|
|
||
|
|
||
Posted on 11/12/2008 9:40:43 PM PST by Coleus
Roman Catholic church leaders meeting this week in Baltimore heralded the election of the first black president, but maintained forceful opposition to President-elect Barack Obama's pro-choice stance. Leading that opposition was Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who proposed a new blessing of unborn children and called for elected officials to oppose abortion.
In adopting the blessing Tuesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops compared abortion to genocide during its annual convention and vowed to accept no compromises, according to the McClatchy News Service. For his part, Serratelli introduced a new "Blessing of a Child in the Womb," which prays "for our civic leaders that they may perform their duties with justice and compassion while respecting the gift of human life." The 300 prelates at the conference adopted the entry in the church's "Book of Blessings".
Serratelli's stance further cemented his position as one of the American church's most outspoken opponents of elected officials who support abortion rights. In the months preceding last week's presidential election, Serratelli spoke out against Obama's record. On Monday, the bishop offered side-by-side words of support and dissent to the country's new political leader at the three-day convention. "Whenever there's a change in presidential leadership, there's always hope," Serratelli said Monday. "We join in that hope, but at the same time, we have a commitment to the Gospel and for the sake of the common good, we must make sure the dignity of every person is respected."
The assembly, which concludes today, addressed a range of issues, from liturgical translations to the honoring of bishops who aided in restoration efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. After an election where a slim majority of Catholics voted for the Democratic senator from Illinois, Catholic leaders discussed how to approach the president-elect and his vice president, Sen. Joseph R. Biden of Delaware, who is a Catholic. Both Biden and Obama have defended abortion rights in their political careers and throughout the presidential campaign.
The position of the incoming Democratic administration also clashes with the Catholic Church on the subject of embryonic stem cell research. Although outgoing Republican President George W. Bush had effectively banned the use of embryonic stem cells for research, Obama supports easing those federal restrictions.
On Tuesday afternoon, the bishops discussed how to approach Obama on abortion, drafting a set of guidelines for Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago and president of the conference, to put into a letter to the president-elect.The guidelines, according to a report by the Religion News Service, note that the election was largely decided by voter concerns for the economy, with issues such as abortion and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan of "secondary importance."
Recalling the words of some religious leaders that Obama should be elected for "the common good," the bishops wrote: "The common good of our country is assured only when the life of every unborn child is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies and legislation will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans and would be interpreted by many Catholics as an attack on the church."
Deregulating abortion and using tax money for abortion would threaten religious freedom, the bishops also warned. Serratelli, the Paterson bishop, brought the abortion debate front and center in an October column that appeared on the Web site of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.
Though he did not use Obama's name, Serratelli criticized the Illinois senator for voting against the Induced Infant Liability Act, a proposed Illinois law, when he served as a state legislator. The law would have protected infants who survived late-term abortions. "Every vote counts. Today, either we choose to respect and protect life, especially the life of the child in the womb of the mother, or we sanction the loss of our most basic freedoms," Serratelli wrote in the column.
The column prompted the watchdog group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State to seek an Internal Revenue Service probe of Serratelli. The bishop later issued a statement on the diocese Web site denying that he had been trying to influence the votes of Catholics. "As the Bishop of the Paterson Diocese, I will never tell Catholics to support a particular candidate," Serratelli wrote.
I think what these groups miss is that now, there is no chance Roe v Wade is overturned and that is pretty much all that matters.
bunch of weenies.
Kudos to the Catholic bishops.
thank you.
Precisely!
Separation of church and state refers to the separation of POWERS of church and state. Priests have as much right as black reverends to tell their congregation who to vote for based on moral issues. The congregants don't have to listen.
But if the organization mentioned in the article is going to intimidate Catholic clergy, then they should intimidate black Reverends like the Reverend Wright and the Catholic priest who holds sermons in Reverend Wright's church.
Good for the Bishops. I’m so glad this new generation of Bishops is taking a strong stand for LIFE! Unfortunately, they’re dealing with way too many Catholics who learned at the feet of many of the older Bishops who accepted the Seamless Garment idea, reducing protection of the unborn to just another ‘social justice’ idea, among many, promulgated by Cardinal Bernadin, of Chicago.
But if the organization mentioned in the article is going to intimidate Catholic clergy, then they should intimidate black Reverends like the Reverend Wright and the Catholic priest who holds sermons in Reverend Wright's church. >>>
you got that right, there definitely is a double standard. you would never think the IRS is chicken but when it comes to investigating democrats who use the black church, bully pulpit for campaigning purposes, the IRS is lame and silent.
It’s one of the many double standards that drives me INSANE!
You’re right, Suzi. It’s good to see the Bishops come out so firmly and strongly for life and so soon after Obama’s election! : )
Or as Stalin asked, “how many divisions does the Pope have?”
Far too many Catholics and evangelicals voted for Obama, because they claimed abortion is just one issue.
We need to reach these people somehow. Almost 50 million unborn children died from abortion, more than people in our country dying from hunger, freezing to death, wars, etc. put together. While these other issues can’t be taken lightly, people need to understand the magnitude of abortion. I don’t know why they don’t.
