FIRST THINGS: Obama and the Bishops

First Things ^ | November 11, 2008 | Magdalen

[HarryCrowel]

He’s not Obama he’s “The Creature” or “President Creature” after 1/20/09

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[Alex Murphy]

The Campaign for Human Development (CHD) is an annual collection in parishes, usually on one of the last two Sundays in November. It used to be called the Catholic Campaign for Human Development but the Catholic was dropped, which is just as well since it has nothing to do with Catholicism, except that Catholics are asked to pay for it....Ten years ago, CHD was exposed as using the Catholic Church as a milk cow to fund organizations that frequently were actively working against the Church’s mission, especially in their support of pro-abortion activities and politicians. Now it turns out that CHD has long been a major funder of ACORN....The bishops say they are investigating the connection between CHD and ACORN. They say they are worried that it might jeopardize the Church’s tax-exemption. No mention is made of abusing the trust of the Catholic faithful.

The Human Fund
"Money for People"

[stop_fascism]

Excommunicating Kmiec would be a fine start.

[NTHockey]

>>High on the agenda is how Catholic bishops can better communicate Catholic teaching on social justice both in the Church and in the public square.

How about this: “Abortion is murder? Don’t believe it; find another church.” OR “Pro-choice is a mortal sin.” OR “0bama’s lying, babies are dying.”

[HighlyOpinionated]

One can only pray and hope that the Bishops get the backbone of Pope Benedict XVI and speak out forcefully against the culture of death in the USofA.

“If we do not protect life, there is no reason to fight for any other cause.” Should be the motto of the Bishop’s Conference.

[boycott_msm]

At my Catholic church, during mass on the Sunday before the election, our priest was very clear and direct during his homily that the pro-life vote was the primary issue, and he received applause from the congregation when he concluded. I am greatly saddened that the majority of Catholic voters went for zero on November 4.
I am also despondent that God WILL damn America, just like the Reverend Wright has requested. We are losing “Life”, we are losing “Liberty” on a path to socialism, so we can all forget “the Pursuit of Happiness.”

[ArrogantBustard]

Excommunicating BIDEN would be a fine start.

[maryz]

Excellent piece — but then Neuhaus always is!

Thanks for posting!

[Dionysius]

Why doesn’t the Vatican simply excommunicate all the Cafeteria Catholics and the liberation theologists? We would be a smaller, but infinitely stronger faith. Those thrown out can create a new quasi-religious entity named the Charismatic Apostate Catholics of America, or CACA for short.

[Paved Paradise]

Personally, what I’d like to see done is that we find the names of ever single Congressman/woman and senator that purports to be a Christian, whether Catholic, Baptist, etc. and we WRITE THEM personally about the great conflict b/t what they supposedly believe and what they actually do.

I think if enough of us did that, we might make some impact. Only God really knows. The important thing, however, would be that the letters can’t be stuff like “you’re going to hell.” I never understood it when people do stuff like that (even when it is likely true). It’s like those old Chick tracts - just too strident for my tastes.

[Paved Paradise]

Because they’d have to excommunicate a lot of their own priests (sorry to say) like the guy that kept telling my mother-in-law that Satan was a story and a fantasy.

[The_Reader_David]

Excommunicating any politician who votes for a measure that funds, protects, or encourages abortion or the destruction of human embryos for research or on the basis of applying a notion of ‘property rights’ to them would be a splendid start.

If that doesn’t make it clear, excommunicate any politician who votes against measures to prohibit or restrict abortion or destructive research on human embryos.

Deposing any clergy who make ‘pro-choice’ statements after being warned by their bishop, and anathematizing them if the continue to make statements purporting to speak for the Latin church after their deposition would also make the message clear.

Us Orthodox need to do the same.

[Dionysius]

I expect that they would be the first ones defrocked and sent packing.

[ArrogantBustard]

Needs to be repeated, week in and week out. I know that canonically, the homily must be related to the readings of the day ... but there’s absolutely no reason not to tie those readings somehow into opposing the abortion holocaust.

[topcat54]

One can only pray and hope that the Bishops get the backbone of Pope Benedict XVI and speak out forcefully against the culture of death in the USofA.

Too bad the pope cannot do more with his backbone. He sits in Peter's chair. He hired them, why can't he fire them? You need Donald Trump as pope.

[NYer]

In the last four decades, following the pattern of American Protestantism, many, perhaps most, Catholics view the Church in terms of consumption rather than obligation. The Church is there to supply their spiritual needs as they define those needs, not to tell them what to believe or do.

This is relativism - essentially, to their way of thinking, all things are relative. This results from a constant diet of msm. It parallels the mindset of "I am not a sinner. I have not murdered anyone."

The Holy Father addressed this beginning with his homily at the pre-conclave Mass before he was chosen pontiff. On his trips, he continues the mantra to bishops and congregants alike. But, just as they do with their faith, they 'pick anc choose' what to hear and what to screen out.

I don't know that the bishops can resolve this problem at this meeting but it should be made a permanent aspect of discussion at all future meetings until they can formulate a plan of attack. Ultimately, the biggest challenge is not so much the pew Catholics but the ones who are lapsed but still consider themselves Catholics. How to reach them!

[stop_fascism]

I won’t argue, but I think people who pretend to be Catholic are less harmful than those who deliberately distort Catholic teaching for personal gain.

[AnAmericanMother]

Church isn't a corporation, Pope isn't a CEO.

Somebody or other had a great article on why the Pope can't "just fire those bishops". I'll look for it.