The Failure of Our Pro-Life Leadership

LifeSiteNews ^ | 12/9/08 | Brian Rooney

[wagglebee]

December 9, 2008 (InsideCatholic.com) - I recently attended a meeting of pro-life leaders from around the country, called in order to formulate a national strategy on how to defeat the promised Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). During the 2008 presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama infamously stated, to much applause, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."

The intent here is to codify the decision in Roe v. Wade, preventing future politicians (and courts outside the Supreme Court) from giving any more power to the states to place limits on abortion. In doing so, FOCA actually goes beyond Roe, calling abortion a "fundamental right" guarded by the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution (and not just the illusory "right to privacy" created in Griswold v. Connecticut, with Roe being part of its progeny).
 
The call to action in the meeting was admirable, but in the final analysis, it spoke volumes about the pro-life leadership in our country today: It is a group completely on the defensive and has accepted Roe as a framework to work within, rather than a fight to overcome. Choosing to operate within Roe's strictures has proven to be a failed strategy, bringing us to the point where there is a real possibility of FOCA being visited upon our nation.
 
The parade of horribles (and they are truly horrible) that would follow as a result of FOCA include:
 
    * nullifying the 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Act;
    * repealing the Hyde amendment;
    * allowing abortions at military hospitals;
    * nullifying informed consent laws, parental notification laws, waiting periods, and born-alive infant protection acts;
    * forcing Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or close their doors;
    * ridding rights of conscience in various states; and much more.

Those concerned pro-life leaders from the aforementioned gathering -- as well as the bishops at the recent USCCB meeting -- are right to speak out loudly against the bill. But there remains a hitch: What we are most likely to see from Congress is not a clean bill, but one debated and compromised. That is what Congress does, and that's where the real danger is. Catholics who imprudently voted for the most pro-abortion candidate in history may also be fooled into supporting a "revised" FOCA.
 
For example, what if a revised FOCA has an exemption for religious institutions like Catholic hospitals? Would that make the bill more palatable? What about a FOCA that allows the Hyde Amendment or the Partial Birth Abortion Act to endure? Will there still be vigorous opposition if we come to see a compromised version of FOCA? Or will we hear the same tired claims made by some pro-lifers that a compromise FOCA may actually lead to fewer incidences of abortion (and since Roe is here to stay, they say, FOCA might be a good thing from the Catholic perspective).
 
No matter what form FOCA takes in its final version, it must be defeated. Retreat or compromise would only further cement the notion -- among the general public, and even many pro-life leaders -- that Roe is here to stay. In whatever form FOCA takes, it marks the end of the "incremental approach" to combating abortion that has been espoused by many mainstream pro-life leaders and organizations for the last decade or so as the only way to combat abortion. These are the same leaders who advised bishops against trying to overturn Roe, saying we did not have the votes on the Supreme Court. This "one way only" approach has led not just to the very real threat of FOCA, but to an incoming president who promises to fill our courts with pro-abortion judges. If this isn't the right time, the next couple of decades will surely be no better.
 
Pro-life leaders must reconsider the failed "incremental steps only" strategy that has done nothing to stop Roe. Their call to "wait" has produced the expected "never."
 
Brian Rooney is an attorney and spokesman at the Thomas More Law Center.

[the invisib1e hand]

It's a whole lot easier to write authoritative sounding op-eds on the "failure of our leaders" than it is to march your ass down to city hall and spend an entire day just to have 2 minutes to testify before a city council meeting on some ridiculous abortion clinic access bill, but yet, if you're not the president, and you're not a congressman, it might be all you can do, and if enough people bothered, who knows, may the the American experiment would work.

Let's fix our own failures before we bemoan those of our leaders.

Meditate on "self government."

[ConorMacNessa]

Hi Emmet - I, too, am a prodigal son - My wife brought me back into the Church. That parable never made sense to me until a few years ago when I came to the understanding that salvation, like the sacrifice of Christ - is gratuitous.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[WOSG]

Blame the catholic bishops and their funding of leftwing organizations via CCHD (Catholic Campaign for Human Development).

They are willing to fund the pro-death liberals with their shilling for left-wing “Interfaith” organizations that undermine and dilute their moral message. These organizations they ally with are explicitly pro-choice and explicitly support the pro-abortion Democrat establishment. In many cases, they have funded organizations that went to bat for Obama - including ACORN. Heck, they funded Obama himself back in the mid-1980s!!

In the process, they undermine the very catholic faith they claim to uphold.

