Bishops Take on Pro-Abortion Legislators

SeaMax News ^ | 4/12/2004 | Fr. Michael Reilly

[Hugenot]

Bishop John Smith of Trenton has had it with New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey and other Catholic politicians who work against the values that comprise the Culture of Life, according to the Times of Trenton.

"When he refers to himself as a devout Catholic and supports legislation and programs that are contrary to the teaching of the Holy Father and the bishops, he is not a devout Catholic," Smith said. "He cannot compromise what it means to be a Catholic. I speak, as your bishop, for the devout Catholics of the Diocese of Trenton. Jim McGreevey does not."

The Bishop's remarks were posted on the diocesan website and published in their newspaper The Monitor.

The problem of pro-abortion Catholic politicians is not limited to New Jersey. In fact, the American Life League has identified more than 500 pro-abortion Catholic politicians throughout the country and bishops are beginning to address the issue.

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke banned pro-abortion Catholic politicians from receiving communion and specifically warned John Kerry "not to present himself for communion" at any church in the archdiocese.

New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes and Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley also told pro-abortion Catholic politicians not to receive communion, while Francis Cardinal George of Chicago lamented that the "great scandal of the Democratic Party is that there's no pro-life caucus."

The American bishops are following Vatican guidelines for Catholic politicians released in January 2003 which remind lawmakers that they "have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life."

"I'm not a church spokesman," Kerry said. "I'm a legislator running for president. My oath is to uphold the Constitution of the United States in my public life. My oath privately between me and God was defined in the Catholic Church by Pius XXIII and Pope Paul VI in the Vatican II, which allows for freedom of conscience for Catholics with respect to these choices and that is exactly where I am. And it is separate. Our constitution separates church and state and they should be reminded of that."

So Kerry is a Catholic in his private life, but not in his public life. Does John Kerry mean to imply that a pro-life legislator cannot be faithful to his oath of office? And when did Vatican II (there is no Pius XXIII, by the way) indicate that Catholics could choose moral evils like abortion? To be Catholic means to believe and struggle to practice the teachings of Christ as presented by His Church. We can fail in our efforts and seek God's mercy and still be Catholic. But we cannot deny the faith or any part of the faith and still call ourselves Catholic.

But if you can vote for a bill before you vote against it, I guess you can call yourself John Kerry.

[dasboot]

Does this mean the bishops will no longer ony attack on the diagonal? About time! (except that means they have the offensive power of queens....yike)

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Sheesh, he's a Catholic and he doesn't even know his popes??

[Old Professer]

Is there something wrong?

I can't get FR to refresh even after shutting down.

[Old Professer]

????? Somethings working diffferently; I'm going in on freerepublic.com and going right to the last place I left off.

I hit refresh 3 times and nothing changed, so zi went up to the "latest" link, clicked it and got a refresh.

When I post and hit refresh it seems to be like it used to be.

Is it me, my computer or did something get changed?

[Old Professer]

Forgive all my bad keystrokes, I just can't get used to this new keyboard, sorry.

[nightdriver]

I thought I read where bishops in Chicago and Boston had no trouble extending the eucharist to John Kerry. Is there a discrepancy between bishops here?

[the Real fifi]

Start with Kennedy and Kerry--The Church has a disconcertingly consistent way of ignoring the evil in Boston, doesn't it..inside and outside the clergy.

[MHGinTN]

I'm starting to get a few interesting opportunities for dialog when I identify the dnc and Kerry in particular as 'pro-cannibalism'. If I lived in NJ, that is a characterization i would make often regarding the governor when he worked to make New Jersey 'first in cannibalism'.

[NYer]

the American Life League has identified more than 500 pro-abortion Catholic politicians throughout the country and bishops are beginning to address the issue.

American Life League

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[.45MAN]

KERRY, a presidential hopeful that is supported by SATAN himself in his blood offering of abortion.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Sheesh, he's a Catholic and he doesn't even know his popes?? - Now that's not fair john kerry has the support of all the popes John Paul George and Ringo!

[melsec]

Now if they went a little further and excommunicated them for actively promoting a belief system that is both abhorent to and directly in violation of Roman Catholic teaching then you might find yourself with either less politicians within the church (may not be too bad a thing) or anti-abortion legislation.

Mel

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

You can add Dungheap Harkin and Tom Vilsack to this list.

[ex-snook]

It looks like the NJ Bishop should first remove the beam from their own eye.

As reported by Father Pavone. "Here is another real outrage, taking place at Seton Hall Law School on Friday, April 16, 2004. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is notoriously pro-abortion and voted to strike down the partial-birth abortion laws of more than 30 states, is presenting the annual "Sandra Day O'Connor Medal of Honor" to Judge Maryanne Trump Barry of the U.S. Court of Appeals, the pro-abortion author of the opinion striking down the New Jersey partial-birth abortion statute."

[ahayes]

"I'm not a church spokesman," Kerry said. "I'm a legislator running for president. My oath is to uphold the Constitution of the United States in my public life. My oath privately between me and God was defined in the Catholic Church by Pius XXIII and Pope Paul VI in the Vatican II, which allows for freedom of conscience for Catholics with respect to these choices and that is exactly where I am. And it is separate. Our constitution separates church and state and they should be reminded of that."

Bull-free translation: "My religion opposes killing babies. I don't actually believe in any of that, so I'll claim separation of church and state so I can fully support a woman's right to rid herself of those little pests while simultaneously keeping the Catholic vote."

[MHGinTN]

Lest we forget, it was the goreghoul team that chose to make 'a woman's right to choose' a serial killer for her alive unborn child their election mantra, proving that the Moloch cult has been reborn with a democrat twist and is the religion of the dnc and democrat leadership.

[tioga]

-you don't mince words do you? Excellent.

[.45MAN]

NO! I never have can't see any reason too! Although my boss thinks I should. When I write e-mails that are politically correct I have to take anti barf pills just to finish the e-mail..