Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life by Charles J. Chaput
Posted on 01/22/2009 4:15:12 PM PST by NYer
DENVER, Colorado, JAN. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Charles Chaput exhorted Catholics across the United States to "let your voice supporting life be heard," in the ear of the new political administration.
The archbishop of Denver asserted this in an article published Wednesday in the Denver Catholic Register.
He began by affirming the obligation of Christians to "love their country, build on its greatest qualities and serve its best ideals."
The prelate spoke about the duty to pray for our leaders and obey the law, "insofar as the law does not violate human dignity in some systematic, gravely evil way."
He added, "When bad laws and court decisions cripple the soul of a society, Christians must work to change them as a matter both of justice and charity. Otherwise we risk colluding in the evil of their outcome.
"Obviously with families to raise, jobs to pursue and lives to live, not all Christians can be engaged in the many important issues facing our country. But we can always at least serve the truth by not lying to ourselves and to each other."
Obama
Archbishop Chaput referred to the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday, noting that "he was elected on a message of national renewal, unity and hope."
He continued: "These are worthy goals, and we should wholeheartedly support his administration in all these things. His inauguration marks a tremendous victory for racial justice in our country [...].
"Barack Obama's rise to the presidency reminds us that among the family of nations, the United States remains very unusual: It is still a place where people can succeed on their ability; where politics can actually matter; and where evil structures and laws can be changed by sustained, peaceful witness."
36 years ago
The archbishop turned his focus to today's anniversary of "one of the most destructive Supreme Court decisions in American history, Roe vs. Wade."
"By legalizing permissive abortion and drastically limiting voters' ability to restrict it in any way," he explained, "Roe set the foundations for an abortion industry that has wounded countless women and resulted in the killing of more than 40 million unborn children."
The prelate pointed out that "President Obama's past record of support for abortion 'rights,' embryonic stem cell research and other violations of human dignity is deeply troubling, and also deeply ironic, given his sensitivity to other human rights."
He underlined the fact that "before and during the recent election, then-Senator Obama pledged his support for a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) that would strike down all state restrictions on abortion and sweep away the many modest but important gains made by the pro-life movement over the past three decades."
The archbishop acknowledged that the president's Catholic supporters "claim that a pro-FOCA effort is unlikely in the coming congressional session, and that the Obama administration may take a go-slow approach to the abortion issue."
He asserted: "We can hope this is true. But of course, the form and timing of FOCA-like efforts are irrelevant.
"It's the political intent behind them that matters. We have to work with what we know to be true by the president's own words.
"The Obama administration was elected on the economy, but along with President Obama's economic mandate comes his forcefully abortion 'rights' public record and party platform. Nothing in the president's words or actions has suggested a change in his fundamental goals."
Speaking up
Archbishop Chaput explained that Catholics in the United States, including those in the Archdiocese of Denver, will have the chance "to sign a petition to our elected officials opposing FOCA and asking them to respect the dignity of unborn human life."
He underlined that: "Whether FOCA actually materializes in the coming session of Congress is not finally important; the message we send is.
"In fact, with the current Congress and administration, the abortion lobby could accomplish its destructive agenda quite easily by incremental legislative and executive steps that would have a much lower profile than a 'Freedom of Choice Act,' but the same bloody effect."
"We're in a new moment for our country," said the prelate, "a moment that offers great promise, but also requires great vigilance and sustained action to defend the dignity of human life at its earliest and most vulnerable stage."
He exhorted his readers: "When you're asked to sign the U.S. bishops' petition opposing FOCA in your parish, please sign it enthusiastically and encourage others to do the same.
"This is an issue -- protecting unborn human life -- that transcends party affiliation and needs all of us as believers to speak clearly with one voice."
| Over 100 Bishops Have Spoken Out on Priority of Life Issues Posted on October 28, 2008, 11:59 AM | Deal W. Hudson |
Do not use potty language - or references to potty language - on the Religion Forum.
Well, the message isn’t getting through. How’s that working out?
When they get results then you can talk. For forty years they’ve had a muddled message (remember the “seamless garment”? and now they won’t publicly excommunicate the politicians who facilitate the murder of the unborn.
I see Rigali is chair of the Pro-life committee. I’m thinking that gets him photo ops with pro-life pols in PA, like Casey, just as he had with pro-life pols in MO, like Gephardt.>s
You see the dark cloud. I see the silver lining.
If it had been 43% of voters, nothing would be said. Now they are waking up.
Which other organized religion is being this vocal. Hard pressed to find any.
Other than helping prepare a speech that was given in front of several Bishops at a private audience this morning on this very subject...not much.
“Wow, 38 million dead babies and they are going to sign a petition”
More paper. I thought that’s what you were complaining about.
Sorry but I see a bunch off fools to busy to reasearch candidate(s) and see if they compatible with their believes. With 0 it would of taken one minute. Pro-choice or Pro-life? Easy
In frustration, it is easy to swing at the closest object but that will accomplish nothing. How many Jews voted for Obama? How many Evangelicals? What percentage of the US population voted for him? Ad freeper netmilsmom commented, it is the Catholic hierarchy that are holding Obama responsible for his actions, beginning with the pope.
Here is 75% of the Jewish vote.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2169768/posts
And my question still stands. Which other churches are at least speaking out about this?
I truly believe that the Bishops were blindsided by the Catholic vote. Some of them have absolutely NO clue of what is going on in these parishes. Their eyes have been opened. Who was the Bishop that came into the meeting and freaked about the justification of voting for Obama?
The problem is that when a parish is quiet, no one looks at them. Yet, the quiet ones are the dangerous ones. These Bishops didn’t have kids. We moms know that quiet is not good. Now they see that the quiet ones are the most dangerous.
Don’t get me going on the liberal Jewish thing...
I probably shouldn’t post this, and I’m probably all wrong, but I have to wonder if the first place we have to start is by reforming from within first. My parish, like many others I’m sure is choca block full of cafeteria types who voted for Obama and having to attend services and watch them receive the sacraments each Sunday is simply painful. Someday, somewhere, the body of Christ is going to have to draw a line in the sand or our light will waiver and ultimately blink out altogether a la the Episcopalians. I don’t think this thing was supposed to be all about “Universal” inclusion.
If we can pare out the tumour from within the body then we can begin the necessary process of consolidation and a re-ordering of our own Catholic society in response to the convulsions of evil from the greater society, but I think that in order to effectuate any meaningful change we’ve got to, as a culture, begin to carve ourselves out of the society as a whole. We don’t wield any meaningful clout except economic clout, but I’m thinking we weild that best to the extent that we’re as independent of the greater evil as possible.
THE BODY COUNT FOR SURGICAL ABORTION ALONE IS OVER 50,000,000 .... AND CALIFORNIA DOESN’T EVEN REPORT THIS VITAL STATISTIC.
IT WAS REPORTED ON EWTN’S COVERAGE OF THE MARCH FOR LIFE THAT 60% OF ABORTIONS ARE REPEATS.
JUST IMAGINE WHAT THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE LIKE IF THESE AMERICANS HAD BEEN BORN? WE HAVE CHOSEN TO KILL OFF 50 MILLION PRODUCERES, CONSUMERS AND TAX PAYERS AND THEIR FUTURE CHILDREN!!
“A NATION THAT KILLS ITS CHILDREN IS A NATION WITHOUT HOPE.”
JOHN PAUL II
I can't change the world but I can do my best to set my kids on the right path. In my mind the right path is traditional Roman Catholicism. I know it was not taught in my cathechism and I do not believe it is being taught today. Nonetheless, I shall do what I can to pass it along to another generation.
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