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Cardinal: Pro-choice supporters worshipping false idols
Lincoln Journal Star ^ | 10/20/07 | Bob Reeves

Posted on 10/21/2007 11:14:11 AM PDT by wagglebee

People who support abortion, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research are worshipping “modern-day false idols,” Cardinal Justin Rigali said in Lincoln Saturday.

“(They are) putting their faith in human ingenuity and technology,” rather than following God and moral principles, he told about 350 people attending the annual Nebraska pro-life convention.

Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia and chairman of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops Committee for Pro-Life Activities, was keynote speaker at the convention, which focused on the theme, “Rebuilding the Culture of Life.”

In his address and an interview with news media, the cardinal spoke extensively about misleading claims of proponents of embryonic stem cell research. Those who want to eliminate restrictions on the research talk about its potential to save lives, he said.

“The truth is that embryonic stem cell research to date has not produced one cure. This is not faith, this is science.”

Meanwhile, he said, supporters of embryonic research downplay the continual advancements in the use of adult stem cells and stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas rather than embryos.

Opposition to embryonic research is not a religious position, but a moral stance based on scientific facts, Rigali said.

“Science tells us that the child in the womb is already formed,” he said.

Even an embryo has the full complement of DNA that make a human being, he noted.

He also talked about the incorrect concept of freedom espoused by those who support abortion choice.

“Freedom of choice is invoked against the freedom of someone to be born,” he said in the interview. “The most basic freedom is the freedom to exist, to live.”

That freedom, Rigali said, is denied when an unborn child in aborted.

“The cause of life cannot be served by destroying life,” he said in his speech.

Abortion is still a huge problem — more than 1.2 million abortions were performed last year in the United States alone — but statistics also show that both the number and rate of abortions is declining, he said. Public support for legalized abortion is at an all-time low, with 44 percent of Americans saying they would support a ban on all abortions except to save the life of the mother, he said.

He also talked about what happened in June when the Philadelphia City Council voted 9-8 for a resolution naming Philadelphia as a “pro-choice city.” Rigali said the resolution was promoted by Planned Parenthood but did not reflect the feelings of most citizens.

He immediately issued a statement opposing the resolution, and recorded his message on video for play on YouTube and other Internet sites. A groundswell of protest ensued, and the council voted 13-4 the following week to rescind the resolution.

“The City Council had mistaken evil for good, a modern-day form of idolatry,” Rigali said.

Greg Schleppenbach, Nebraska director of the Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, said Rigali’s appearance marked the first time since 1990 that a cardinal addressed the convention. Cardinal John O’Connor of New York spoke at the convention in 1990, he said.

The purpose of the convention is to “not only to focus on what we call the culture of death, but also on the roots of it — the sociological roots in our culture,” he said.

A major focus of Nebraska’s pro-life efforts is on giving young people a positive pro-life message “as part of our overall program to try to change the culture,” he said.

A series of pro-life advertisements produced by Virtue Media are scheduled to begin running on Nebraska television stations beginning in late December or January, Schleppenbach said. To see the ads in advance, visit www.virtuemedia.com.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; euthanasia; moralabsolutes; prolife
“Freedom of choice is invoked against the freedom of someone to be born,” he said in the interview. “The most basic freedom is the freedom to exist, to live.”

That freedom, Rigali said, is denied when an unborn child in aborted.

“The cause of life cannot be served by destroying life,” he said in his speech.

Amen!

1 posted on 10/21/2007 11:14:12 AM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser

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2 posted on 10/21/2007 11:14:42 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 230FMJ; 49th; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; An American In Dairyland; ..
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

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3 posted on 10/21/2007 11:15:34 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: NYer; Coleus; narses; Salvation; Pyro7480

Catholic Ping


4 posted on 10/21/2007 11:16:28 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

Cardinal Rigali is good at making speeches.


5 posted on 10/21/2007 11:31:40 AM PDT by steve8714
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To: wagglebee
Why doesn’t he call this deathstyle cult, murders of unborn babies, instead of pro-choice?
6 posted on 10/21/2007 11:35:32 AM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto)
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To: wagglebee

Thanks. Vote for life. America’s future depends on you.


7 posted on 10/21/2007 11:37:03 AM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: wagglebee

Good analogy, and one I haven’t thought of before.

Might have to pass this along to other pro life groups I give to (while attributing it to the good Cardinal).


8 posted on 10/21/2007 11:39:24 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: wagglebee

They also worship the god of hedonism.


9 posted on 10/21/2007 11:42:42 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
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To: wagglebee

Three cheers for the Cardinal!


10 posted on 10/21/2007 11:57:21 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: wagglebee; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
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11 posted on 10/21/2007 2:21:32 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: steve8714

Your post says it all.


12 posted on 10/21/2007 11:48:33 PM PDT by Robert Drobot (Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.)
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To: wagglebee
Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm


13 posted on 10/22/2007 2:31:31 AM PDT by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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To: Robert Drobot; steve8714
Cardinal Rigali is good at making speeches.

Your post says it all.

Yup.

14 posted on 10/22/2007 8:05:47 AM PDT by old and tired
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Because then he wouldn’t be invited to Rendell’s prayer breakfasts.
The good prelate never met a photo op he didn’t like.


15 posted on 10/22/2007 2:24:46 PM PDT by steve8714
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To: wagglebee

Maybe Philadelphia and Lincoln could trade bishops for a year or two.


16 posted on 10/22/2007 3:40:57 PM PDT by iowamark (FDT: Some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them.)
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To: wagglebee

Justin Cardinal Rigali has the answers!


17 posted on 10/22/2007 4:11:05 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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