Not ONE RED CENT for CCHD is what every Catholic should be saying.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Ah, you might like my song “That Rock Is Gonna Roll”. You can hear it at http://emmettgrayson.avenuehifi.com You don’t need to buy it. One day, of course, I hope it’s a big hit if that will bring glory to God and His Son. If I get a lot of money, well, hopefully I will use that for the same purpose. here are two versions on there. One is 5 minutes (too long for radio) The other about 3 1/2

[wintertime]

PRO-LIFERS MUST WIN ELECTIONS!!! ( Yes, I am shouting!)

Therefore part of their strategy must be:

* Catholic and Protestant pro-lifers must DEMAND that their churches never give a dime to ACORN.

* Have an organized effort to identify the Christians ( Catholic and Protestant) who are Democrats and proselytize! Convince these Democrats that voting for pro-abortion candidates is a vote for evil. One way to identify them is to check the church address directory with voter roles. Please remember that if every Christian ( Catholic and Protestant) had voted pro-life Obama would **not** have won the election.

* Fight election fraud. Start now identifying poll watchers, combing through voter registration lists looking for invalid registrations, and joining with other PACs to insist on prosecution of voter fraud.

* Work at the grass roots to see that pro-life and conservative Republicans enter the political system at the lowest levels. For instance, in my state the gate way to political advancement is a seat on the school board.

* Work to bring your relatives, friends, and neighbors to a full understanding of Christ. Strengthen those in your congregation who are weak in their testimony of Christ. The surest way to abolish abortion is through a country-wide revival of faith in Christ.

[wintertime]

Not ONE RED CENT for CCHD is what every Catholic should be saying.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

On the day, that any congregation may be taking up collections for left wing ( and therefore pro-abortion) organizations, put a flyer on the cars in the parking lot. Another strategy is a sidewalk picket with signs.

Get the word out to other members of the congregation and let them know where this money is going.

[hinckley buzzard]

Pro-life leaders must reconsider the failed "incremental steps only" strategy that has done nothing to stop Roe.

I await with interest the presentation of an alternative plan.

[WOSG]

“Not ONE RED CENT for CCHD is what every Catholic should be saying.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

On the day, that any congregation may be taking up collections for left wing ( and therefore pro-abortion) organizations, put a flyer on the cars in the parking lot. Another strategy is a sidewalk picket with signs.

Get the word out to other members of the congregation and let them know where this money is going.”

I agree, but it we do this onesy-twosy it is not effective. If you are a fellow conservative catholic, freepmail me, we need to figure out how to get organized. I have some ideas.

[Salvation]

Surely you saw this list. They did speak out before the election saying that life was the primary issue. Unfortunately the CINOs didn't listen. REAL Catholics did not vote for Obama.

Over 100 Bishops Have Spoken Out on Priority of Life Issues
Posted on October 28, 2008, 11:59 AM | Deal W. Hudson

The list of U. S. bishops who have spoken out on the priority of the life issues in this election is now over 100. The list now contains 70 individual bishops and three joint statements.

I would like to continue updating this list until the day of the election. I have tried to incorporate all the comments thus far. If I dd not get them all, I apologize. (For a few of the suggestions, I could not find a suitable link.)

Please continue using the comments section to let us know what bishop is not on this list who should be. This would include any bishop who has individually, or jointly, published a statement about this election pointing out the primacy of the life issues.

Thank you for your help.

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver

2. Bishop James Conley, auxiliary of Denver

3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

4. Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities

5. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine

6. Edward Cardinal Egan of New York

7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh

9. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs

10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio

11. Bishop Oscar Cantu, auxiliary of San Antonio

12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre

13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa

14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas

15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin

16. Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston

17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando

18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis

19. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, President of the USCCB

20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker

21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse

22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland

23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City

24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco

25. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA

26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn

27. Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton

28. Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

30. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte

31. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh

32. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS

33. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO

34. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WS
35. Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, KS
36. Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, KS
37. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita
38. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach
39. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth

40. Bishop Rene H. Gracida, retired, of Corpus Christi

41. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Houston

42. Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington

43. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond

44. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center

45. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester

46. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Patterson

47. Bishop Robert Herrmann of St. Louis

48. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore

49. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix

50. Bishop Thomas D. Doran of Rockford

51. Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Camden

52. Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham

53. Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle

54. Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet

55. Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton

56. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing

57. Bishop Leonard R. Blair of Toledo

58. Bishop Frances J. Dewane of Venice

59. Bishop W. Frances Malooly of Wilmington

60. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison

61. Bishop John Yanta , retired, of Amarillo

62. Bishop James V. Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

63. Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland

64. Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City

65. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg

66. Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinatti

67. Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu

68. Bishop Paul Swain of Sioux Falls

69. Bishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe

70. Bishop Eusebius Beltran of Oklahoma City

71. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Harrisburg

72-94. Joint Statement by the bishops of New York State (22 bishops)

95-111. Joint Statement by the bishops of Pennsylvania (16 bishops)

112-116. Joint Statement by the bishops of Kansas (4 bishops)

117-126. Joint Statement by the bishops of Florida (9 bishops)

Added by me

 

127. Bishop Tobin -- http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30333 ^

 

128. Archbishop Wilton Gregory  georgiabulletin.org ...

 

129. Archbishop Dolan http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/32482989.html.

 

130. Archbishop Elden Curtiss Omaha http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2123119/posts?page=1

 

131. Bishop Carlson's of Michigan pastoral letter in full, go to:
http://www.saginaw.org/images/election-statement_carlson_102...

