NJ politicians: Catholic Church is seeking too big a role, Senate leader leaves Church

Philly.com | 05.09.04 | Tom Turcol

[Coleus]

`

[oceanview]

Too bad the church doesn't really have some guts - to "out" McGreevey.

[Kuksool]

[Roman Catholic politicians in New Jersey...are expressing anger at what they say is an attempt by church leaders to force them to decide between their government oaths and their religion.]

Ah! Since when do RATS care about upholding the Constitution? If the John Kerrys of the world are upset with the Catholic Church, then they should join more liberal Protestant Denominations.

[onyx]

GOOD.
I am glad he's leaving the Church,
and he'd best not run as a Cathoic.

[The Old Hoosier]

When the wind blows, the dry branches fall, and it is good that they do.

[2banana]

McGreevey has endured a rocky first term and is considered highly vulnerable in his bid for a second term next year. A concerted challenge by church officials could hurt him in a close race.

McGreevey's landslide election in 2001 was attributed largely to his decision early in the campaign to highlight his views on abortion.

During the campaign, McGreevey's frequent references to his days as an altar boy and his Catholic faith helped him win the Catholic vote by a wide margin, even capturing the support of Catholics from more conservative, blue-collar areas.

"In a close race you can't afford to lose even 5 percent of the Catholic vote in this state," said David Rebovich, director of Political Science at Rider University

The real reason democrats are so "upset"

[GreatOne]

What a pile of crap. Shows how much their faith means to them to begin with. But this is a good thing. We need to have a separating of the wheat from the chaff within the Catholic Church, and we'll find out that taking a stand will actually grow the church in the long run, as the public officials who act contrary to Church teaching are a reason why people turn away to begin with.

[alloysteel]

A fallen-away Catholic is still a Catholic. It is a harder faith to renounce than secular humanism, or even Marxist socialism.

All those Catholics-in-name-only are STILL going to suffer the torments in the afterlife, unless they make a true and full confession for the sake of their souls.

What if, after a lifetime of not believing, you DO discover there is an after-life?

Gonna have a whole LOT of 'splainin' to do, Lucy.

[doug from upland]

Another Catholic Democrat, U.S. Rep. William Pascrell Jr. of Essex County, said he "was not sent to Congress to follow the dictates of the Catholic Church. I have to represent everybody in my district. That's what democracy is all about."
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How can he represent everybody in his district if he doesn't give a damn about those concerned with the murder of innocent life?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Any bets on Kenny's new religion? Unitarian?

[livius]

Just shows you what was more important to him, I guess.

Oddly enough, if he decided to switch to the pro-life side, his reelection chances would probably go up. But the Dems would probably put a contract out on him.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Clearly he does not understand what being a Catholic is all about. Being pro-life does not involve a "Separation of Church and State" issue. Non-Catholics oppose abortion and euthanasia.

For someone to give up Holy Communion or to leave the Church in order to promote "abortion rights" is so obscene and so grotesquely absurd it defies comment. What a kook!

[cupcakes]

If every faith starts trying to impose their rules on elected officials, democracy is going to be factionalized along religious lines," said Kenny, a Democrat from Hudson County.
______

What is wrong with this? These folks just don't like that they will have to choose sides and "out" themselves. So a church is not allowed to have standards? Certainly they are and the senators can choose then to live their lives HONESTLY and if they don't believe in that particular churches standards, beliefs, etc, then they should leave it and stop hanging on to it in the interest of clinging to votes, but in the process stop telling churches they shouldn't have standards because it puts them in a quagmire. The quagmire is of their own making and if they truly believe their church is wrong, they know where the door is so they can start living their lives honestly under the dictates of a church that truly reflects what they believe.

[txzman]

Unbelievable. A man leaves Jesus Christ beacuse he refuses to accept His teaching. Politics is more important.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Any bets on Kenny's new religion? 11 posted on 05/09/2004 4:23:36 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah

StarTrekosophy. Gaia worship. Randroid social Darwinist humanism.

[Stagerite]

The Catholic church is still being heavily damaged in the ongoing homosexual child abuse scandal, and now it is overreacting in demanding that Catholic politicians adhere to what amounts to matter-of-faith dogma.

Catholic prelates should get their collective nose out of secular matters.

[jackbill]

Elected officials said that escalating demands by the church hierarchy in New Jersey that Gov. McGreevey and others vote in accordance with Catholic doctrine on public issues runs counter to the principle of the separation of church and state.

That's blatant BS. What the Church is saying is that if you - the politician - want to get votes by claiming to be Catholic, then obey the Catholic doctrine. Otherwise, shut up.

It's a case of "as usual", the DemocRATs want it both ways.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Politics is more important. 15 posted on 05/09/2004 4:32:52 PM PDT by txzman

He's made his choice clear. Baal, Mammon, and Moloch are more important. His faith must not have been very deep to begin with. His statements misrepresent what the Catholic teaching is on these issues. Another victim of liberal secular humanist thought control.

[jackbill]

More BS.

See my #18.