Newark, NJ, Archbishop Myers Denies Rebuking McGreevey

NY Times ^ | 05.22.04

[Coleus]

Archbishop Denies Rebuking McGreevey

By DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI

Published: May 22, 2004

EWARK, May 21 - Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark said on Friday that he was "deeply disappointed" that his recent criticism of Roman Catholic elected officials who supported abortion rights had been interpreted by some New Jerseyans as a political slap at Gov. James E. McGreevey.

In an interview, Archbishop Myers said Mr. McGreevey was not the target of statements he had made in a pastoral letter saying that Catholic officeholders who did not share the Vatican's opposition to abortion should not seek communion. He said he had apologized to the governor for any misperception by the public.

"I didn't name him specifically in the letter,'' Archbishop Myers said. "We have an understanding that I won't personally criticize him. And we are working together on a lot of issues, like providing social services for the poor and helping people with H.I.V. So I think we reached an understanding. I actually like him, and I think we have a cordial relationship."

The pastoral letter, issued early this month, rattled the state's political leaders. One Catholic state senator reacted to the archbishop's statement by announcing that he would leave the church, while others tried to sidestep the controversy by saying that they would attend Mass outside the state.

The most emphatic response came from Governor McGreevey, a former altar boy, who held a news conference to say he would refrain from taking communion at public services but would never let the church sway his public policy decisions.

In the weeks before the pastoral letter was published in the archdiocese's newspaper, The Catholic Advocate, two other New Jersey bishops criticized the governor for supporting abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. Archbishop Myers said the timing of his comments led some people to infer that he was specifically criticizing Mr. McGreevey.

Archbishop Myers is one of several outspoken conservative bishops who have sought to keep the issue of abortion on the minds of Catholic voters during this presidential election year. A bishop in Missouri has said that John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, should not receive communion because he supports abortion rights, and a bishop in Denver has decreed that any Catholic who votes for a politician who supports abortion rights should not take communion.

In New Jersey, one of the most liberal states in the nation, there are some indications that the bishops' aggressive lobbying could have unintended political consequences. A poll from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, taken shortly after the controversy erupted, showed a slight rise in Mr. McGreevey's approval ratings, and indicated that more than 60 percent of New Jersey Catholics felt it was improper for church leaders to pressure politicians.

Even Archbishop Myers said he admired Mr. McGreevey's politically deft response to the letter.

"I think he handled it brilliantly," the archbishop said. "Conservatives could appreciate that he accepted the authority of the church, and liberal Catholics could respect the fact that he stood by his convictions."

Archbishop Myers said he believed that it was his duty to remind New Jersey's 1.3 million Catholics that the church's opposition to abortion was absolute. But he said he also recognized that the traditional separation of church and state made many American voters bristle at any religious leader's attempt to influence them at the ballot box.

"Americans don't like anyone telling them how to vote," he said.

Myers

[sinkspur]

"I think he handled it brilliantly," the archbishop said. "Conservatives could appreciate that he accepted the authority of the church, and liberal Catholics could respect the fact that he stood by his convictions."

I am just non-plussed at Myers' remarks.

[Arthur McGowan]

Now I know what the bishops need to do to convince everyone that they, too, are qualified, like John Kerry, Jim McGreevy, at al., to speak about the Catholic Faith: They need to remind everyone that "I was an altar boy, and I once considered studying for the priesthood."

[Polycarp IV]

In a May 6 pastoral letter, Myers wrote that it is "objectively dishonest" for supporters of abortion to receive Communion,

ENCYCLICAL LETTER, ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA, POPE JOHN PAUL II:

"...in cases of outward conduct which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm, the Church, in her pastoral concern for the good order of the community and out of respect for the sacrament, cannot fail to feel directly involved. The Code of Canon Law refers to this situation of a manifest lack of proper moral disposition when it states that those who “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin” are not to be admitted to Eucharistic communion.76

Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, the Vatican's leading prelate on the Sacraments, declared unequivocally that unambiguously pro-abortion politicians should be denied Holy Communion. Arinze said, "If the person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively, the answer is there."

Dear Bishop Meyers,

Which part of the Pope's words above, or Cardinal Arinze's statement reiterating and reinforcing the Pope's words, do you not understand.

You have two options: Obey, or not. Be courageous and follow Rome, or compromise with the Prince of this world.

"... I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live..."

Deuteronomy 30: 19

[Arthur McGowan]

Even Archbishop Myers said he admired Mr. McGreevey's politically deft response to the letter.

"I think he handled it brilliantly," the archbishop said. "Conservatives could appreciate that he accepted the authority of the church, and liberal Catholics could respect the fact that he stood by his convictions."

What, if anything, was going on in the bishop's head when he uttered these lines??? How to undo all the good you've accomplished!!!

[sinkspur]

"I think he handled it brilliantly," the archbishop said. "Conservatives could appreciate that he accepted the authority of the church, and liberal Catholics could respect the fact that he stood by his convictions."

Can you make sense of this mess?

