Democrats Secret Weapon - How American Bishops Kept Abortion Legal for Thirty Years

George Kocan, Warrenville, IL | October 28, 2003 | George Kocan

[Land of the Irish]

I don't want bishops endorsing or railing against specific named candidates. It's a cheapening of their mission.

I didn't say anything about endorsing or railing candidates. Why can't O'Malley simply enforce Church law? Which is: Those in a state of mortal sin cannot receive any Sacraments, except for Confession.

More Amchurch exceptions for Amchurch "Catholic" baby-killers by Amchurch bishops.

Nothing new.

[Land of the Irish]

Catholics in Massachusetts would support Kerry even MORE.

Here, I agree with you. "Catholics" in Massachusetts, for the most part, are not Catholic: e.g. St. Kennedy.

[BlessedBeGod]

Joe Scheidler has been leading pro-life demonstrations, training pro-life activists and educating through public appearances since Roe v Wade in 1973. His work at abortion clinics cut deeply into the abortionists' expected revenues and undermined the ideology of sexual liberation which defined abortion as a political right. Joe Scheidler, a devout Catholic, husband and father, did such damage to the abortion industry that the National Organization of Women (NOW), an instrument of the Democrat Party, sued him in federal court, under RICO statutes, for racketeering. They demanded millions of dollars in judgment and imposed on him burdensome legal costs.

Joe Scheidler was, and is, doing God's work. Furthermore, he was doing the Church's work. Yet, in all that time, the Archdiocese of Chicago provided him with no financial help, even when NOW had put him under their legal guns.

I believe the Archdiocese did file an amicus brief on Joe's behalf. Funny it doesn't mention that. Joe's always been complimentary of Cardinal George and whatever help he's given.

[Aquinasfan]

I agree with the author's criticism of the bishops for failing to support courageous pro-lifers. But the author makes a pretty big leap here:

The acronym should more properly stand for the Catholic Campaign to Help Democrats. What makes this funding vehicle extraordinary is that it, in its by-laws, prohibits giving money to organizations that actually feed, clothe or house needy persons. The funds must go to organizations that foster "social change". Not coincidentally such organizations had already come into being, tailor-made, to carry out the mission that the CCHD had specified. These organizations follow a structure and philosophy established by the Industrial Area Foundation (IAF). The IAF embodies the beliefs and practices developed by its founder, Saul Alinsky.

Perhaps those responsible for founding the CCHD were Alinskyites, but it's irresponsible to tar all or most bishops with this brush. I find it impossible to excuse their failure to excommunicate pro-abortion politicians though.

[Aquinasfan]

I protest an abortion clinic in Iowa City Iowa. The clinic is surronded by 5 Catholic, 1 Jewish and 4-5 other churches and not one priest,rabbi etc has ever come to stand with me nor any lay people.

I used to go pretty regularly to the prayer (Rosary) vigil outside Planned Infanticide in Brookline. There were always a handful of nuns and a priest. Nevertheless, I have the feeling that these were the faithful remnant. Cardinal Law did little if anything publicly to make Kerry and Kennedy uncomfortable. Cardinal Law would walk in the annual March for Life, but I remember Phil Kotter (the Boston equivalent of Joe Scheidler) holding a huge "Excommunicate Kerry and Kennedy" sign and staring daggers at him.

[Aquinasfan]

Like it or not, such a statement would likely lead to the loss of tax-exempt status for the Church.

Probably. But the bishops could excommunicate pro-abortion politicians. And if that resulted in the loss of their tax-exempt status, too bad.

[Aquinasfan]

How many "Catholics" in Massachusetts do you think, now, have no problem voting for Kerry (or Kennedy, as they have always done) as a result of his lack of leadership?

Countless numbers. I live here. I see it. It's sickening. I'm very disappointed with the new bishop.

[livius]

Excellent article.

[johnb2004]

Any "catholic" who votes for Kerry is hardly faithful. The ab should do his job and preach the truth no matter the election outcome.

[johnb2004]

"George also failed to stop the pro-abortion candidate for the Democrat Party's Presidential nomination Al Sharpton from speaking under Archdiocesan auspices at St. Sabina's parish, where the Fr. Michael Pfleger serves as Pastor.

Many of the Chicago area priests hold membership in another Alinsky-inspired organization, Call to Action. It not only follows the organizational principles Alinsky developed but also embraces his revolutionary world view, taking the Democrat ideology of moral revisionism into the very heart of the Catholic Church."

I thought George had an "iron fist"? I know many still say that he can't act more forcefully with his priests because that would drive too many away from the Church.
Hard to believe.

[Gerish]

That's why I hope O'Malley does not imitate Burke in denying the Eucharist to Kerry before the election; he would likely cause Bush to lose lots of votes in a backlash.

I am assumming Bishop O'Malley is more interested in saving souls rather than votes. If Kerry had an ounce of decency (which I doubt he has), he would not receive the Eucharist knowing his supports the murder of unborn children.

[TradicalRC]

Funny how the loss of tax exempt status never seems to bother "Reverend" Jackson or "Reverend" Sharpton.

[TradicalRC]

Funny how John the Baptist didn't see calling out Herod the tetrarch as cheapening his mission. I thought that the mission was the salvation of souls. Calling leaders onto the carpet was part of the job with many of the prophets.

It is sad when the leaders of the church are more concerned with temporal status than eternal life.

[TradicalRC]

I forgot Deacon, you take the side of State over Church: small wonder that votes are more important to you than the Sacredness of the Holy Eucharist.

[ex-snook]

"I live here. I see it. It's sickening. I'm very disappointed with the new bishop. "

Tough words but one must consider that the Catholic Church has been traumatized into avoiding being branded political [or 'divisive'].

Hence the words 'Priests for Life' should be an oxymoron. Homilies never address shacking up or contraception because 'homilies are only address Bible readings' [but if the Priest can't source these marriage topics in the Bible readings, where do they come from?]

The sad thing is the Bishop needs to be the 'comeback kid'. The Church has lost the public when politicans find that being pro-abortion is very acceptable. One cannot blame politicians for reading the tea leaves. Even Bush has not succeeded in converting the mind and heart of Laura in his own household.

[Maximilian]

Perhaps those responsible for founding the CCHD were Alinskyites, but it's irresponsible to tar all or most bishops with this brush.

I disagree. It's not just the individual founders, but the goals and the entire purpose of the program which is Alinsky-ite. And the bishops continue to support and fund the organization, not just as 1 more among many others, but with its own special Sunday collection. The bishops must bear responsibility for the organizations they fund and support.

[Maximilian]

Cardinal Law did little if anything publicly to make Kerry and Kennedy uncomfortable.

This is an understatement. After the shooting at the Brookline clinic, didn't Law shut down all pro-life protests in the entire diocese? And wasn't he seen on TV flouncing around the Kennedys whenever another one of them died in some self-inflicted accident and needed a showy funeral?

[Aquinasfan]

The bishops must bear responsibility for the organizations they fund and support.

True. I'm open minded on the CCHD thing. Personally, I don't contribute to it.

[Domestic Church]

I think I read on FR that Alinsky was Hillary's focus on her senior thesis.

[Aquinasfan]

Excommunication is a specific canonical penalty. The Church would have to, canonically, state that voting for abortion-rights legislation carries the penalty of excommunication. This would have to come from the Pope.

A politician who publicly advocates legal abortion and refuses to change his position after correction from his bishop is a formal heretic. He is no longer a Catholic and therefore should be refused communion.