Posted on 04/29/2009 9:14:49 AM PDT by NYer
.- After the U.S. Senate voted 65-31 to confirm Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic who strongly supports legal abortion, as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, pro-Obama and pro-life Catholics collided over the consequences of the appointment. Pro-lifers are promising to battle against the pro-abortion Dawn Johnsen, who awaits confirmation for the Office of Legal Counsel.
“Catholics United,” a group that has so far justified all of President Obama’s pro-abortion decisions, issued a statement congratulating Sebelius and applauding the U.S. Senate “for today's decisive action.”
Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen, who created a website to support Sebelius’ confirmation stated that, “we look forward to Secretary Sebelius' work in implementing President Obama's plans for universal health care, abortion reduction, and improved assistance for America's struggling families.”
“Catholics of all political backgrounds have cause to welcome the values of mercy and compassion that Secretary Sebelius' faith will bring to this important position,” the statement adds.
Catholics United called for “Secretary Sebelius' opponents – particularly those in the Catholic community – to accept the Senate's decision and join her in working toward common good-oriented public policy that will benefit human life at all stages.”
But Deal Hudson, founder of “Catholic Advocate,” who created the site Catholicsagainstsebelius.org, told CNA that “the Senate confirmation of Governor Sebelius as secretary of HHS is a clear and present danger to the culture of life in our nation.”
“Sebelius, in spite of professing a Catholic faith, has been a consistent supporter of abortion and abortionists. However, she serves in an administration committed to ‘abortion reduction,’ a position reiterated to Cardinal George by the president in a private meeting a few weeks ago.” According to Hudson, “when Cardinal George told President Obama he has done nothing but send the ‘wrong signals,’ the president said to Cardinal George, ‘be patient and you will see a pattern of change.’”
“Perhaps the president will charge Secretary Sebelius with initiating this ‘change,’ and, if so, I am sure Catholics will support her and the president in reversing the pro-abortion decisions of the first 100 days of the Obama presidency,” Hudson said.
Meanwhile, the president of the pro-life organization “Susan B. Anthony List,” Marjorie Dannenfelser said that “despite the results of tonight's vote, we're finding that more and more Americans are waking up to the danger of President Obama's nominations of extreme abortion advocates to serve in his administration.”
According to Dannenfelser, the high profile Sebelius confirmation battle has generated new interest and brought thousands of new activists on board for the pro-life cause.
“This grassroots energy,” she said, “will only increase our momentum as we confront the next round of President Obama's extreme pro-abortion nominees, beginning with former NARAL Legal Director Dawn Johnsen.”
“We expect all pro-life Senators will oppose Dawn Johnsen's nomination for Office of Legal Counsel, and their support will be critical to keeping her extreme abortion views out of the White House.”
Susan B. Anthony List activists have generated over 60,000 letters of opposition to Senators regarding the Sebelius nomination. Already over 37,000 letters have been sent in opposition to the Johnsen nomination.
While Johnsen served as Legal Director for NARAL, she authored numerous legal opinions rejecting any and all restrictions on abortion. Some notable quotes from Johnsen's amicus curiae brief in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services include:
“Abortion restrictions reduce pregnant women to no more than fetal containers.”
“The argument that women who become pregnant have in some sense consented to the pregnancy belies reality...and others who are the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery no more 'consent' to pregnancy than pedestrians 'consent' to being struck by drunk drivers.”
Johnsen awaits a floor vote by the full U.S. Senate to gain confirmation to head the Office of Legal Counsel.
I would think a more effective battle would to fight against the Senators who voted to confirm such people instead of trying to persuade them to not vote for confirmation.
I suggest that all these “Catholics,” whose own reasoned, moral judgements have led them to believe that abortion is OK-if-it-works-for-you, find another religion
I hear the Wiccans and Pagans are looking for people.....
“Excuse me, but there is no such thing as a Pro-Obama Catholic. They are mutually exclusive terms.”
Absolutely spot-on right.
A sage person once told me “you are Catholic or your not.”
Obummer and his flunkies are genocidal baby killers.
“Obummer and his flunkies are genocidal baby killers.”
They sure are. That fact was made painfully obvious to anyone who cared BEFORE the election.
No one ever calls these people for the obvious contradiction of the premise that there is nothing morally wrong about abortion yet we should work to reduce the number of them.
Obama’s policies will not reduce abortion. In fact, they are likely to go up world wide with the availability of US funding. But, as with all things Obama, this will be covered up, spun as a positive or blamed on Bush.
Yeah, I put the responsibility for the election of this pro-infantacide president firmly on the laps of so-called Catholics and other Christians.
“.....Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic who strongly supports legal abortion....”
An oxymoron if I ever saw one.
I would think a pro lifer voting for Obama should have known better. They got what they voted for.
One thing that always stuck with me through my CCD teachings was that Catholics are all united by common doctrine. When other faiths question Catholics about the tenets of their faith, Catholics can answer assuredly since their doctrine has been relatively unchanged for 2000 years. Ask a Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. what the tenets of their religion mean or from when they’re based, and you’ll likely get an answer after 1050 AD that’s a little fuzzy around the edges. Thank King Henry VIII for his transgressions.
No proper Catholic would EVER associate with or support a pro-choice candidate for public office. This whole thing smells like the bad meat I almost cooked for dinner last night.
Pro-Life and Pro-Obama?
Sebelius is the last thing these idiots should worry about.
They made their bed.
Amen Brother.
“Catholics” who let their liberal emotions misdirect their vote toward Obama are flat out weak liars. They can now watch Obama and his jackboots kill babies while their shame deepens. Catholics, DO NOT SAY you weren’t warned, it was common knowledge that he would ratchet up the abortion mill. He promised he would, many times in the campaign. Now, you are automatically complicit in the murders. How’s THAT feel?
My advice, leave the Church, we’re better off without you. Like the GOP is starting to cleans itself.... so too must the Roman Catholic Church. Cafeteria Catholics: go join any number of lesser Protestant faiths, where you can enjoy gay marriage and abortion on demand. You will not be missed.
What difference is there between terrorism and abortion?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.