Posted on 10/12/2016 7:55:25 AM PDT by xzins
Citing the 5th Commandment, "thou shall not kill," the Catholic Rev. John Lankeit said he was bound to speak out in defense of the most innocent and vulnerable in society -- babies in the womb -- and that faithful Catholics must do the same, especially in this election year. He added that if a Catholic votes for a candidate who supports abortion, then that Catholic's "soul will be in grave danger."
"Make no mistake!" said Fr. Lankeit, the pastor of the Saints Simon & Jude Cathedral in Phoenix, Ariz. "There is no single issue that threatens innocent human life more directly, consistently, imminently and urgently than the deliberate killing of baby boys and baby girls in their mother’s womb. No issue!"
"If a priest doesn’t speak up for the most vulnerable in our society, and if the Catholic faithful don’t actively protect the most vulnerable in our society by refusing to enable their deliberate destruction with their vote, then such Catholics are condoning the killing by their cowardice," said Fr. Lankeit in his Oct. 2 sermon at the cathedral. His sermon, or homily, was broadcast on local television and posted on YouTube, and is going viral.
At the start of his homily, Fr. Lankeit said, “The Devil is a divider who will use almost any tactic to separate Christians from Christ -- except for one tactic. He doesn’t typically come right out and say, ‘Deny Jesus Christ!’ because he knows that someone who loves Jesus would immediately reject the suggestion. So, he tends to use more subtle means and subtle words. But more on that later."
"For now, let’s deal with something closer to home, and very much in the forefront of many people’s minds: the 2016 presidential election," said Pastor Lankeit. "But let’s do so from a Catholic perspective. Let’s consider the intersection of the practice of our faith and the exercise of our civic duty, especially when it comes to voting. Let’s first acknowledge that there has never been a political party in the United States that is perfectly aligned with Catholic teaching on every issue."
"But that does not mean that we are therefore automatically free to vote for either major party," he said, "because one party can be much further from Catholic principles on the most important issues than the other party. As a result of that, we are often faced with the task of discerning which party and which policies are most in line with Catholic teaching, and which ones are not."
Although Catholics may disagree on how best to address certain issues such as immigration or affirmative action, said Rev. Lankeit, there are some issues, such as the taking of innocent human life -- abortion -- that are non-negotable.
“There are other issues, however, which touch on matters of intrinsic evil," said the pastor. "These are actions that can never, at any time, under any circumstance be committed, promoted, or even enabled by a faithful Catholic. ... Many want to treat abortion as merely one issue among many but that requires that a person pretend not to know what abortion is and what abortion does."
"Ignorance in this area is unacceptable, because ignorance in this area costs millions of babies their lives and jeopardizes the souls of many Catholic voters," said Rev. Lankeit. "On the other hand, if you DO know which candidate and party want to promote and expand abortion, and you still intend to enable them to continue their war on the unborn with your vote, then it is my duty as a priest to tell you that your soul will be in grave danger, especially if you present yourself for Holy Communion after casting such a vote with the full knowledge of what you’re doing."
Later in the homily, the pastor said, "There are plenty of Catholics who, quite rightly, have criticized bishops and priests in recent years for not having spoken out more forcefully against the sexual abuse of children by priests. Why then do many of these same Catholics want to silence bishops and priests who speak out forcefully against killing innocent children?"
"Why is opposing sexual abuse of children a matter of justice, but opposing the murder of children a matter of ‘preaching politics’?" said Rev. Lankeit.
"A priest is not only protected by the 1st Amendment (at least for now)," said the pastor. "He is also bound by the 5th Commandment—Thou Shalt Not Kill. If a priest doesn’t speak up for the most vulnerable in our society, and if the Catholic faithful don’t actively protect the most vulnerable in our society by refusing to enable their deliberate destruction with their vote, then such Catholics are condoning the killing by their cowardice."
"Make no mistake!" he said. "There is no single issue that threatens innocent human life more directly, consistently, imminently and urgently than the deliberate killing of baby boys and baby girls in their mother’s womb. No issue!"
"In the time since this homily started, at least 30 children have been deliberately executed in the womb in the United States of America—and that’s just the ones that are reported," said Rev. Lankeit.
More complicated situations appear when neither candidate is perfect. Does one go with the prudential choice, one that may move the government closer to where we want it to be, or does one abstain? It’s an evangelical issue too.
Very, very true....
Does the phrase burn in hell come to mind?
Well said, Brother John. VERY well said. Needs to be shouted from the rooftops! NOTHING justifies voting for a pro-death politician.
Perhaps so but any Pope who embraced liberation theology must be suspect. And please do not recycle the tired argument that he did not embrace it. Many old guard priests consider him a likely possibility as the Pope who ushers in the antipope.
I’ve often wondered if Catholic penitents have ever confessed to voting Democrat. If a priest answered that question with a “yes” or “no” would that be breaking the seal of the confessional?
I’m not sure what my rep’s (Comstock) position is on abortion (probably anti) but I plan to vote against her for stabbing Trump in the back.
Awesome homily, awesome priest. I listened to the shorter version, but didn’t make it through the longer one. Shame I don’t get that kind of homily at my local church. Thanks for sharing.
A priest would have to name the person and his sin for it to be a violation of the sacrament. To say in general that he had heard it confessed would not be a violation. Most won’t even do that, though.
I test everything that comes out of Pope Frank’s mouth against my own inner voice of God. I don’t trust him to be precise and teach authentically. Most of those at my church adore him, I keep quiet. I doubt they are on line and know the half of what he says.
Probably not if the priest answered in very general terms and in a way that could not be traced to a particular person or event.
I’ve listened to priests talk about confession and they have mentioned some incredible sins (in general) that they have heard people confess.
Expect that in Hillary’s America, the seal of the confessional will be under assault. It has in some jurisdictions already.
“So be it.”
I agree. Separate the wheat from the chaff.
The reason many Catholics have wandered off the reservation is because of a lukewarm Church. I bet many would return if the Church went back to the pre-Vatican II days.
No..they CALL themselves Catholics, and may even go through the motions when they are inside a church, but they have excommunicated themselves by their actions. It doesn't take a writ from the Pope to be excommunicate.
Better to have fewer members who were all “hot” for the Lord so that those who are “cold” have a better chance to know God...as the luke warmers will have dropped away!
Sure, your unfounded innuendoes are beyond question.
LOL
I can post a hundred links to support my position and you can post a hundred li8nks to support your position. If we both keep praying for guidance we’ll both get the truth. I’ll stand with my position that he’s weak and tainted until otherwise guided.
Finally! A real Priest, not an anti-Priest, speaks out about Democrats.
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