Vatican official calls Democrats “the party of death”

HotAir ^ | October 2, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The elevation of Joseph Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI has brought a new assertiveness to the Roman Catholic Church, especially at the intersection of politics and life issues. The new prefect of the Vatican Supreme Court, the former Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, warned in an interview with an Italian newspaper that the Democratic Party is well on its way to becoming the “party of death” in the United States. Burke called for greater discipline within the American church for holding Catholic politicians accountable for their actions:

Vatican officials seldom single out political leaders who differ with the Church on issues like abortion rights or embryonic stem cell research. But now that the Vatican’s highest court is led by an American, the former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, we can expect things to get more explicit in Vatican City — at least when when it comes to U.S. politics.

Burke, who was named prefect of the Vatican’s Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature in June, told the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire that the U.S. Democratic Party risked “transforming itself definitively into a party of death for its decisions on bioethical issues.” He then attacked two of the party’s most high profile Catholics — vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — for misrepresenting Church teaching on abortion.

He said Biden and Pelosi, “while presenting themselves as good Catholics, have presented Church doctrine on abortion in a false and tendentious way."

[baa39]

Excellent idea. Go to the source and it’s perfectly clear. However, I imagine the teachers, the principal and the parish pastor may also need to be reminded of the Catechism.

[wardaddy]

if only a lot of Catholics in America listened....

[wardaddy]

I promote my kids standing up for what we believe in at home and have no issue “putting them up to it”

we need more kids willing to do so to combat the hope/change zombies

my 8 year old gave a speech for Mccain Palin to his whole grade school this morning and yes, we have a lot of GenX and Y young Obamabots in our comfy professional district in the Green Hills of SW Nashville

I’m 51...a mid boomer....nearly always the oldest daddy at PTO

when I was a lad, Catholic kids nor their masters woulda never tolerated pro-abort talk at school, it was murder then to all church clergy....even Maryknolls

[conservative cat]

Thank you. I am involved in the school and think maybe it would be a good idea to bring this point home to the principal, too. My daughter is very moral and passionate about right and wrong. I am proud of her.

[conservative cat]

my 8 year old gave a speech for Mccain Palin to his whole grade school this morning and yes, we have a lot of GenX and Y young Obamabots in our comfy professional district in the Green Hills of SW Nashville

We had a proud moment in our family tonight. Our 17 year old niece turns 18 before the election but too late to register to vote. She was very disappointed because she wanted to vote for McCain and Palin. Her dad has been considering voting for Obama, so this was unexpected for us!

[wardaddy]

i confess my oldest daughter is sorta idealistic and rebellious like i was 35 years ago

i took the easy way out....I bought her vote

a Burberry quilted black jacket for college..lol

i’m a dog I know...

[dixiechick2000]

lol

Money talks...;o)

You’re a dog with good instincts. lol

[wardaddy]

speaking of which

do you know of any 527 you can think of?

i’ve given to marsha and now I’m looking to help out ...

Freedom’s Watch and Harold Simmons ???...American Issues Project maybe?

I’m not sure ...these 501s and 527s sorta come and go

[dixiechick2000]

There’s got to be some good ones out there.

All of those you mentioned are very worthy of your support.

However, why don’t “we” know where to go?

[Desdemona]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree to an extent on Burke. Not that he wasn't afraid to speak truth or that he saw it as his responsibility to safeguard the flock from ill-informed sin. He did. And he took these tasks seriously as well as the proper formation of priests. He took that one REALLY seriously.

Where I disagree is that he was the lone voice. Doran in I think it's Rockford Center in Illinois, Chaput of Denver, the one in Lincoln, Nebraska, Francis George (both before and after he got to Chicago), Rigali now in Philidelphia and every one of his predecessors. These were not the only ones, just some of the more vocal ones. Yes, they are all speaking more firmly now and seemly in concert, but if you notice, it's the younger group. A good chunk of the old guard is still silent.

The other place where I think Burke somewhat failed as an archbishop was in diplomacy. The man has no town bronze. There are ways of putting things that soften the blow and he just didn't know how to do it. He's one heck of a canon lawyer, but does not relate well. Frankly, he's where the church needs him being on the high court and it's best for all parties involved. I get the idea St. Louis was a test - can he handle a city? The short answer was no. And I can name one example after another, too.