Posted on 11/02/2008 8:21:14 AM PST by flyfree
October 31, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The priests of CallforherSOS.org have delivered what may be the most blunt directive yet to Catholic voters in the upcoming presidential election.
In three short videos, Fr. Tom Celso and Fr. Don Eder embellish little upon a simple, strict manifesto of Catholic moral teaching.
"It is the mission of the Catholic Church to pass moral judgements in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man require it," say the priests.
"The Democratic party and Barack Obama have brought shame and horror to this nation. Mr. Obama has promised to legalize partial-birth abortion, the savage murder of babies during birth. We are outraged.
"Catholics must uphold human rights, avoid sin, and cannot vote for abortion candidates. They cannot vote for Obama."
The videos were created by by the Catholic coalition CALL FOR HER - SOS, i.e. "Catholics Activated Leading Laity For Openly Recognizing Human Elementary Rights - Salvation Of Souls."
The website explains the coalition's mission to "activate Catholics and other Christians, especially laity, to lead other persons to recognize ... the most basic human rights and the importance of saving souls in the context of the current election."
The only other known Catholic leader to openly condemn voting for Obama by name is retired Texas Bishop Rene Gracida. In a letter to Catholic World News, the Bishop explained why most Bishops will not endorse candidates by name. "In the United States the danger of losing the tax-exempt status of the Church may perhaps be seen as justification for caution on the part of Ordinaries (Bishops in charge of particular dioceses))," said Gracida.
The bishop added however, "It would be wrong for an Ordinary to jeopardize the tax exempt status of his Diocese for any reason short of the most important, the defense of innocent human life. Therefore, I do believe that abortion is a great enough threat to our society to justify an Ordinary taking a strong stand against the candidacy of such a pro-abortion candidate as Barack Hussein Obama. An Ordinary need not name the candidate by name, as I have done, but surely the Ordinary possesses the literary skills to condemn the candidacy on moral grounds in such a way as to leave absolutely no doubt in the reader's mind as to the identity of the candidate whose candidacy is being condemned."
To see the videos, go to: http://www.callforhersos.org/
See the letter to Catholic World News:
http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/blog.cfm?id=300&nb...;
I’ve told my priest to his face that he needs to do more. He’s made efforts but I figure if he’s willing to go an inch I can push him an extra yard.
You can email Mr. Salt from Catholics United using this address. Remind him that Catholics who condone abortion are not really Catholics at all. They are “Pretend Catholics.”
jsalt@catholics-united.org
That will leave a mark!
Interesting. Keep that up and the Catholic Church will lose it’s tax exemption. Which is as it should be, in my book. In my opinion, we should end the tax free status of all churches and charities. Then they can do and say as they please, instead of the situation we have now, where tax exempt organizations skirt the law on political speech. All that does is hurt those institutions which obey the law, and gives a free pass to those who don’t.
I posted this several weeks ago but it won’t hurt to do it again. Our friends went to a large downtown Columbus church. The Priest’s sermon was about abortion and how important it was to vote pro-life. I understand the sermon was eloquent and my friend said you could hear a pin drop as he spoke. He finally said he had to stop, that he was getting close to the edge. When he ended, the entire large congregation jumped to their feet with thundering applause and shouts that went on for many minutes. Many were in tears and the emotions were obvious.
Priests can’t tell us who to vote for, but they should tell us what is sin and what is not and then everyone in good conscience takes it from there.
That said, however, I’d be delighted to see some excommunications of those supposedly Catholic politicians who PREACH pro-abortion positions. It is a life / death matter and their BAD theology must not go unpunished by an “organization” or “institution” which though very free in many respects, demands a certain orthodoxy.
One simply cannot believe that abortion is permissible and be a Catholic... or rather, wanting to be as liberal as possible, one cannot TEACH it. THAT is plainly too much.
Amen! You are absolutely right!
I know a handful of professed Catholics and only one is a social conservative. The others champion "equality" programs, are vehemently anti-war, and are pro-abortion (just not they would ever do so themselves).
How in hades any "Christian" could support a person, organization, or political party that endorses and advances abortion policies is beyond me. That strikes me as akin to a die-hard vegan PETA member supporting the Meat-Eaters-Party.
For the first time I can remember in my 61 catholic years, last night at vigil Mass, Father ended the mass by reminding everyone to vote and vote according to the Gospel.
That’s the closest I’ve heard to endorsing a person or party from the pulpit.
Talking to Christians of all stripes I am shocked to learn how many stray from their church’s teachings on things like abortion.
I hear you. I see the same thing at my church. Disgusting. And our priest is a whoosy. He will not come out and say don’t vote for the pro-abortion candidate. He kinda pussy foots around the issue by saying to vote your conscience and keep in mind the teachings of the church. Lame. I had half a mind to put fliers on the windows of the cars who had Obama stickers. I guess I really can’t be surprised. More than half our parish are transplants from the NE. There are more NY and NJ accents than good ole NC.
Good for them. I’m glad men of faith are standing up for life in difficult times.
I can infer from what our pastor says who he believes Christians should vote for, but he won’t say directly. He did say, if anyone wanted to ask him when he wasn’t on the platform, he would tell them.
I know of a preacher who was a guest speaker at a church, and told the congregation to follow their conscience when voting many years ago. He didn’t mention candidates names. He was told he would not be asked to speak at the church again. I guess they knew in their hearts what “voting their conscience” meant and knew they weren’t. Sad.
Abortion has made it easier to abuse children and mothers like Casey Anthony kill her own child because she wanted a different lifestyle. The other day there was a story about child-sex slavery ring and that story never made headlines,why? Maybe if they were dogs,remembering Michael Vick’s story and how people went crazy but children are not as important as animals are anymore. Personally I believe New York,birthplace of abortion,will be destroyed. They have been hit twice by terrorists and have been told they will be back. If asked Christians would never accept slavery today but they have closed their minds like those before us when slavery became confrontational. But to vote for someone who will support partial birth abortion and infanticide that is supporting true evil. But where are all the Christian leaders,who should be screaming on the evil of abortion. We need someone like John the Baptist!!!!!!!! I believe this country will reap what we sow.
Any idea how many of the expected voters are firm Catholics???
Sadly there are many Catholics and especially many clergy, eg. Fr. Flager, who are embracing Obama’s socialism as “social justice” and are able to ignore his support of abortion and infanticide.
I’ve heard even less than that at my church. In fact, nothing at all. Not even a hint!
Can we Catholics, in good faith, have some minor disagreements with the Church? I think we can. But when it comes to something this fundamental, life, we cannot disagree. Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi, et al should have been excommunicated long ago. They can start their own church.
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