Posted on 10/29/2004 4:50:14 AM PDT by SLB
CHEYENNE (AP) -- A Roman Catholic congregation is being told that voting for pro-choice candidates in next week's election would be a mortal sin.
The Rev. Tom Cronkleton, of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, said he has a moral obligation to remind his parishioners of their duty as citizens and as Catholics to vote for people who will represent them.
"There are five pre-eminent issues -- abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem-cell research, human cloning and so-called homosexual marriage," Cronkleton said. "How the candidates stand is a reason to vote for or against them."
In a bulletin insert on Sunday, Cronkleton said, "Being a Catholic sometimes is difficult, and being a Catholic voter is not an exception. We have to live by faith and moral principles and not by political affiliation or personal like or dislike."
He encouraged the congregation to stop by the church to pray before voting.
But at least one member of the congregation dislikes being told how to vote.
Joan Easley said at least one person walked out of the church during Sunday's sermon, and she would have walked out had she not been there with her 80-year-old mother.
"It was disturbing," she said. "I don't support abortion, but I also don't support going over and bombing and blowing up families either."
A lifelong Catholic, Easley said it is not the first time she has felt out of synch with the church's positions. But she said she has dealt with her disagreements quietly.
"They (the church) are the ones who have introduced me to the love of Jesus Christ, and I feel that they have the ability to give me the complete faith," she said.
"As far as the church doctrines, sometimes I have a problem with them. But you've got to suck that kind of stuff up."
But the language she heard Sunday was too hard to swallow.
"They're actually putting their personal feelings on our religion," she said. "I don't think we should be judged on the personal feelings of a priest."
As a nonprofit organization, the church walks a fine line in its ability to speak to voters about the morality of their choices. The Internal Revenue Service does not permit nonprofit groups to endorse candidates or try to influence the outcome of elections.
A Roman Catholic pro-choice group based in Washington, D.C., Catholics for a Free Choice, has gone on the offensive against the archdiocese in Denver to try to halt its expressions of politics from the pulpit. The group is challenging the archdiocese's tax-exempt status.
"Nonprofits can't get away with this by avoiding the candidate's name and using the word 'pro-life,'" said the group's president, Frances Kissling. "There are two candidates -- one is pro-life and one is pro-choice. By saying to vote pro-life, they have said to vote for George Bush.
"If they say you cannot vote pro-choice, that is a statement of opposition, and that is illegal."
This person thinks George Bush is the person in these United States of America that is running for public office.
Next Tuesday this person is going to be in for a big surprise, there are other names and offices on the ballot in most the country.
The Old Media sensationalizes the idiots to sell more commercials and ads.
Ever read the Didache? Probably not. You're as well versed on Catholicism as lifelong CINO Easley is.
Correction: This person thinks George Bush is the ONLY person in these United States of America..........
Proof read what you say dummy !
This is NOT a Catholic organization, but is instead an anti-Catholic group. Why this writer posed them is one, should tell you a lot about the writer of the article.
Oxymoron...they are not Catholic.
Just wait: If John Kerry is elected, within about ten years it will become a Hate Crime to teach traditional Christian morality. Sound ridiculous? Who would have guessed how far down the PC road we have gone in the past ten years.
Since neither candidate is 100% pro-life in this election, both are pro-choice, more or less.
Thus, this priest is wrong in asserting that a voter commits a mortal sin, however he votes.
They're actually putting their personal feelings on our religion," she said. "I don't think we should be judged on the personal feelings of a priest."
I don't think she gets it...The priest isn't stating his personal feelings. He is stating what God says in the Bible. These people think they can go to church on Sunday and not live their faith through the week. They may be surprised when they stand before God..A priest or pastor is a teacher of the gospel. He would be derelict (sp) if he didn't preach his understanding of the Bible.
BS. You make no distinction between Kerrys' advocacy of unlimited direct abortion and Bushs' allowance for therapeutic abortions. Using your twisted logic the Catholic Church fails your 100% litmus test as well. This is just one more issue regarding Catholic teaching, doctrine and history that you are ignorant of, "deacon". Which is not at all surprising considering your abysmal public track record on this forum.
CHARTER FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance
142. Ethical delegitimization applies to all forms of direct abortion, since it is an intrinsically blameworthy act. The use of substances or means which impede the implantation of the fertilized embryo or which cause its premature detachment is also an act of abortion. A doctor who would knowingly prescribe or apply such substances or means would cooperate in the abortion.
If the abortion follows as a foreseen but nor intended or willed but merely tolerated consequence of a therapeutic act essential for the mother's health, this is morally legitimate. The abortion in this case is the indirect result of an act which is not in itself abortive.[273]
273. CF Pius XII " Nov. 27, 1951, in AAS 43 (1951) p. 859.
Thus, this priest is wrong in asserting that a voter commits a mortal sin, however he votes.
Typical that you would accept as fact the interpretation of a liberal reporter without personally hearing the homily. You're pathetic.
Amazing how really thick and dumb some people are.
A thousand million blessings upon your priest!
Pinging .... a real Catholic priest
That is a tremendous misrepresentation, mister.
Thus, this priest is wrong in asserting that a voter commits a mortal sin, however he votes.
Nonsense. Since Pres. Bush favors significant limitations on abortion, and would not rule out nominating pro-life judges, as Kerry has already ruled out, a vote for President Bush is a vote to limit evil, which constitutes a proportionate reason, and is clearly allowable.
He's citing Catholic Answers' voters guide, which makes this quite clear.
One would not, however, be able to vote for someone who wholeheartedly supports evil, and is no better than the Democrats on life issues, such as Gov. Schwarzenegger.
There is nothing "therapeutic" about aborting babies conceived through incest or to save the life of the mother. Bush favors both of those. The Church does not.
You should know that, Cunningham. Your "therapeutic" abortion reference has nothing to do with the argument at hand, bubba.
Anger management, A.A. Or A.A.
Is it? Bush admits exceptions. The Church does not. How is it a "misrepresentation" to say that Bush is not fully pro-life?
I agree.
One would not, however, be able to vote for someone who wholeheartedly supports evil, and is no better than the Democrats on life issues, such as Gov. Schwarzenegger.
Wrong. If two pro-choicers are running, one may, according to the Church, vote for the one who represents the lesser of two evils. Thus, a vote for Kay Bailey Hutchison versus a pro-choice Democrat is perfectly allowable. A voter for Schwarzenegger over a Cruz Bustamante would also be allowable.
To declare unequivocally that voting for Kerry, in this instance, rather than Bush is a mortal sin is simply not supported in moral theology. Bush is less pro-choice than Kerry, but he is still, according to the prohibitions on abortion outlined by the Church, pro-choice.
It is fun to see you still up to your old tricks, sinkspur.
Larry,
The church has never waffled around the abortion issue. You are confusing the Catholics for a Free Choise (a dissenting group, BTW)with the true Catholic stand. I will post what the catechism states later.
Get your facts straight, please. "Thou shalt not kill."
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