Posted on 09/23/2009 5:22:23 PM PDT by NYer
September 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a recent interview with CNSNews.com, Cardinal Roger Mahoney declined to answer a question about whether or not he agreed with Cardinal Justin Rigali that the Obama health care bill should include language explicitly excluding any public funding of abortion. "This is way beyond my field," the cardinal responded.
"My field is immigration," said Mahoney, who is the archbishop of Los Angeles. "I really haven't kept up on that, and I spend all my time on this other. You have to get somebody who spends time on that."
When asked whether he believed abortion should be funded under the health care bill, Cardinal Mahony said: "No, but that's what the president said, too, so."
Cardinal Rigali, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' pro-life committee, has spoken out against Obama's healthcare plan as currently formulated, due to the fact that it would use taxpayer money to pay for abortions.
In a letter to legislators on behalf of the U.S. Catholic bishops, Rigali wrote that, under the plan, "federal taxpayer funds will subsidize the operating budget and provider networks that expand access to abortions. Furthermore, those constrained by economic necessity or other factors to purchase the 'public plan' will be forced by the federal government to pay directly and specifically for abortion coverage."
The President and the White House have consistently denied that the health care reform would include funding for abortion. In a recent address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama said: "One more misunderstanding I want to clear up - under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place."
However, this claim has been dismissed by pro-life leaders and legal analysts as little less than a fabrication. The Associated Press, as well as the non-partisan FactCheck.org have both confirmed that the healthcare plan would indeed funnel public money to abortion.
In response to concerns about the Obama healthcare bill and its effects on the right to life, the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) on Monday issued a letter expressing its formal opposition to the legislation. "We must ensure that well-intentioned efforts to bring about 'change' are not exploited to create a federally controlled system that promises health care for all, but creates an oppressive bureaucracy hostile to human life and to the integrity of the patient physician relationship," wrote the Catholic organization.
According to a list compiled by Catholic blogger Thomas Peters of AmericanPapist.com, so far over 40 U.S. Catholic bishops have explicitly spoken out against Obama's healthcare reform for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which is the funding of the killing of unborn children with public money.
I think the Holy Father should be knocking heads.
It's just maddening that we as a lay people try so hard to do what is right in obedience, and yet some of those in authority don't seem to care anything in regards to bedience to God or the church.
I suppose that is the crux of the liberal philosophy. They answer only to themselves.
They create scandal within the church.
I am glad the Pope Benedict is there. Perhaps in time...
Blessings to you. (Are you familiar with Father Corappi?)
LOL, my prist knew I was going to DC on the 12. His comment to me when he saw me on Sunday was,”I see you were not arrested” and he grinned at me.
Kafka
Because they are corrupt and their souls are corrupt.
For a man of the cloth to not even comment against the evils of abortion, and simply shrug off the issue as something totally unrelated to the most fundamental Christian tenets - the killing of the unborn - is despicable.
When asked whether he believed abortion should be funded under the health care bill, Cardinal Mahony said: "No, but that's what the president said, too, so."
So you don't care! People like him are an embarrassment to the Catholic Church.
I pray that Mahoney is forced to retire early. This is outrageous.
Translation: He doesn’t want to disrupt the flow of Democratic administration government dollars flowing to his church by speaking out against abortion.
I know I’m supposed to pray that God lead all souls to Heaven (lead, not drive, this ain’t universalism), but if God ever did empty Hell, the Most Irrev. Mahony will be the one to turn out the lights as they leave.
Be honest. Isn’t it demoralizing when you read about Cardinal Mahoney’s nonsense?
I’m Catholic in many ways in my heart, but......
regards
“He doesn’t want to disrupt the flow of Democratic administration government dollars flowing to his church”
++++++++++
Also, I think he thinks it’s cool to hang with Hollywood people, who sometimes make big donations. He can’t bring up that pesky sin and death stuff with them. It would be awkward.
BTW, my friend at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center says it is widely thought there that when he hits retirement age, his resignation will be immediately accepted.
My friends and I call him Cardinal Baloney. He’s full of it.
And you should see the huge Christmas tree they put up in the courtyard of the “cathedral” at Christmas. You can see it from the freeway because it’s so large. The balls on it are color coordinated and there isn’t one thing religious about the display.
I'm speechless, too, NYer. Sounds a lot like, "Beyond my pay grade..."
Ping
Beyond his pay grade, my dupa.
Bull Crap
He must be committed to “the dream” that EMK always talked about.
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.