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The Church and Politics: Are We as Restricted as We Think?
Priests for Life ^
Posted on 04/20/2004 10:18:23 AM PDT by cpforlife.org
The Church and Politics: Are We as Restricted as We Think?
On June 17, 2003, Priests for Life and the Ave Maria School of Law co-sponsored a symposium for clergy and attorneys entitled "The Church and Politics: Are We as Restricted as We Think?"
Attorneys who spoke were James Bopp, Jr., of Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom, Professor Gerard Bradley of Notre Dame Law School, and Charles Watkins of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean.
There is much that pastors can do to call their congregations to active and informed participation in the political process. In documents like Living the Gospel of Life (1998), the US bishops have articulated such a call with clarity and passion. At the same time, many pastors remain unaware of the extent to which they can speak and act in this arena, and often believe they are far more restricted than the law actually requires. Our hope is that these symposium papers will give pastors a broader understanding of the law in this area, and assist them to fulfill their mission with greater confidence.
Their papers can be accessed, in written and audio format (mp3), by clicking the links below.
Fr. Frank Pavone: Church and State: A Theological View [Printed version] [Click here to listen.]
Gerard Bradley: The Bishops and the Court: Two Tales of Church and State [Printed version] [Click here to listen.]
Charles Watkins: The Church and Politics: A Review of the IRS Guidelines for Churches [Printed version]. [Click here to listen.]
James Bopp, Jr.: What are the Do's and Don'ts for Churches? [Printed version] [Click here to listen.]
[Click here to listen to concluding remarks of Fr. Frank at the symposium.]

Priests for Life
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Email mail@priestsforlife.org
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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: church; politics; prolife
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Election Day and Christian Responsibility
The elections of 2004 are a critical juncture for the future and direction of our nation. As Christians, we have a clear and moral obligation to register to vote and to carefully consider the candidates' position on the sanctity of LIFE when we cast our vote. Eligible voters will either defend the Culture of Life, or advance the culture of death. Our Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson has stated, Pope John Paul II has asked Catholics to begin a `Great Campaign for Life.' This is a request the Knights of Columbus is taking very seriously.
National Christian Voter Registration Sundays from Priests for Life is an outstanding opportunity to help advance the Culture of Life through Catholic Civic Responsibility. Christians are called to vote with a PROPERLY FORMED CONSCIENCE. This can be explained with one sentence from our LORD, which applies, even in the voting booth, Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do to Me. From The Gospel of Life, Abortion and euthanasia are crimes, which no human law can claim to legitimize. In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to `take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it'
What about the other issues? The US Bishops, in Faithful Citizenship clearly answer, "Calls to advance human rights are an illusion if the right to life itself is subject to attack." Fr. Frank Pavone reminds us, "If a candidate can't respect the life of a little baby, how is he supposed to respect ours?"
Participation in the political process is a virtue, and every vote counts. We are each, individually, called to help build a Culture of Life--voting in defense of LIFE is among the most important ways. Yet fewer than 50% of self-identified Christians are registered to vote, and only half of those who are registered actually vote on Election Day. We encourage all Knights to review, and then present the Voter Registration Sundays project to their Pastors, as well as to Councils family and friends (see details at our website).
Children waiting to be born cannot speak for themselves-we are their voice. We must speak up in their defense at the voting booth. If we do not, millions more will never be allowed to speak.
This map has 17.5 states blacked out. The population of these states is equal to the number of legal surgical abortions since 1973. Perhaps this visual perspective helps one to grasp the number 44,000,000-that's 44 MILLION PEOPLE who are gone, dead--robbed of their God given Constitutional right to LIFE.
Help end this tragedy, promote registering and VOTING PRO-LIFE.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
Kevin Jeanfreau
Deputy Director
Knights for Life
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Ed Jeanfreau
Louisiana Pro-Life Chairman
Director, Knights for Life |
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Knights for Life Pro-Life Voter Registration Campaign
Priests for Life has announced National Christian Voter Registration Sundays with approval from the legal office of the United States Conference of Catholic bishops.
This project echoes our Supreme Knight's directive in his new program called Building a New Culture of Life. Which he outlines in the July 5, 2003 issue of Knightline. Excerpts below:
We are entering a new, higher level of involvement in the pro-life movement in the United States and throughout the world, said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. The need is urgent and our timing is on target. As councils line up program personnel for the new fraternal year, Anderson advises grand knights to select a dedicated couple to chair the council's pro-life activities. We will be playing a key role in pro-life action in the coming months, said the supreme knight. We need pro-life leaders who can get the word out and inspire others to action for life. We have been fighting for the pro-life cause for 30 years and we will continue to fight, Anderson said. We have a great privilege and a responsibility as citizens and as Knights to speak out for life.
Pope John Paul II has asked Catholics to begin a `Great Campaign for Life.' This is a request the Knights of Columbus is taking very seriously, Anderson said.
We want to work in conjunction with Priests for Life on this program. We can extend this into the Councils statewide. We also want to encourage all Council Pro-Life Chairmen/couples to present this to their Pastors and to offer to assist the Pastors on this most noble endeavor. Details are at our website www.CpForLife.org/KFL Additionally, each Knight should receive a voter registration card with a copy of our Election Day and Christian Responsibility, which is on the back of this page. If each Knight can help deliver this message to just one person to Register and to Vote we can make a tremendous difference!
Priests for Life -- Announcing National Christian Voter Registration Sundays. Priests for Life, along with other national Christian organizations, is calling upon pastors of all denominations to exercise their legal and moral right to exhort their congregations to register to vote. Specific Sundays have been designated as "National Christian Voter Registration Sundays," namely January 18, March 7, May 2, July 4, and September 5, 2004. Other organizations joining in this project are the Christian Coalition and the National Pro-life Religious Council.
Voter registration drives fall within the activities that are permitted to tax-exempt organizations and churches. (Click here for guidance from the legal office of the United States Conference of Catholic bishops, and click here for guidelines from the Internal Revenue Service.)
Pastors who choose to carry out this project on one or more of the designated weekends, or a weekend of their own choosing, can come to this web page for further guidance on how to conduct such a project, and for suggested homily material and prayers to incorporate into the worship service on such an occasion.
Tips For A Successful Voter Registration Sunday
In order to be successful in carrying out our mission of renewing the face of the earth, we must be equipped to carry out the most basic act that a citizen can perform - voting. Polling has shown that fewer than 50% of self-identified Christians are registered to vote, and only half of those who are registered actually vote on Election Day. If we are to continue to thrive as a political force in this country, and if we expect our issues to be addressed in the public arena, then we must be capable to turning out in force when the polls are open. Obviously this is impossible if Christians are not registered to vote.
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To: MHGinTN; Coleus; nickcarraway; Mr. Silverback; Canticle_of_Deborah; TenthAmendmentChampion; ...
2
posted on
04/20/2004 10:20:48 AM PDT
by
cpforlife.org
(The Missing Key of the Pro-Life Movement is at www.CpForLife.org)
To: cpforlife.org
read later
To: cpforlife.org
BOOKMARK
4
posted on
04/20/2004 11:56:56 AM PDT
by
jcb8199
To: cpforlife.org
The Church and Politics: Are We as Restricted as We Think? The short answer?
No.
Exercise your God-given, unalienable rights. Your willingness to do so is the only hope our republic has.
The Lord gave 'em, and no man can rightfully take 'em.
To: cpforlife.org
Some of the links above did not work. I really want them so could you tell me where to go?
To: Delphinium
7
posted on
04/24/2004 10:28:28 AM PDT
by
cpforlife.org
(The Missing Key of the Pro-Life Movement is at www.CpForLife.org)
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