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Bishops criticize Biden’s abortion remarks for flawed reasoning
CNA ^
| September 8, 2008
Posted on 09/09/2008 12:07:15 PM PDT by NYer
Archbishop Charles Chaput / Bishop Robert Morlino
Washington DC, Sep 8, 2008 / 04:33 pm (CNA).- Bishop of Madison Robert C. Morlino and Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput have responded to Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Bidens characterization that the point when life begins is a religious belief, criticizing him for flawed moral reasoning, confusing the Catholic faithful and confusing the differences between faith and natural law.
In a Sunday interview on NBCs Meet the Press, Sen. Biden had said that he is prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception but would not impose that belief on anyone through law. He claimed that to do so would be inappropriate in a pluralistic society.
Bishop Morlino made impromptu remarks in his Sunday homily, saying he had thrown away his prepared homily for other considerations.
Explaining that his point was not to speak against Democrats, but to address people who claim to be Catholic, he discussed Sen. Joseph Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosis remarks about abortion.
They are roughly my age
so that means that Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Biden were educated just about the same time I was, he noted.
Stating he could not speak to the exact details of Pelosis Catholic education, Bishop Morlino said I have to believe that she was taught that abortion was always wrong.
After the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Morlino said, certain theologians and some priests and some bishops started to allow the kind of teaching Rep. Pelosi received, and allowed her to be confused.
She doesnt know church history, doesnt know the theology of the Church Fathers about abortion at this moment, he said.
If she knew it at one time, Bishop Morlino asserted, she doesnt know it now.
Turning his remarks to Sen. Biden, Bishop Morlino said he and the senator shared as their hometown Scranton, Pennsylvania.
I am positive of what Sen. Biden was taught in Scranton. And its the same thing that I was taught, he declared.
While Rep. Pelosi may be confused, he said, he claimed Sen. Biden doesnt understand the difference between religious faith and natural law.
Any human being -- regardless of his faith, his religious practice or having no faith -- any human being can reason to the fact that human life from conception unto natural death is sacred, he argued. Biology -- not faith, not philosophy, not any kind of theology -- Biology tells us, science [says], that at the moment of conception there exists a unique individual of the human species.
It's not a matter of what I might believe. What my faith might teach me, he said.
Sen. Biden has an obligation to know that. And he doesnt know it.
Charging that some theologians, priests, and bishops also allowed Biden to become confused, Bishop Morlino then criticized politicians for confusing the Catholic faithful.
They're supposed to believe in separation of church and state. They're violating the separation of church and state by confusing people about what I have an obligation to teach, he charged, though he did not hold them culpable.
They themselves were confused after the Council and I don't blame them for that. Bishops allowed it, theologians did it, some priests did it, and in Canada even some bishops did it.
Again insisting he wasnt speaking about Democrats or even pro-life issues, he said his focus was upon the awareness of faith, the catechesis that every Catholic should have. He asked his listeners to make sure they themselves really understand what the Catholic faith teaches, through the Pope and the bishops.
Prominent Catholics should not be violating the separation of church and state by teaching the wrong thing. Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Biden, he said, are doing precisely that.
If Republican candidates were doing precisely that, I would speak out with exactly the same determination, he countered.
Nearing the end of his homily, Bishop Morlino said Catholics must tell people who need to be corrected with love, because otherwise we will be lost too.
Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput and Denvers auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley voiced their own criticisms of Sen. Biden in a Monday statement, saying that Catholics who serve on the national stage open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops concerning Catholic belief.
In 2008, although NBC probably didnt intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants, their letter said.
Referencing Bidens statement that when life begins is a personal and private issue, the bishops replied: in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it.
While granting that there is a dangerous argument over when personhood begins, they continued: no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.
Against Bidens remarks that pluralism prevented him from advocating abortion restrictions, the bishops said: Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs.
While saying views of other people should be acknowledged and compromises made whenever possible, the bishops insisted this should not come at the expense of a developing childs right to life.
Abortion is a foundational issue, they wrote, emphasizing it is always, grievously wrong.
If, as Sen. Biden said, Im prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception, then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there, the bishops said.
While praising Bidens opposition to public funding for abortions and his opposition to partial-birth abortion, they explained that his support for the 1973 Supreme Court pro-abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade cant be excused by any serious Catholic.
Resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion, they added, arguing that law by nature involves imposing some peoples convictions on everyone else.
American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year, they wrote.
We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables, the bishops concluded. Otherwise all of us from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: Delaware
KEYWORDS: abortion; biden; bidenrecord; catholic; catholicpoliticians; chaput; proaborts
1
posted on
09/09/2008 12:07:15 PM PDT
by
NYer
To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Prominent Catholics should not be violating the separation of church and state by teaching the wrong thing. Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Biden, he said, are doing precisely that. Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
2
posted on
09/09/2008 12:08:49 PM PDT
by
NYer
("Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome)
To: NYer
To: NYer
"prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception but would not impose that belief on anyone through law. He claimed that to do so would be inappropriate in a pluralistic society."Does he believe that murder of a man/woman/child is a sin? If so, does he also feel that he cannot "impose" that belief on anyone through law?
