Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger / RNC Chairman Michael Steel
Posted on 03/24/2009 6:03:52 AM PDT by NYer
.- Saying there can be “no equivocation” about abortion, Bishop of Evansville, Indiana Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger has decided not to attend the Vanderburgh County Right to Life (VCRL) banquet because Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, a Catholic who made conflicting comments about his abortion views, will be addressing the gathering.
Bishop Gettlelfinger charged that Steele “assiduously avoids” strong language on abortion.
The Washington Times reports that 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is also to address the banquet attendees.
Paul Leingang, communications director for the Diocese of Evansville, told CNA that the bishop intends not to attend the dinner he would normally attend.
Evansville Catholic Charities Director Jim Collins also plans not to attend the gathering, saying he was “shocked” by Steele’s comments on abortion in an interview with GQ magazine.
The Republican leader had told GQ that he believes women “absolutely” have the right to choose abortion and that he believes abortion is “an individual choice.”
Steele later distanced himself from remarks in a statement, saying “I am pro-life, always have been, always will be” and voicing his support for the Republican Party platform and “its call for a Human Life Amendment.”
Last Thursday the VCRL board voted to honor its speaking contract with Steele, which agreement was reached last fall, according to the Washington Times.
"We have done our due diligence," VCRL Executive Director Mary Ellen Van Dyke told the Washington Times. "Michael Steele has made the board of directors more than satisfied with his response regarding the GQ article. He told us he always has been and will be pro-life and against abortion in all cases."
However, Bishop Gettelfinger wrote a letter to VCRL, saying that “the principled answer for us is that there can be no equivocation: Intentional abortion is an act of killing the unborn. There is no room for choice in this deadly matter. Mr. Steele assiduously avoids such strong language.”
On Monday CNA spoke with Evansville diocesan communications director Paul Leingang about Bishop Gettelfinger’s decision.
He said there were no new developments concerning the situation because Bishop Gettelfinger is out of town. The diocese had not received a response to the letter the bishop had sent to VCRL, but was still hoping for comment. The organization may not yet have received the bishop’s letter, Leingang explained.
Explaining to CNA why Bishop Gettelfinger will not be attending, Leingang said the bishop was “disturbed” by Steele’s comments in GQ magazine in regard to a woman’s “right to choose” and that they seemed to come from “a political stance, not a principled one.”
“The principled answer would be there can be no equivocation, there’s no room for ‘choice’,” Leingang told CNA, because of what is being chosen.
CNA asked about defenses of Steele which claimed he merely spoke with “unfortunate phrasing” in his GQ interview.
“The salient point is that this is the principled decision of Bishop Gettelfinger,” Leingang replied, reporting that the bishop spoke with Steele by phone last Friday and also read the statement that Steele had issued following the GQ interview.
“After that conversation and examination of the statement, Bishop Gettelfinger maintained his decision not to attend the banquet.”
The bishop has not previously had to take a stand by declining to attend an event.
“This is unique,” Leingang told CNA.
He added that Bishop Gettelfinger will explain his decision in an upcoming article for the diocesan newspaper The Message.
Well sure. But I would think he could get what he thinks about it out in a private conversation with a bishop. So I wonder what Steele said to the bishop, I wonder if he will tell us. I also wonder if the bishop told him to not receive Communion if he is so pro-abortion.
Freegards
He’s right to do so. I guess there is no major pro-life party left in America.
Well said.
I must really wear you thin. Nevertheless it must be asked: when are you guys going to go after a full bore pro-abortionist like Obama (who ironically is also speaking in Indiana - at a Catholic event no less!!) like you go with blood and rage after someone you admit is probably just a fence-straddler. I’m waiting; I’m holding my breath.
First you complain Steele is pro-abortion and won’t back off then when he apologizes and clarifies (like you want) you call him a useless fence straddler. And look at Obama - hardly an eyelash batted. Aren’t you holding a double standard? Does that spell it out for you??
Yeah, well said. I’m holding my breath waiting for the condemnation of openly pro-abortion Obama appearing at a Catholic event in Indiana. I guess it’s more worthwhile to fire our ammo at “fence-straddlers” who are working largely to re-elect pro-life candidates. Wake me up when it’s over!