[cpforlife.org]

Archbishop Myers said. "We have an understanding that I won't personally criticize him...even if he continues to support and promote a mass genocide, which is ever expanding, because I am compromised, insofar as we are working together on a lot of issues, like providing social services for the poor and helping people with H.I.V. So I think we reached an understanding IE I will continue to serve man rather than God. I actually like him, and I think we have a cordial relationship." Man that is, not so much with God.


HURL!!!!

[MHGinTN]

Sounds alot like echoing flip flops, don'tcha know.

[sinkspur]

We have an understanding that I won't personally criticize him. And we are working together on a lot of issues, like providing social services for the poor and helping people with H.I.V. So I think we reached an understanding. I actually like him, and I think we have a cordial relationship."

McGreevey's got Myers enthralled, somehow.

I'm no fan of Myers, but I just don't get a Catholic archbishop drooling over a politician like this.

It's unseemly.

[saradippity]

I don't see him drooling and if you read it carefully,he is right,Mcgreevy was deft. Deft is not exactly or necessarily a compliment.

And if you read this New York Times article,they were very clever,the Archbishop just reiteratd what he said in the letter. In that letter,he did not call McGreevy by name and had no intention of singling him out.He also did not say that he didn't mean what he said either.

If I were him I would have said "Oh,that was one of my 'if the shoe fits' letters",and let it go.

[stands2reason]

This is what I'm picking up ---

"You're bad!!"

"Nuh -uh! Am not!"

"I wasn't talking about YOU, just some other guys doing the same thing.

Although, since you now stand up for yourself, you're good! So we both win!"

[ELS]

You're welcome.

[Aquinasfan]

he would refrain from taking communion at public services but would never let the church sway his public policy decisions.

No, of course not. That would mean holding to the central Catholic teaching that the Church's teachings are superior to his private judgements.

Sheesh.

[Romulus]

liberal Catholics could respect the fact that he stood by his convictions."

What does this even mean -- apart from the fact that after barely a week of moral clarity the babbling, backpedaling Myers is exhausted and has lost his nerve? Since when is obstinate disobediance a virtue? Since when are private "convictions" (don't make me laugh) the standard of truth and reliability?

This isn't at all what I'd expected of Myers.

[Mr. Silverback]

Translation: Archbishop Myers denies doing his freaking job. If John the Baptist could rebuke Herod, why would a Catholic bishop refrain from educating a Catholic politician about Catholic doctrine?

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[George from New England]

Our day of judgement just got one day closer.

[Notwithstanding]

I think the Archbishop (as well as many of us) are delighted (sad that something like this delights us) that a "Catholic" public figure who rejects Church teaching is actually trying to follow the rules to the extent his conscience (however poorly formed it may be) allows.

By this I mean that Gov. McGreevey, rather than foisting himself upon us as a "Catholic in good standing", is publicly acknowledging that he is not in good standing with the ranking Catholic authority of NJ (the Archbishop of Newark).

While his position on abortion is sinister (and commone for "Catholic" politicians), his candor in admitting his lack of good standing is extremely unususal.

This is very refreshing (again, sad that things are so bad that something so pathetic is refreshing).

[Coleus]

The latest scuttlebutt is that the Archdiocese intends to make $$$Millions selling off land, parking lots, real estate, schools and churches in the area of Newark where McGreevey and the DEMOCRATS are intending to build the NEW SPORTS Arena.  As a way to save money and manpower,  the archdiocese is planning on closing and consolidating about 45 churches, some are in the area where the Arena is going to be built.  I don't think the Archbishop wants to rock the boat while millions are to be made.  This is the rumor that's going around.
 

Most people of New Jersey do NOT want another sports arena, we already have the Meadowlands where an arena exists and Giant's Stadium and a Racetrack.  We still owe $400 million on the present Continental Airlines Arena and nobody wants one to be built in Newark. The Democrats intend to build Xanadu, a hotel and sports theme park complex in the WETLANDS, yes it's fine when democrats fill in and destroy wetlands when THEY do it and want to pay off the unions, bond brokers, lawyers, and construction workers.

NJ Environmental Divide, Crusaders split over how to confront Xanadu in E.Rutherford Meadowlands

[LadyDoc]

The diocese probably needs to sell off land and churches as immigrant Catholics move to the suburbs and are replaced by non Catholic. It happens all the time. The REAL sad part is that many of these churches are heritage buildings that should be kept for their beauty. But they are not needed as churches per se.

As for making money off of land: Usually stadiums are put where land is cheap and buildings are so run down that no one wants them, so they can be torn down...

Mother Cabrini was well known for her real estate shrewdness, i.e. buying land that was worthless and later selling it off. She used the profits to build hospitals and schools for poor immigrants (mainly Italians whose grandkids now are middle class). And she is now a saint...making money honestly is not a sin in Catholicism.

However, since the bishop just took over, one suspects he wasn't buying up cheap land to make a profit. Don't know if his predecessor was that smart, however...