Posted on 10/14/2008 3:27:56 AM PDT by markomalley
Some North Texas Catholics are upset with a letter written to them by their local bishops, saying it amounts to an endorsement of John McCain for president.
"I was personally offended," said Phillip Archer of Dallas. "My bishop basically told me that if I vote for Barack Obama, I will go to hell."
The letter by Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Diocese of Dallas and Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Fort Worth says in part: "To vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or 'abortion rights' when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and, therefore, morally impermissible."
Mr. Obama, the Democratic candidate, supports abortion rights. The Republicans' nominee, Mr. McCain, favors overturning Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that protects abortion rights.
The bishops' letter was distributed or read at parishes across the Diocese of Dallas this weekend. The Fort Worth Diocese is distributing the letter through its newspaper, which is being mailed to all registered Catholic families in the diocese.
Nicole LeBlanc said several people at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas walked out during the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass when the letter was read at the time usually reserved for a homily.
Ms. LeBlanc, an Obama supporter, said she, too, was upset.
"As a Catholic, we're taught about being independent moral agents with free will," she said. "That letter from the bishops is basically telling us that if we vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights, we are basically immoral and our souls are imperiled."
Ms. LeBlanc also said she felt the letter "has gone too far towards bringing political endorsements in the church, which is obviously not legal."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
We now have some Catholic bishops in the Catholic Church in America. Unfortunately, the people who have been conditioned by the hippie-dippie-flippie bishops of the past do not know what a Catholic bishop is.
If these people understood the bishops to be saying that, if you vote for a mass murderer for public office, you will go to hell—good. At least that means the letter was written at an appropriate (probably Fourth-Grade) reading level.
I see no reason for Mr. Archer to be offended. If his bishop is wrong, then his(the bishop’s) statements mean nothing. Of course, if he’s right...........
Yo Arthur! Nice way to start the day, eh?
If I were a better Christian, I would be saddened over these people walking out, rather than repenting. But, the truth is my reaction is, “Don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you.”
Gee, I don’t recall anything in the Scriptures or in the Catechism of the Catholic Church about how believers must be protected from being “offended.” If there’s some passage of Scripture that says abortion is okay and bishops shouldn’t say otherwise, someone should point it out because the rest of us missed it.
I think that the bishop told you to set aside your personal interests and greed and think about what your vote means. As to going "to hell," those are your words.
By turning a blind eye to morally reprehensible behavior in order to put forward some other agenda item, our country has endorsed a culture of death. Have you noticed? Do you plan to take action? Or, in your way of thinking, does it not matter, really, as long as you get your goodies?
Even if you're an atheist, if Obama gets into office, you're going to realize that hell does exist - right here on earth. Those who cannot remember Jimmy Carter are doomed to repeat the 1970's.
I was extremely proud of the Bishops for taking the long overdue step of explaining to the congregation that supporting evil in any form is morally indefensible. They should not stand Idly by and watch their flock destroy itself.
Wow! Bishops saying what needs to be spelled out for many Catholics.
Beautiful video by Catholic Vote 2008:
If that's the dogma the church teaches I don't know why he has a problem with it.
I've never understood pro-abortion Catholics. A church has rules. That's pretty much standard for every church. If you don't like the rules, leave the church. It's not like they're not a thousand others out there.
Why is this so hard to figure out?
Thank you, bishops!!!!! I have not received this letter yet, nor was it read at my parish, but I look forward to seeing it in the Texas Catholic newspaper.
I’m glad the Dallas area finally has such a bold bishop.
A good sermon will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
“I was personally offended,” said Phillip Archer of Dallas. “My bishop basically told me that if I vote for Barack Obama, I will go to hell.”
The letter by Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Diocese of Dallas and Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Fort Worth says in part: “To vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or ‘abortion rights’ when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and, therefore, morally impermissible)
Sounds to me as if your Bishop gave instruction as to what the Word of God would require a Christians position to be.
If you have a problerm with that then maybe you are not a Christian.
They missed, or conveniently rejected, the part about a well-formed moral conscience.
Obama’s judicial appointments, out of the 9th Circuit, would most certainly put me in hell.
He would appoint radical judges, that will not only be pro-aborts, but who will destroy our country.
“As a Catholic, we’re taught about being independent moral agents with free will”
I’m Catholic and I don’t recall being taught that. In fact I was assured in the second grade that my morals were dictacted by the teachings of Jesus through the RC Church and I had free will to accept or reject them.
“Independant moral agents” sounds like double speak - where’d she get that line.... Francis Kissling?
Well, I’m personally offended that a Presidential candidate has so little regard for human life that he would vote to deny life saving care on human babies that survive botched abortion procedures. In fact I’m a lot more offended than the poor person that was read the letter. Actually I’m outraged. Seeing red. Climbing the walls.
Why can’t anyone understand if you don’t want to be Catholic then don’t be one ? Why can’t anyone see this is friggin murder ? Why can’t we prioritize the hierarchy of grievances here ?
Perhaps not hell but double Puratory.
Being an Evangelical Presbyterian, I am not one who would normally believe in Purgatory. However, in the case of wrong minded Christians who vote for Obama, I'd give my protestant approval of such a place. Catholics can have the better parts of double Purgatory, the worst I'd gladly reserve for "Evangelicals for Obama".
"Republicans for Obama" would be free to bypass Purgatory and go straight to Hell.
“I was personally offended,”
I’m offended by this person’s stupidity.
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