Posted on 08/30/2010 5:56:34 PM PDT by NoLibZone
Summary: Should A New Orleans Catholic College have hosted President Obama's Katrina 5th Anniversary Event?
Barack Obama is without question the most pro-abortion President in United States history. In the Illinois Senate, he opposed a bill designed to prevent partial-birth abortion. He was also the only Illinois State Senator to speak out against a bill that would have protected babies that survive late-term labor induced abortions. In the United States Senate, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) gave Obama a 100 percent rating for 2005, 2006 and 2007.
He also favors federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. After his election, he reversed the policy of his predecessor and issued an executive order that tripled the number of embryonic stem cell lines used for medical research. This controversial stem cell policy has now been blocked by a federal judge, although the administration will appeal the decision.
Clearly, on the important issues of abortion and stem cell research the President’s position is in opposition to the long standing policies of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church strongly supports the sanctity of life at all stages, from the moment of conception to death.
With such deeply rooted differences on such important issues, it is troubling that a Catholic institution, Xavier University of New Orleans, would host Barack Obama for a Katrina anniversary event on Sunday.
Last year, Notre Dame University invited President Obama to speak to their graduates. This created uproar among the Irish faithful and many of them withdrew their financial support of the school. This year, there is no outcry among Xavier alumni and little controversy over the President’s visit. It seems that most people in the Xavier community are excited the President will be coming to New Orleans for a rare visit and commemorating the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
This stance is not sitting well with some Catholic activists. According to Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society, there is a “concern about Catholic institutions trying to simply be a neutral platform, when they ought to be actively promoting Christian values.”
There should be no neutrality on the issues of sanctity of life. Obama is not only opposed to Catholic teaching he is nominating pro-choice Supreme Court judges who will fight to maintain Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision which legalized abortion, as the law of the land. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, there should be no controversy on this issue as the President should not be allowed to speak. In 2004, the bishops issued a statement called “Catholics in Political Life.” It clearly stated that “Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” This stance could be why New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond will not be attending the event on Sunday. According to his spokeswoman, the Archbishop was not invited to the presidential event, and, in any case, has a conflict on Sunday afternoon.
What's the big deal?
As a former Catholic, I don't really think of Catholicism as standing for much of anything in particular as a whole.
I am not Roman Catholic, so that may explain my confusion about much that goes on in the Roman Catholic Church. I did not understand how Notre Dame could welcome Obama at its commencement. I do not understand this particular situation either. People can talk about the confusion within Protestantism, and they are correct when they point this out; however, I see many contradictions within the Roman Catholic Church, too.
My understanding is that the President of the College was not notified of Obama’s decision to speak at the college and did not plan to attend.
Race, pure and simple.
It’s a black school.
Race trumps right.
I do not believe there are any Catholic colleges left. They have been taken over by apostates and the Church is standing aside like they did before with the pedophiles.
If the Church doesn’t take these colleges in hand and appoint new people to run them they should make them stop calling themselves Catholic Colleges.
Its not called “Notre Flame” for nothing.
People do not realize that Catholics are not a Republican constituency, they are predominantly Democrat and pro-abortion voters.
I think that people confuse them with other religious groups.
It “appears” to trump GOD too... at least at this college.
LLS
They hosted it because there is no Mosque big enough for Obortion in NOLA.
It’s the New, Improved Nancy Pelosi brand of Catholicism.
Loyola is the more Catholic university in that city. Xavier is more of a HBC than a Catholic one.
Hi Nosterrex,
Simply put, there are two camps in Catholicism (I know, I’m oversimplifying a bit): those left of center, who feel that perhaps the Church is a bit uptight and needs to be more “modern,” and those who follow Church teachings, and believe that abortion is a grave, mortal sin, and that life is precious. We do not engage in in-vitro fertilization, nor believe in embryonic stem cell research. Two quick links regarding those:
http://catholicinsight.com/online/church/vatican/article_475.shtml
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=6018
I hope that these help. Obama should not ever be speaking at a Catholic University. He supports many, many things proper Catholics are taught to call by their proper name: Evil.
Just so you know, ansel12, I am a republican. My family is full of republicans. I am a traditional Catholic, with 5 kids, who favors the Tridentine Latin Mass. You cannot get more conservative than favoring a ~2000 year-old Mass, any more than you can be more Christian than it. How about we both live and let live, hmmm?
Xavier was founded by the Jesuits and the Jesuits are firm beleivers of “social justice”.
Yes. I am not a Catholic. I have not been able to figure out why any Catholic would vote Left. But they do. Just as most Jews vote Left when their religion would guide them toward Conservatism. Conservatives should be the overwhelming majority in the USA. I really don’t get it.
The Church is indeed divided. Just so you know, there are many “Roman” Catholics who don’t feel much allegiance to Rome. and only pretend allegiance
because of all the property that the Church has acquired. They like to think of the Church as a huge welfare agency, and for them this is a base for creating a kind of heaven on earth. To them the faith reduces to sociology, and the rituals are all pretty much a matter of show. Many of them actually hate this pope, as they hated the previous pope, all the more so for his personal popularity. The historic creeds are to them mere words, or a kind of myth that gives the ignorant comfort. The Bible is merely an old book with some very nice sentiments. But there is no truth in it. They don’t think there is any truth in any religion. Now, of course, I am talking about the extreme liberals. There are many who have a sentimental attachment to the faith, and even a glimmer of faith remains, or they can believe some of it, and think the Church has done some real good. But it is hard to know which are sincere and which are not. Right now thy are in a dither because traditional Catholics have made a strong comeback during the last generation. But they control the universities, or most of them, and the charitable organizations. But a new generation of bishops and priests is trying to rectify the situation.
It’s a black school.
Of course. Obama doesn't want to deal with an unexpected, unpleasant question. With the Xavier crowd, he knows he'll be allowed his personal space to buy shrimp, or whatever.
I didn’t post to you, nor mention you, when someone mentions the voting block called “Catholic” they are not talking about individuals within the category.
The Catholic vote is predominantly a Democrat, pro-abortion vote, that puts this thread topic and all the other thread topics related to this, in perspective.
To constantly feign surprise at something that is normal, is to constantly pretend to be ignorant.
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