Posted on 10/27/2006 1:24:49 PM PDT by NYer
An organization of Catholic nuns whose leadership includes four Colorado women is urging Catholic voters to challenge church teachings against abortion and gay marriage while weighing a broad range of social issues on Election Day.
In an "open letter to Catholic voters," the National Coalition of American Nuns provides an alternative to the church hierarchy's voter education efforts in Colorado and nationwide, said Sister Mary Ann Cunningham of Denver, a board member.
Opposing war and treating immigrants with compassion are included in a list of seven issues outlined by the group. Mary Ann Coyle and Anna Koop of Denver and Sallie Ann Watkins of Pueblo are the other Colorado nuns on the board.
The letter also states, "We encourage respect for the moral adulthood of women and will choose legislators who will recognize the right of women to make reproductive decisions and receive medical treatment according to the rights of privacy and conscience."
Cunningham said many Catholics disagree with the church's opposition to legalized abortion for "compassionate, faithful reasons."
Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput has urged Catholics to "act Catholic" when they vote or run for office and called opposition to abortion "foundational."
"We're supposed to vote as our conscience tells us, not as the archbishop's conscience tells him," said Cunningham, a member of the Sisters of Loretto. "I have great respect for the archbishop, but I think that's kind of treating us like children."
Jeanette DeMelo, spokeswoman for the Denver Archdiocese, said Chaput has highlighted a broad range of issues, all grounded in Catholic teaching.
"Archbishop Charles Chaput is not teaching his personal opinion," she said. "This is the church's teaching, and it is the responsibility of a Catholic to vote their conscience, but their rightly formed conscience, their educated conscience."
The nuns' letter also says citizens "in committed relationships - whether marriages or civil unions" - should have adoption, inheritance and other rights.
Colorado's Catholic bishops oppose a measure on the November ballot that would grant domestic-partnership benefits to same-sex couples, and they support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
"I do value the voice of the church hierarchy," Cunningham said. "But I don't find anything in the Gospels about abortion or gay marriage."
"I do value the voice of the church hierarchy," Cunningham said. "But I don't find anything in the Gospels about abortion or gay marriage."
Just like every other C.I.N.O.!!
It is enough to expose them --- by quoting their own words --- as purveyors of injustice and violence, religious charlatans, and frauds.
FYI ladies:Abortion
God's Terms for the Unborn
Gen. 25:21,22
In Genesis 25:21,22, Rebekah conceived twins, and "the children struggled together within her." That which was conceived was called a "child" between the conception and the birth.
The Hebrew word used here (BEN) is the most common Old Testament word for a child or son. When used for the physical offspring of humans, it consistently refers to distinct human individuals (see Gen. 25:1-4; 3:16; etc.).
Job 3:3
On the very night of Job's conception it could have been said, "There is a man-child conceived." The word for "man-child" (Heb. GEBER) elsewhere means "man," i.e., a human individual (see Job 3:23; 4:17; 10:5; Psalms 127:5; 128:4; etc.).
Job 3:16
Babies that die before birth are called "infants" that never saw light. This is exactly like babies that are aborted. This word (Heb. OLEL) always and without exception refers to human individuals (cf. Hosea 13:16; Psalm 8:2; Joel 2:16).
Numbers 12:12; Luke 1:43
In Numbers 12:12, Moses describes "one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb." If a baby dies before it is born -- as in an abortion -- the woman who conceived it is still a "mother."
In Luke 1:43, Elizabeth addressed Mary as "the mother of my Lord" before Jesus was born.
The word "mother" (Heb. EM; Greek METER), in contexts referring to physical human reproduction, always refers to one who has procreated or formed another human individual, a separate and distinct individual from the mother herself (see Num. 6:7; Gen. 3:20; Luke 1:60). A woman who has conceived, even if the child is not yet born and even if it dies before birth, is a "mother."
Luke 1:41,44
Elizabeth conceived (v. 24), and the life "in her womb" is called a "babe" or "baby" (Greek BREPHOS). This is the second-most-common New Testament word for a baby. It is always used for that which is a human individual separate and distinct from its mother (see Luke 2:12,16; Acts
7:19.)
