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Catholic bishops' letter on voting causes a stir...
Dallas Morning News ^ | 10/14/2008 | Sam Hodges

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; moralabsolutes; prolife
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To: don-o

I have had, several times, people get up and ostentatiously walk out of church during homilies—ONLY when the homily was about why voting for pro-abortion politicians is sinful.

Which goes to show that, for many people, their loyalty and attachment to the Church is not qualitatively different from their loyalty and attachment to a political party. They view both organizations in fundamentally the same way, and they evidently believe that the “platform” of either may be nudged in one direction or another by means of the same tactics—going to the press, walkouts, agitation, petitions, etc.


41 posted on 10/14/2008 10:28:59 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: big'ol_freeper

That woman is parroting Nancy Pelosi, who parrots the talking points developed many years ago by Robert Drinan and Daniel Maguire, and disseminated by Catholics for a Free Choice.

“The Catholic Church teaches that we have free will, so laws that try to take away the freedom to choose are against Catholic doctrine.”

1) That is, of course, an argument against the existence of ANY law—so what is Nancy Pelosi doing spending her life as a lawmaker?

2) This is a perfect example of The Sin Against the Holy Spirit—i.e., directly misrepresenting the Word of God in order to promote evil—calling Good Evil and Evil Good.


42 posted on 10/14/2008 10:53:33 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: markomalley
My husband read the letter out loud last night. Needless to say we were surprised and impressed and we are not Catholic, it is probably one of the few times we have been impressed by them, so credit where credit is due.
43 posted on 10/14/2008 11:16:48 AM PDT by Lady Heron
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To: Coleus; nickcarraway; narses; Mr. Silverback; Canticle_of_Deborah; TenthAmendmentChampion; ...

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

44 posted on 10/14/2008 11:19:13 AM PDT by cpforlife.org (A Catholic Respect Life Curriculum is available FREE at KnightsForLife.org)
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: Ronin

“They” will use so called catholics to destroy the Catholic Church. “They” will use so called christians to destroy Christianity.


48 posted on 10/14/2008 11:29:15 AM PDT by Terry Mross (O)
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To: markomalley
Already posted here: Some Dallas-Fort Worth Catholics irked by bishops' letter on abortion
49 posted on 10/14/2008 11:35:32 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: markomalley
"My bishop basically told me that if I vote for Barack Obama, I will the United States will go to hell."

This we KNOW is true!

... several people at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas walked out during the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass ...

Maybe they should go to Rev Wright's church...I'm sure they will be much more comfortable there!

50 posted on 10/14/2008 11:41:13 AM PDT by jan in Colorado (For Barack Hussein Obama TRUTH FILE see my homepage!)
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To: freeplancer

I’m not sure why you say the hippie-dippie bishops of the past are not responsible. It was their job to teach, and they didn’t. They were too busy boosting their friends in the Democratic Party, accusing Reagan of wanting to Blow Up the World, etc.


51 posted on 10/14/2008 11:55:32 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: markomalley

What’s interesting to me is...
The dims always try to feign loving the Lord and even getting offended at any indication they do not.
Sorta like they also say they are patriotic. And are not!

...but they are choosing AGAINST GOD and HIS WAY!
You CANNOT choose against God for a lifetime and get off, free of flames.

This is no surprise to me. They’ve been doing it for upteen years!
But this year it seems worse than ever.

May God’s redeeming grace, in Jesus, sweep this nation!

God bless America!!!
McCain/Palin 2008!!!


52 posted on 10/14/2008 11:57:35 AM PDT by LadyPilgrim ((Lifted up was He to die; It is finished was His cry; Hallelujah what a Savior!!!!!! ))
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To: markomalley
Pinged from Terri Dailies


53 posted on 10/14/2008 4:19:07 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: markomalley
I bet the bishops would not like this either!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSiPqjU6fYI&eurl=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105631/posts
 

You Tube - Over 1,500 Black Babies Per Day Are Killed In The USA / Pro-Life Anti-Abortion Video PSA


54 posted on 10/14/2008 7:43:42 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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