Posted on 08/24/2002 1:26:21 PM PDT by happytobealive
ASSOCIATE PASTOR TELLS WHY ABORTION CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IS A PARISIONER IN GOOD STANDING:
Many people have come to me in the two weeks just past to ask about television ads which point out that Ms. Granholm, our sister, is pro choice. The concern has come from a mistaken notion that being pro choice is equal to being pro abortion. However, choice is part of the very foundation of our Catholic Christian Community. There are some who would gloss over theological reflection for the sake of emotion; these people often end up persecuting other brothers and sisters through their ignorance. As disciples of the Lord Jesus we are required to pray for their good, and for their enlightenment.
The Lord God has created all people in absolute freedom. Every action we take, each word we utter, is a matter of choice. As Catholic Christians we understand that this Awesome freedom carries with it a grave responsibility. In the light of the teaching of Jesus we make choices according to a well formed conscience – a conscience which is founded in the gospel which proclaims the blessedness of all people in any circumstances.
Scripture tells us that when God was finished creating, everything was very good. The correct response to that good is a life which reverences and cares for all that God has made. This is our faith, and I know well that this is also Ms. Granholm's faith as a Roman Catholic Christian person.
To say that one is pro choice is, for the Christian community, an admission that we are created in freedom. This is a freedom that no state or government can grant or take away; it is a gift from the Creator. By the same understanding it is a grave error to assume that the ability to freely choose actions and words is sinful.
For the past several weeks we have been persecuted by people who are living with a misguided notion of the freedom in which we are created. These people, signs in hand, are not interested in the reverence of God's gift of life; they are concerned only with the threat of abortion. This is one small part of the reverence we are called to have for all that the Lord has Created. These people would have the state legislate the freedom that only God can give or take. The reverence of all life is a choice that we make according to our discipleship. It is a response to the love of God, in Jesus, which leads us to reverence the unborn, the challenged, the elderly , the sick, the brilliant, the talented, the humble, the simple, the peacemakers . . . you get the idea.
Those who regard Ms. Granholm as a "heretic" do not understand, nor do they wish to understand, that choice in itself is a blessed gift. As with many other things this blessing can be used for evil rather than for blessing.
Make no mistake, Christians are pro choice in the purest understanding of the term. We are free to choose between the Lord and the evil one. We are fee to choose the Lord's abundant and awesome love, and we are free to choose to deny it. The ability to choose is neither good nor evil. The choice made may be either. Many persecute because they choose not to hear or understand the depth of God's gift of freedom. The freedom to choose is a gift in which to revel. It is not a heavy burden. The Lord has given us direction, and has asked that we CHOOSE according to what he says and does.
To borrow from the gospel . . .
"Let those with ears to hear heed what they hear!"
Grace and peace,
Doc
Source: http://www3.catholicweb.com/bulletins/59371/Aug-04-2002.pdf
God gave us free will. That does not mean that God gives us freedom to chose whatever evil, whatever depravity we wish without consequence.
He tries to draw a distinction between being “pro-choice” and being “pro-abortion.” This is sophmoric. In the modern parlance, “pro-choice” is very definitely “pro-abortion.” All the “pro-choice” groups fight tooth and nail against requiring family-planning centers to inform mothers of alternatives to abortion, or requirements for parental consent.
Even regarding “pro choice”, as he tries to, as simply an endorsement of our God-given personal liberty... murdering born children does not fall within the ambit of liberty, so how does a Catholic priest conclude that murdering unborn children does?
Does this include the "freedom" to commit murder, adultry, polytheism, theft, etc.?
Hate the sin but love the sinner. It does not mean condoning such an act.
Give it a rest. Catholics then will have a hard time choosing between Democrats and Republicans. Aside from Monica and tax-cuts for the rich and the dead, there isn't much difference between Bush and Clinton from NAFTA, undeclared war bombing and a runaway Attorney General. I hope Buchanan runs again.
He's confused and is totally distorting Christianity and the issue at hand.
Nowhere does the Lord say that we can make murder "a choice" because God wants people to obey out of their free will.
God says thou shalt not kill. And if you do kill there will be consequences.
It is evident that the determination of what is right or wrong in human conduct belongs to the science of ethics and the teaching of religious authority. Both of these declare the Divine law, "Thou shalt not kill". The embryonic child, as seen above, has a human soul; and therefore is a man from the time of its conception; therefore it has an equal right to its life with its mother; therefore neither the mother, nor medical practitioner, nor any human being whatever can lawfully take that life away. The State cannot give such right to the physician; for it has not itself the right to put an innocent person to death. No matter how desirable it might seem to be at times to save the life of the mother, common sense teaches and all nations accept the maxim, that "evil is never to be done that good may come of it"; or, which is the same thing, that "a good end cannot justify a bad means". Now it is an evil means to destroy the life of an innocent child. The plea cannot be made that the child is an unjust aggressor. It is simply where nature and its own parents have put it. Therefore, Natural Law forbids any attempt at destroying fetal life.
As to the penalties she inflicts upon the guilty parties, her present legislation was fixed by the Bull of Pius IX "Apostolicae Sedis". It decrees excommunication -- that is, deprivation of the Sacraments and of the Prayers of the Church in the case of any of her members, and other privations besides in the case of clergymen -- against all who seek to procure abortion, if their action produces the effect.
I bet this priest is a member of a dissident group at odds with official teachings... one of the pick and choose types.
I read a while back that someone said "If God doesn't destroy Atlanta, Georgia, he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology." That actually referred to not only Atlanta, but to the U.S. and perhaps the world.
Carolyn
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