“It is disappointing that he hasn’t made any comment regarding the Notre Dame scandal.”
Just disappointing? Is that all? How about freaking MISERABLE.
Nevermind the president of the United States who stands in steadfast opposition to the right to life should get a CATHOLIC platform in INDIANA. Oh, but Steele is a fence-straddler working to re-elect largely pro-life candidates.
One more question for the enlightened: If Steele is pro-abortion why is he speaking at a pro-life banquet?
This is a weird story. The bishop talked to Steele on the phone, and still won’t attend. I wonder what was said, and if Steele or the bishop will comment further.
And the bishop whose diocese contains Notre Dame won’t be attending the graduation ceremony, just like here.
Freegards
“Just disappointing? Is that all? How about freaking MISERABLE.”
I wouldn't go that far, but I won't criticize those who do.
“If Steele is pro-abortion why is he speaking at a pro-life banquet?”
I don't know that Mr. Steele IS pro-abortion. But if he is, he would want to speak at a pro-life banquet for the same reason that many pro-abortion politicians want to be viewed as pro-life, even while they promote abortion.
That's a trend I've noticed - pro-deathers who pretend to be pro-life. Like Sen. Casey, who claims to be a pro-life Democrat, but who has a 65% voting record with NARAL. I know politicians here in Maryland who are Catholic and are Democrat and want to be known as pro-life even as they refuse to lift a finger to protect unborn children.
I remember during the last campaign, during the primaries, folks were trying to convince me that Mr. Giuliani wasn't really pro-abortion, he was really pro-life. Even though he'd been adamantly opposed to a ban even of partial birth abortion.
Lots of politicians realize that there's hay to make in talking out of both sides of their mouths. Mr. Steele would hardly be the first.
sitetest
“Nevertheless it must be asked: when are you guys going to go after a full bore pro-abortionist like Obama...”
Well, in that this post is addressed to me personally, I guess you're asking why I never go after the anti-Christ Obama.
LOL.
Why don't you look at my posts, and pick out the ones where I make reference by name to the new president? You'll find that in every instance, I always refer to the anti-Christ Obama as the anti-Christ Obama. Pretty much without exception.
If you ask me why I refer to the anti-Christ Obama as the anti-Christ Obama, I'll tell there are a variety of reasons, but that first and foremost, he is a baby-murderer.
“First you complain Steele is pro-abortion and won’t back off then when he apologizes and clarifies (like you want) you call him a useless fence straddler.”
Like I said, if this had happened once, I'd let it slide. But it's happened multiple times, now. He is either very inarticulate or worse. If he is merely an inarticulate pro-lifer, then he should resign because he has a politically-fatal case of foot-in-mouth disease.
“And look at Obama - hardly an eyelash batted.”
Again, why don't you look at my posts over the last couple of years, and see what I've said about the anti-Christ Obama?
sitetest
Thanks.
You may be right. I was hoping that Mr. Steele would go quietly early on (like, now), so that we could work through all the furor long before the 2010 elections. But it appears that that isn't to be.
The gaffes would be easier to swallow if it were being reported out of the RNC that Mr. Steele is rapidly re-building a true conservative core group, and is implementing dynamic new ideas and processes to the workings of the party machinery. Unfortunately, the reports emanating suggest that his actual work re-building the party may not be much better than his feckless efforts on TV and with print media.
sitetest
I don’t follow all your posts so I’m wrong there. But it seems way too much flak is pointed in our own direction.
“Evansville Catholic Charities Director Jim Collins also plans not to attend the gathering, saying he was “shocked” by Steele’s comments on abortion”Hello,Catholic Charities said they were not Catholic.
“anti-Christ Obama” Are you saying he is the Anti Christ.Praise and Love for Our God,Thank You Lord,Fatima
THE Anti-Christ?
I don’t know.
An anti-Christ?
Certainly.
This stuck me odd.”If you ask me why I refer to the anti-Christ Obama as the anti-Christ Obama, “Thank you for your answer.Fatima
That is not what you said in post 45.
I didn't write post 45.
Not sure what you're asking at this point.
sitetest
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