time to End Abortion
CNN’s Rick Sanchez: Does the GOP ‘Have to Be Anti-Abortion’?
Catholic bishops plan to forcefully confront Obama
Niece of Martin Luther King Jr.: "The Dream" Is Not Yet Fulfilled
Barone: Media wanted Palin abortion
New York Subway Riders Respond to Ad and Share Post-Abortion Grief, Agony
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's Niece{Dr. Alveda King]: Abortion Means Obama Doesn't Fulfill Dream
Bishops to present concerns on abortion, other issues to politicians
Kneeling Before the World [Catholic Caucus]
Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life Receives Post-Election Death Threat

Barone: 'Liberal media' wanted Palin to abort
BISHOPS APPROVE BLESSING FOR CHILD IN THE WOMB
FIRST THINGS: Obama and the Bishops
Head of U.S. bishops says no compromise on abortion
Washington Post Admits Bias for Obama, Calls Pro-Life Policies "Offensive"
Washington Post Admits Bias for Obama, Calls Pro-Life Policies "Offensive"
Novena for the Protection of the Unborn
Carving Out a Better Respect Life Position
Prez Herod (post election reflection)
Wash Post: Pro-Life Views "Ideologically Offensive"
Vatican fires off warning to Barack Obama over stem cell research

Election of Obama a Disaster for Pro-Life Fight in EU and Africa: Prominent Kenyan Physician
Bishops will not skip debate on abortion and politics
Obama's Startling Reaction to Funeral Service for Baby Killed After Failed Abortion
MCCL [MN's largest pro-life organization] achieves nearly all pro-life goals in 2008 election
No "Presidential sleight of hand" on stem cells
Voting for Reproductive Freedom (NYT pro-abort alert)
Abortion Groups Confident Obama Will Push His Pro-Abortion Agenda
Obama reviews Bush orders on stem cells, drilling
Obama reviews Bush orders on stem cells, drilling (Be prepared for the gas prices to go up)
Let us Celebrate Barrack Obama, Let us Celebrate Life

Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions Stem Cell, Climate Rules
Pro-Life Dem Breakthroughs (Bad News for FOCA?)
Stopping FOCA: EWTN TV w/ Gianna Jessen, Sister Nirmala, Archbishop Burke, among others(?)
Dr. Alveda King to Pro-Lifers: Forward, March
What America Has Done (Was the election about racial equality or the right to life?)
The Freedom of Choice Act: Radical Attempt to Prematurely End Debate over Abortion
Becket Fund to Award Canterbury Medal to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap.
Doug Kmiec to give election ‘post-mortem’ at Calif. seminary [Catholic Caucus]
Fighting FOCA (the time to act is now!)
Billy Graham Won't Advise Obama Because of Strong Pro-Abortion Position

Bishop Carlson: Our witness must grow stronger (Statement on election results)
Back to the Drawing Board (several bishops calling for Faithful Citizenship to be overhauled)
On Eucharistic Consistency (Florida bishop urges Biden to examine conscience before Communion)
Future Obama abortion legislation will violate conscience rights, PRI president says
THERE IS STILL A GOD IN HEAVEN!
Bill Berkowitz: Religious Right Down but Not Out
Freedom of Choice Act - Election Implications
A Post – Election Reflection: Pray, Plan and Participate
Payback Time: What Planned Parenthood Expects from Barack Obama
Life will not go on

Catholic Leaders React to Obama Victory, Offer Advice
Archbishop Chaput Eager to See Kmiec Deliver a Pro-Life Obama
History, Hyperbole and Horror (Eye opening)
[Electing Obama] A Grave Mistake and an Abiding Hope
Fight FOCA (Unlimited Abortion) Sign the Fight FOCA Petition ASAP Get Involved!!
Douglas W. Kmiec on 'Obama's Miracle'
"The Killing Must End”: Christian Defense Coalition to Launch Major Post-Inaugural Pro-Life Campaign
Pro-Life Advocates Urged to Renew Efforts Against Abortion After Election Loss
Obama Pushes Abortion on Day One With Emanuel Pick
Warriors with Our Eyes Fixed on Heaven (Bishop Finn's Excellent Column) [Ecumenical]

[Zionist Conspirator]

Unfortunately, what Catholics fail to admit is that so long as the Catholic Church refuses to teach Biblical inerrancy and kowtows to higher criticism and evolution, so long will these issues go unadressed.

It's absolutely pathetic how many people think these issues are unconnected.

[Salvation]

Sorry, I noticed that there were Bishops statements in there that were not bolded. I’ve redone the list.

[al_c]

See post 17