Posted on 03/27/2009 7:33:25 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
San Francisco, Calif., Mar 27, 2009 / 06:46 am (CNA).- Pro-Obama Catholics and Catholic organizations should “step up” and respond to the pro-abortion “rights” president’s policy decisions, George Wesolek, the Director of Public Policy and Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of San Francisco said in a recent article.
In an essay titled “The Honeymoon is Over,” Wesolek described how he has observed President Barack Obama’s actions with “a mixture of admiration and hope,” and that he had been encouraged by Obama’s advocacy of health care access and his expressed desire to reach out to the Arab world.
“My sense of apprehension and unease, however, has been around the life issues,” he said, describing abortion as the “preeminent social justice issue of our day.”
“I heard during the campaign from pro-Obama Catholics and Catholic organizations established to promote his candidacy that Obama would accomplish more than the previous administration to curtail abortions and promote life using ‘non-divisive’ strategies,” Wesolek wrote. “I have been eagerly looking for indications that this was indeed the case.”
“I have not seen anything that would indicate a ‘pro-life’ openness or even a small move in that general direction. On the contrary, I have seen just the opposite,” Wesolek said.
He cited as matters of concern the president’s appointment of pro-abortion staff to key positions, his reversal of the Mexico City Policy, his reversal of the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), and his administration’s move to rescind federal conscience protections for pro-life health care workers.
Explaining that the Mexico City Policy had prevented U.S. federal funding for organizations that promote or perform abortion oversees, Wesolek argued the policy’s reversal means the “funded exportation” of abortion will be delivered to people around the world “as one of our solutions to grinding global poverty.”
In his view, the premise of this policy change is: “If abortion is the way to solve difficulties and inconveniences here in the United States, it must be eagerly awaited by others to solve their problems even if their culture abhors the thought of killing their precious resource of children.”
In response to President Obama’s reversal of the Mexico City Policy, the group Catholics United said it did not support the change. The group then charged Catholic League President Bill Donohue, a critic of Obama’s policy change, with pursuing “the politics of division and fear.”
The group also criticized “disinformation” about the bill and claimed that the policy change will not fund abortions because of the Helms amendment.
Discussing President Obama’s change to restrictions on ESCR, Wesolek said the decision demonstrates that the president thinks that “these embryos either are not human life or they are human life of such a second-class nature that they are not worthy of respect and protection.”
Along with the president’s decision to rescind an executive order which provided resources for adult stem cell research, Wesolek charged that the decision “implies an ideological mindset that is unscientific and predisposed to follow the trail of embryonic research even though there are no cures and serious problems with this kind of approach.”
He said that it is “most distressing” that there is “no reaction” from organizations that “were and are apologists for Obama and his policies.” Wesolek named Catholics United, Alliance of Catholics for the Common Good (most likely meaning Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good), Network and others.
Catholics United has also defended the appointment of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a pro-abortion "rights" self-described Catholic, who was nominated to become Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Saying these groups painted President Obama as “pro-life,” Wesolek remarked that some groups themselves said they were pro-life and would work to move policy in a pro-life direction under an Obama presidency.
“Where are they now? Where are there any policy initiatives that would blunt the irrevocable thrust of these Obama actions early in his presidency?” he asked.
“The culture of death is making deeper inroads in our national policies and there is almost no response from Catholics who helped elect President Obama. It is time for them to step up to the plate.”
“I have not seen anything that would indicate a ‘pro-life’ openness or even a small move in that general direction. On the contrary, I have seen just the opposite,” Wesolek said.
But Obama is pro-life — Douglas Kmiec told me so!
What ever convinced Catholics that BHO, Jr. was anything but an unreconstructed abortionist?
I have not seen anything that would indicate pro-life’ openness or even a small move in that general direction. On the contrary, I have seen just the opposite ... Wesolek said.
NSS, how long you been in detective work?
William Ayers will be speaking at Boston College. The Weather Underground murdered Boston cop William Schroeder about a mile away from the campus. This is an outrage!
I was just about to highlight the same section.
Wesolek should step down from his position since he admits that he was dumb enough to believe that in the face of all of the evidence to the contrary.
Isn't that an oxymoron?
Step down, h#ll, he should be thrown out on his a&&.
Step up for baby killking CINOs like Pelosi and the Kennedys.
You would think so but Catholics voted for the messiah in huge numbers.
It's unbelievable that any Catholic would be shocked. They just don't want to see the evil in him.
Obummer is a baby killer! When John Kerry spoke out about American soldiers being baby killers in Vietnam, would he now call Obummer one as well given his history in Illinois? I thought not.
Ain't it ain't bad enough that the Jebbies are now collectively a bit light in the Gucci ... but they go and invite this killer?
I hope some DA does the right thing and issues a warrant for this guy's arrest.
Not really - it wasn't much larger than the percentage that voted for Clinton.
The biggest obstacle in getting people to publicly admit their error is their enormous pride. The hate to admit they were wrong! Instead, they keep making excuses and dig themselves deeper into the pit.
Notre Dame invited the Aborter in Chief to speak at its commencement this summer.
Some of the quotes - "it's an honor to have a sitting President speak at commencement".
Nice, eh?
Just imagine what would happen if Kennedy were told the church wasn't going to put up with his crap anymore, till he repents publicly. He has to put up or shut up pretty quickly. The church doesn't say anything because of the millions and the prestige of having a "Kennedy" attend their church.
What would happen if a Bishop or Cardinal called Biden or Pelosi on the carpet PUBLICLY and told them they MUST repent or be "cut off" from the vine. Then, if they don't repent, actually CUT THEM OFF! Giving the illusion that the church will accommodate their philosophy is hurting the church.
The Biblical connection is found in Corinthians. You have a sinner in your midst, call them out and if they still persist, throw them to the devil.
These ‘catholic’ politicians excommunicated themselves. IMO, the two major objectives for the Bishops are to protect the Pelosi’s from themselves by guiding them away from their errand ways and back into communion with the Church. The other is to protect the Church, which they do publically, by correcting Pelosis et al’, erroneous doctrinal statements. The bishops are doing both, despite the wealth of horrific anger and slander, targeted at them. It’s not easy to go against the WH and the media yet they’re doing it. God bless our brave Bishops and give them the strength to continue.
I agree DogBarkTree, the Church would gain esteem AND converts if it were to issue a public ultimatum to highpower RC politicians.
We’re not talking gay marraige here folks, this is human LIFE at it’s most elemental level. Sure, the Church will lose millions of cafeteria catholics (good riddance), but it will pick up millions of impressed new converts. Impressed by the consistency of the RC faith. The resultant Church would be stronger and godlier, more confident and less touchy-feely.
One cannot be a Catholic AND a loyal modern democrat, one has to go. As Anne Coulter says, the democrat party is really just the abortion party... however non but she will say it.
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