To: NYer
I am not Catholic but sometimes attend the Catholic Mass over in town.
Sunday the priest told the congregation that they must make a choice about what candidate to vote.
As practicing Catholics they must clearly study each candidates views.
He stated that anyone who votes for a candidate that supports abortion is not acceptable.
He stated that anyone who supported abortion would be self excommunicating themselves from Gods church.
I am a Baptist and the sermon was in Spanish so hope I have not misrepresented what the priest said.
5
posted on
09/09/2008 12:14:18 PM PDT
by
OKIEDOC
(The Difference Between Palin and Obama is Common Sense, She's GOT IT, He DOESN'T)
To: NYer
If, as Sen. Biden said, Im prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception, then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there, the bishops said.Catechism of the Catholic Church
1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."
6
posted on
09/09/2008 12:14:43 PM PDT
by
frogjerk
(MSM: We will not question Obama bin Biden...)
To: NYer
I could use a more terse expose of Biden. It is as follows:
If Biden, then flawed logic.
QED
7
posted on
09/09/2008 12:15:01 PM PDT
by
Da Coyote
To: NYer
I don’t think NOW and the koskids will be very happy to know that Obama picked a guy that can fall into a trap on one of their biggest issues (the reason to go to war in Iraq is another)
8
posted on
09/09/2008 12:17:36 PM PDT
by
ari-freedom
(We never hide from history. We make history!)
To: OKIEDOC
I am a Baptist and the sermon was in Spanish so hope I have not misrepresented what the priest said. You heard right.
But, the penalty of excommunication can be lifted in a valid confession. Did he talk about that? It is important to hear.
9
posted on
09/09/2008 12:17:58 PM PDT
by
frogjerk
(MSM: We will not question Obama bin Biden...)
To: loveliberty2
The “imposing my belief on others” is a focus group-tested cop-out on the central question of the deliberate taking of an innocent human life. Biden is dodging the issue, and so does anyone who uses that shopworn excuse. The bad part of it is, Biden knows it, but he doesn't have the moral courage to live his professed faith. He won't walk his talk. He knows what the real issue is, but he flinches.
10
posted on
09/09/2008 12:19:46 PM PDT
by
chimera
To: frogjerk
But, the penalty of excommunication can be lifted in a valid confession.Only with certain caveats.
1463 Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law, except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them.68 In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.69
To: A.A. Cunningham
12
posted on
09/09/2008 12:46:05 PM PDT
by
frogjerk
(MSM: We will not question Obama bin Biden...)
To: NYer
Nearing the end of his homily, Bishop Morlino said Catholics must tell people who need to be corrected with love, because otherwise we will be lost too.Exactly. This is entirely in keeping with this past Sunday's first reading, from Ezekiel 33.
To: NYer
Looks like Bishop Morlino is another one to add to the list!
Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi
Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:
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... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
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... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
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Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
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... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
-
-
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-
-
-
-
-
-
Cardinal
Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops,
has weighed-in
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-
{Last updated on September 6th.}
14
posted on
09/09/2008 3:03:03 PM PDT
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: OKIEDOC
I am a Baptist and the sermon was in Spanish so hope I have not misrepresented what the priest said. You did a wonderful job of posting the priest's homily. He is absolutely right! Without life, there is no hope.
15
posted on
09/09/2008 4:05:46 PM PDT
by
NYer
("Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome)
To: ari-freedom
I dont think NOW and the koskids will be very happy to know that Obama picked a guy that can fall into a trap on one of their biggest issues Obama miscalculated his choice of running mate. He chose Biden hoping to pick up the Catholic vote. It backfired.
16
posted on
09/09/2008 4:07:43 PM PDT
by
NYer
("Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome)
To: Salvation
I think it's significant, and also typical, that my bishop, of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, has been silent on the issue.
17
posted on
09/09/2008 6:12:46 PM PDT
by
JoeFromSidney
(My book is out. Read excerpts at http://www.thejusticecooperative.com)
To: NYer
It’s called apostasy. plain and simple.
18
posted on
09/09/2008 6:16:59 PM PDT
by
jwalsh07
(Mrs. Palin Goes to Washington and the MSM Trembles)
To: NYer; Gabz
I met one of Biden’s sons at the Delaware State Fair one election year. I told him in no uncertain terms: “you tell your father for me, that he needs to go to Confession.” He was shocked.
19
posted on
09/09/2008 8:11:23 PM PDT
by
pray4liberty
(Stand up and pray up!)
To: pray4liberty
And that list doesn’t even include Saterelli, Biden’s bishop who has told him not to come to Communion. (Or speak at Catholic Schools.)
20
posted on
09/09/2008 9:25:37 PM PDT
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
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