 

[WOSG]

“

If our Catholic bishops had spoken out BEFORE this election instead of seeing to it that ACORN was funded with Catholic money and having 54% of the so-called “Catholic” vote go for this murdering SOB, we wouldn’t have this problem. The Church leadership has largely betrayed us and now they want to sing about defeating FOCA? Cow, barn, gone. This Catholic sees this as meaningless rhetoric from bishops who are playing one song for the flock while doing something else altogether. At best, they’re more concerned with losing their tax-exempt status than they are about speaking the truth.”

I agree 100%. Obama was elected on the backs of support of catholic voters and the catholic organizations could have stopped it but didnt. They showed in their actions that this is not really a priority, and even the ‘faithful citizenship’ language was made deliberately vague to undercut the prolife message.

[Salvation]

**Catholics went for Barack Insane Obama by 57%. **

That number was revised to only 48 percent.

Still too much.

And I continue to say that Catholics did NOT vote for Obamanation, only CINOs (Catholics in Name Only) did. And in so doing, they have excommunicated themselves and cannot receive Communion. They need to talk to a priest.

[Salvation]

You are wrong about the Catholic Bishops funding ACORN. It all stopped. Please check out these FR threads.

U.S. Bishops Cut All Funding to ACORN, Activities Funded Hard to Determine
Bishop discusses reasons behind cutoff of ACORN funding
Catholic Church drops ACORN funding

[Salvation]

I wrote a check to my church’s Caritas fund for emergencies when they help out parishioners.

[Salvation]

U.S. Bishops Cut All Funding to ACORN, Activities Funded Hard to Determine
Bishop discusses reasons behind cutoff of ACORN funding
Catholic Church drops ACORN funding

[Gone_Postal]

Surely children were not made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be

Surely life wasn't made to forget
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead

[deannadurbin]

Anywhere near 50% of Catholics voting for a man who is for abortion without restrictions and infanticide for babies born alive after abortion attempts is a sign of terrible moral decay in the church.

[WOSG]

“* Catholic and Protestant pro-lifers must DEMAND that their churches never give a dime to ACORN.”

It goes WAY BEYOND ACORN. Catholic charities must never give one red cent to any saul alinsky-type organizations, but 95% of CCHD goes to such organizations. Anything with “Interfaith” in its name is part of the problem.

The wider issue is that ‘social justice’ has been used to divert and dilute the catholic moral authority from these core life issues.

“* Work at the grass roots to see that pro-life and conservative Republicans enter the political system at the lowest levels. For instance, in my state the gate way to political advancement is a seat on the school board.”

True.

[WOSG]

NONE of this was shared in church bulletins in most churches or communicated from pulpits. There was a deliberate policy of obfuscation by what must have been multiple liberals in the church US CCB heirarchy to ‘soften the message’.

I do blame the bishops for allowing funds to be used by left-wing organizations that ignore and undermine the life issue. They do not understand the anti-life consequences of their actions.

[WOSG]

I didnt say that they continued to fund ACORN. What I AM saying is that 95% of what CCHD money goes to is organizations that are saul alinsky leftwing activist groups that are JUST AS BAD as ACORN.

Every organization with the “Interfaith” label is a part of the “Industrial Areas Foundation” network, which was founded by saul alinsky. These are community activist groups, and one of them funded barack obama back in the day, and their sole purpose is to agitate for govt. It’s left wing activism and it harms the catholic churchs moral credibility.

[baa39]

U.S. bishop approximate breakdown, my estimate based on your question:

About 1/2 are foolish bureaucrats steeped in clericalism and living insulated lives completely out out touch with reality, surrounded by sycophants, yes-men, peace-and-justice progressives, and “SOV2” liturgists. These fit the famous maxim, “A bishop is he who never has a bad meal and never hears the truth.”

About 1/4 dangerous apostates who know exactly what they are doing, seek to undermine the Church, who should be excommunicated.

About 1/4 heroic, courageous men who are devoted to Christ and the true Church and are usually seen as lone nutcases going out on a controversial limb by their fellow bishops. In other works, the good guys.

Our only hope is Sambi and the Pope getting more of the last category to replace the first two categories as they retire.