American Life League Prez Judie Brown on her new book 'Saving those Damned Catholics'

Life Site News ^ | 02.07.07

[Coleus]

WASHINGTON, DC, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - "Saving Those Damned Catholics" exposes the warts on the underbelly of the Catholic leadership in America today, and it is not a pretty picture. Too many among them are caught up in a twisted vision of what it takes to effectively lead Catholics. There is too much moral relativism and too little desire to say what is right, especially when doing so will bring down the wrath of the media and maybe even a few politicians."  So reads a teaser on the website which markets 'Saving those Damned Catholics' the new book by American Life League President Judie Brown.     LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Mrs. Brown about her new book while in Washington for the March for Life.

LifeSiteNews.com: What is the book about and what is the general idea?

Brown: The book is an expression of my concern, as a Catholic- that, after waiting for 30 some years for the Bishops to do something to end abortion - it has come to my attention that historically they will not do anything and millions of souls have been lost in the process - which is where the title came from.   Nobody knows how many people have gone to their uncomfortable reward because of the lack of the bishops to stand up and teach and preach the truth which is what they are called to do.  So, what I did is write a book based on case histories of people that I have encountered over the last 34 years and the various terrible experiences that they have had because of the lack of the bishops to teach and preach the truth.

LifeSiteNews.com: Do you actually name names in the book?

Brown: Oh yes, there are many names in the book.  Not in a disrespectful way.  Every single time a person's name is mentioned it is because there is a quote from that individual.  Sometimes I have used fictional examples and composites of various bishops and the things they have said.  But the point of the book is to teach people that yes, there is a problem but there is also a solution and by facing the fact that we have a problem, we can come up with a solution as Catholics and we can help our bishops to come up with a solution because they are not all bad guys - we have some very heroic bishops.

LifeSiteNews.com: Who are some of the more heroic bishops in your opinion?

Brown: Bishop Bruskewitz, Bishop Olmsted, Archbishop Burke, Archbishop Chaput to name just a few.  The recently retired Archbishop Donahue - there are some tremendous bishops.  Bishop Vasa in Oregon would be another one.  What we have to do is hold them up with prayer and encouragement and let the rest of these bishops know that we want them to do their job - that is not a disrespectful thing to ask them to do.   The book documents all the Catholic hospitals that provide rape treatment that is inappropriate according to Catholic teaching.  Catholic hospitals where there are people being killed by euthanasia.  There are just all kinds of problems and if we continue to ignore them - what is going to happen - they are going to get worse.

LifeSiteNews.com: Do you actually think that some of these bishops might come to a point where they would rather distance themselves from Rome rather than toe the true line on family and life issues?

Brown: Well, knowing that each and everyone of us is a human being, I am sure that in the minds of some of them, that has already happened - I honestly do.  In fact, in the book, a very dear friend of mine who is now dead, said to me one time that one of the most disappointing things in his whole life was realizing that some bishops that he knew personally did not even believe that Christ was truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.  That is the beginning of the end - if you don't even believe that, the most fundamental teaching of the Church, are you going to teach and preach any of the teachings of the Church?

LifeSiteNews.com: So, I guess you could say there is sort of a schism already.

Brown: See, the schism doesn't bother me - it's the loss of souls.  I tell people this and they say to me "you are so radical about Nancy Pelosi" - I am worried about her soul and that is where we have to go with this - there is an eternal price to be paid for denying the truth.  These bishops have to take that seriously and they have to do everything within their power to help people see the truth.  And if, at the end of the day, as it says in the Bible - if you tell the truth and the person to whom you have told the truth decides not to do anything about it anyway, God will not hold you accountable but if you fail to tell the truth - you will be held accountable - thus the name of the book.

[Coleus]

AN APPEAL FROM FAITHFUL CATHOLICS TO AMERICA’S BISHOPS (Catholic Caucus)

[Responsibility2nd]

"Damned Catholics?"

An Edwards supporter, no doubt.

[Buck W.]

With a forward by Amanda Marcotte?

[edcoil]

The church is more afraid of government and political correctness then God.

[Zeppelin]

An Edwards supporter, no doubt.

Had you read past the title, you would have realized that the title of the book comes from her quest to end abortion, or save the "damned" Catholics, the babies that are "damned" because many "Catholics" are pro-choice.

Brown: The book is an expression of my concern, as a Catholic- that, after waiting for 30 some years for the Bishops to do something to end abortion - it has come to my attention that historically they will not do anything and millions of souls have been lost in the process - which is where the title came from.

[Responsibility2nd]

Had you read past the title, you would have realized....

If I had read past the title, then how could I come up with a snappy (but irrelevant) response?

Busted again.

[firebrand]

The babies are not damned, but the people who kill them may be. And even more so, the people who led them astray--the bishops, Pelosi, any and all, in fact, who profess to be Catholic and are pro-death.

[Alex Murphy]

Wow. Just wow.

[NYer]

The book is an expression of my concern, as a Catholic- that, after waiting for 30 some years for the Bishops to do something to end abortion - it has come to my attention that historically they will not do anything and millions of souls have been lost in the process - which is where the title came from. 

And for those of us so quick to condemn them, here's a reminder of our obligation towards these bishops.

The Danger of Criticizing Bishops and Priests

Let's keep them in our prayers while working towards our own eternal salvation.

[Dajjal]

Judie Brown bump

What a courageous soul!!!

[Yankee Dutch]

Thank you for posting! She's right, brave, and faithful. As a practicing Catholic who wandered away from the Church for awhile, I expect her work will be very inspirational. It will be a must read for me this weekend!

[Notwithstanding]

Not quite - its the people who cause the abortions (moms, abortionists, counsellors, hospitals) and the priests and bishops and other Catholic leaders who don't speak the truth about abortion, ett., who are damned.

Judie Brown's title does NOT refer to the precious innocent babies who are slaightered in abortion centers every day.

[juliej]

I think Peter Vallone was forced to change churches in Astoria because of his pro abortion stance. However, I am sure that Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, et al., get up there to take communion and make sure that everybody sees them. I am not Catholic, but they make me sick. And let's not forget "devout" Gerry Ferraro who twists herself into a pretzel to defend abortion on demand.

[Ottofire]

Something I have mentioned many times only to be told things are going to change with this new Pope.

By their fruits you will know them. The RCC silence is a clarion blast that something is wrong with that church.

[trisham]

And for those of us so quick to condemn them, here's a reminder of our obligation towards these bishops. The Danger of Criticizing Bishops and Priests Let's keep them in our prayers while working towards our own eternal salvation.

*************

It's a hard message to hear, I think. I would guess it is particularly hard for those who have been fighting the good fight for years. Still, I believe you are doing a very good thing in reminding us that we owe all of our Bishops our prayers.

[trisham]

It's distressing.

[ArrogantBustard]

The pro-life movement, since its beginning, has been an almost exclusively Catholic movement. The more recent move of Jews, some Protestants, and even some atheists to join is welcome, of course ... but the silence, or even apostacy, of protestantism in general is "a clarion blast that something is wrong with that church."

[juliej]

My understanding is that many Evangelical Christians are pro life. It is the so called "main line" churches that are pro abortion - and they have really forgotten their roots. I have also read how the abortion rights movement in New York City managed to hijack certain churches to use them as referral centers when abortion was still illegal in that state.

[juliej]

I am not Catholic but it is disgraceful the way Ted Kennedy et al where their religion like a badge and then celebrate abortion on demand - including partial birth abortion.