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 ...
No matter how misguided it might appear, a number of Democrats place their political affiliation above all else.
You cannot blame hippie-dippie bishops of the past. The blame is soley on the people who chose not to be told what is right and what is wrong.
“”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.” “
DUH!!!
My mom told me about this (I haven’t been going to Mass as much as I should), and we were really excited. Catholics know the rules—that’s one of the reasons I love my faith. The church shouldn’t pander to moral delinquents, and I’m glad it’s finally being vocal about such things.
You should be offended at your own ignorance, Phillip.
"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 is a mistress of the obvious.
The bishops have a moral obligation to instruct the flock, or their souls will be imperiled. If these people hear the words and reject them, they are certainly taking a big chance with their souls.
What hypocrites these liberal Catholics are! They supposedly care about the poor, the weak, and the oppressed but they don’t care one bit about the poorest, smallest, and weakest members of society—the unborn. They supposedly want to change the world with their glorious liberal agenda but they can’t change the political party they belong to, they can’t change its official support for abortion and they won’t even try. How committed to social justice are these people, really?
I say that they aren’t committed to social justice at all, that they are more than willing to vote for pro-abortion politicians and to deny the right to life to the unborn as long as the liberal agenda is advanced.
The bishops never said that Catholics who vote for pro-abortion politicians are going to hell. However, I don’t know how these Catholics are going to account for themselves on the Day of Judgment, how they are going to explain away their tolerance and even acceptance of abortion. Jesus said that whatever we do to one of these “least ones” we do to Him. Those who ignore the plight of the unborn are really turning away from Christ and they will have to account for that when they appear before Him.
From Goggle re Phillip Archer-Dallas is a member of ‘The Dallas Gay Professionals Meetup Group’...is this the quoted Phillip Archer...would seem he has a lot of problems that should be addressed by his Bishop.
We got three sermons in a row on this very subject. No names were named and I didn’t see anyone walk out.
You are correct. These “offended” catholics bring to mind those early ones who walked with Jesus during his discourse on the Eucharist- I can just hear them saying “this saying is HARD, who can listen to it”, then many turned away and walked with him no more. John Chapt 6 vs 66. (don’t you just love that chapt. verse number?)
This is so true, These offended Catholics remind me of another group of “offended Catholics” from a few years ago.
“His disciples grumbled among themselves saying, “this is a hard saying, who can hear it?” Many chose to leave, and walk with him no more.” John, Chap 6 vs. 66 (bread of life discourse) Too BAD if they don’t like the teaching, and bravo to the bishops who are standing up for the truth!
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
There's a whole other agenda here.
"This saying is hard, and who can hear it?"
+{{{:^)
(Papal smiley.)
And for any lurkers or spies from Daily Kos who don't quite "get it":
The huffing and puffing about this being a "political endorsement of McCain" is either uninformed or dishonest. No candidate and no political party was endorsed in the bishop's letter: therefore it was, not a boost for one party or the other, but guidance on a fundamental moral principle which is not truly "negotiable" for anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic.
And what is that principle? The inviolable right of every innocent (non-aggressive) member of the human family to simply go on living.
It doesn't matter whether the one in question is old or young, male or female, black or white, citizen or alien, born or unborn. And it doesn't matter whether they are being threatened with abortion, a bomb, or a baseball bat. A blameless human being has a right not to be targeted, attacked, and killed.
That's about as absolute as a judgment of right and wrong can get. It's as simple -- and as profound --- as that.
Not a problem, thanks.
So they walked out of the Church. What’s going to happen when they have to stand before God? They’s be walking, but they won’t be happy where they wind up.
Yeah ... ya got a problem with the truth?
We haven’t. In two weeks we are having our Life Chain. The board chair will speak at all Masses this weekend. He will make a few people squirm.
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