At some point they will have to say that the government can take away their tax exempt status, from the whole Catholic Church but the truth must be said.
Pray for LIFE!
Catholic Church drops ACORN funding
Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion
Catholics gird for fight with Obama on abortion, Paterson, NJ bishop takes a leading role
Jill Stanek: Moving On After Barack Obama, How a Disabled Boy Restored My Pro-Life Fire
Catholic Bishops Urge Huge Anti-FOCA Campaign to Stop Abortion Expansion (Might Close Hospitals)
Abortion and Euthanasia Bringing about the Demise of Catholic Health Care: Catholic Obstetrician
To accept abortion is to challenge God, Lord of all things...
USCCB: Church should oppose FOCA 'early and often,' Niederauer (Pelosi's Archbishop) says
Cardinal [George]: Obama's Presidency Heals Racism, Now Time to End Abortion
CNN’s Rick Sanchez: Does the GOP ‘Have to Be Anti-Abortion’?
Catholic bishops plan to forcefully confront Obama
Niece of Martin Luther King Jr.: "The Dream" Is Not Yet Fulfilled
Barone: Media wanted Palin abortion
New York Subway Riders Respond to Ad and Share Post-Abortion Grief, Agony
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's Niece{Dr. Alveda King]: Abortion Means Obama Doesn't Fulfill Dream
Bishops to present concerns on abortion, other issues to politicians
Kneeling Before the World [Catholic Caucus]
Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life Receives Post-Election Death Threat
Barone: 'Liberal media' wanted Palin to abort
BISHOPS APPROVE BLESSING FOR CHILD IN THE WOMB
FIRST THINGS: Obama and the Bishops
Head of U.S. bishops says no compromise on abortion
Washington Post Admits Bias for Obama, Calls Pro-Life Policies "Offensive"
Washington Post Admits Bias for Obama, Calls Pro-Life Policies "Offensive"
Novena for the Protection of the Unborn
Carving Out a Better Respect Life Position
Prez Herod (post election reflection)
Wash Post: Pro-Life Views "Ideologically Offensive"
Election of Obama a Disaster for Pro-Life Fight in EU and Africa: Prominent Kenyan Physician
Bishops will not skip debate on abortion and politics
Obama's Startling Reaction to Funeral Service for Baby Killed After Failed Abortion
MCCL [MN's largest pro-life organization] achieves nearly all pro-life goals in 2008 election
No "Presidential sleight of hand" on stem cells
Voting for Reproductive Freedom (NYT pro-abort alert)
Abortion Groups Confident Obama Will Push His Pro-Abortion Agenda
Obama reviews Bush orders on stem cells, drilling
Obama reviews Bush orders on stem cells, drilling (Be prepared for the gas prices to go up)
Let us Celebrate Barrack Obama, Let us Celebrate Life
Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions Stem Cell, Climate Rules
Pro-Life Dem Breakthroughs (Bad News for FOCA?)
Stopping FOCA: EWTN TV w/ Gianna Jessen, Sister Nirmala, Archbishop Burke, among others(?)
Dr. Alveda King to Pro-Lifers: Forward, March
What America Has Done (Was the election about racial equality or the right to life?)
The Freedom of Choice Act: Radical Attempt to Prematurely End Debate over Abortion
Becket Fund to Award Canterbury Medal to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap.
Doug Kmiec to give election ‘post-mortem’ at Calif. seminary [Catholic Caucus]
Fighting FOCA (the time to act is now!)
Billy Graham Won't Advise Obama Because of Strong Pro-Abortion Position
Bishop Carlson: Our witness must grow stronger (Statement on election results)
Back to the Drawing Board (several bishops calling for Faithful Citizenship to be overhauled)
On Eucharistic Consistency (Florida bishop urges Biden to examine conscience before Communion)
Future Obama abortion legislation will violate conscience rights, PRI president says
THERE IS STILL A GOD IN HEAVEN!
Bill Berkowitz: Religious Right Down but Not Out
Freedom of Choice Act - Election Implications
A Post – Election Reflection: Pray, Plan and Participate
Payback Time: What Planned Parenthood Expects from Barack Obama
Life will not go on
Catholic Leaders React to Obama Victory, Offer Advice
Archbishop Chaput Eager to See Kmiec Deliver a Pro-Life Obama
History, Hyperbole and Horror (Eye opening)
[Electing Obama] A Grave Mistake and an Abiding Hope
Fight FOCA (Unlimited Abortion) Sign the Fight FOCA Petition ASAP Get Involved!!
Douglas W. Kmiec on 'Obama's Miracle'
"The Killing Must End”: Christian Defense Coalition to Launch Major Post-Inaugural Pro-Life Campaign
Pro-Life Advocates Urged to Renew Efforts Against Abortion After Election Loss
Obama Pushes Abortion on Day One With Emanuel Pick
Warriors with Our Eyes Fixed on Heaven (Bishop Finn's Excellent Column) [Ecumenical]
thanks for keeping a list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.