Luke 1:36
Again, the life conceived in Elizabeth's womb, before it was born, is called "a son." The word "son" (Greek HUIOS), in contexts that refer to the physical offspring of humans, always refers to that which is a human individual separate and distinct as an individual from its parents. It is the most common New Testament word for a "son" (see Matt. 1:21,23,25; Luke 1:13,31; 2:7; etc.)
"What does the Bible say about gay marriage / same sex marriage?"
Answer: Before we look at gay marriage / same sex marriage, first we have to remember what the Bible says about homosexuality. The Bible clearly and consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27), and ultimately because of his or her own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person choosing to sin by giving into their sinful desires. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger / rage, does that make it right for them to give into those desires? Of course not! The same is true for homosexuality.
We also have to remember that homosexuality is just as forgivable a sin as all other sins. God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God’s love and desire to save extends to homosexuals (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
To give sanction to homosexual marriage would be to give approval to that lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. I believe that Christians should stand firmly against the idea of gay marriage / same sex marriage. Marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Homosexual marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to the God who created marriage. God forbids and condemns homosexuality, so He clearly is opposed to homosexual marriage. As Christians, we are to seek to share the love of God and salvation through Christ with homosexuals. We are to be loving and kind to homosexuals, while at the same time not condoning their sinful lifestyle.
http://www.gotquestions.org/gay-marriage.html
*And we is happy.
*And we is happy.
I don't think it is an insult to call them bitter, they obviously are.
I, as a Catholic woman, have found myself totally liberated in my faith and rejoice that I have daughters who will be raised with the freedom and dignity that the Catholic tradition has always granted women.
I, one day, will be grayhaired. Judging from past pregnancys, I'll be dumpy before then. But I won't be bitter.
I didn't see Janet Reno in the picture.
Wow..how incredibly blind to the truth.
And on the relationship of the Church (people of God) to the Gospels... The Sister should know very well that 1) the Church came before the Gospels, and 2) was founded on Peter
We should pray for the Holy Spirit to whisper into her ear.
Somebody ought to write Eric whatzizname and let him know his cover has been blown.
###"We're supposed to vote as our conscience tells us, not as the archbishop's conscience tells him,"###
Yes! Well developed consciences?
"Conscience is a student, not a teacher." Pope John XXIII
And you did! Thank you!
Just down the road is the Provincial House of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. One of my high school classmates joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood (LI). She is now Principal of my former high school. The Sisters of St. Joseph are right up there with this Loretto Order. They have abandoned their habits and adopted ecological and social justice issues.
3 years ago, the Srs. of St. Joseph down the road, offered lenten reflections to parishioners in the local RC community. I will never forget reading in my parish bulletin, that their reflection for Good Friday was based on a seed emerging from the earth.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that these surrealistic religious orders are dieing. There is no lure to religious discipline, nor anything to distinguish them from the common man .... er, woman. They have lost their way and we should pray that they will rediscover the path before it is too late.
It can be difficult for a bishop to discipline a religious community, but this is a direct challenge to his authority that cannot simply be ignored.
Bishop Chaput is not the kind who will ignore it, either. I think they are going to pay a price for this blind hubris.
Please Sister, explain to me what is compassionate and faithful about murdering unborn children?
I smell sulfur, womyn.
"I do value the voice of the church hierarchy," Cunningham said. "But I don't find anything in the Gospels about abortion or gay marriage."
Just like every other C.I.N.O.!!
Yeah, doesn't it bug you that they throw up that bible argument? See now, where do we debate that endlessly? Even the good protestants here understand that Catholic teaching doesn't rely only on the holy written Word. Sheesh. And well, it does too mention those things. Sight has been taken away from these sisters. Their souls are in great danger and need our prayers
The women in that picture are nuns? Looks like a highschool reunion photo or something. They aren't nuns just bitter women. I so prefer habits. They make "gray-haired, dumpy" women look beautiful! :o)
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