Posted on 12/03/2009 5:58:04 AM PST by marshmallow
The health-care debate has provided its share of teachable moments. The one at hand has little to do with health care.
The catalyst, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, supports government-guaranteed health care. However, its support hinges on an amendment barring government funding of abortions.
The bishops' stance infuriated Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D., R.I.). "You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people lifesaving health care? I thought they were pro-life," he told the Catholic News Service.
Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, R.I., pointed out that the bishops do support lifesaving health care for all - including the unborn. Kennedy countered that his support for legal abortion doesn't make him "any less of a Catholic," because the Catholic faith "acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity."
Tobin realized that Kennedy was no longer arguing about health policy, but rather about what it means to be Catholic. Unlike some bishops, this protégé of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua did not let Kennedy's distortion go unchallenged.
"If you don't accept the teachings of the church, your communion with the church is flawed," he wrote in an open letter to Kennedy last month, "or, in your own words, makes you 'less of a Catholic.' "
Tobin then turned to the real issue: What makes one a Catholic? Baptism? Family? Culture?
More than that, Tobin said. Being a Catholic "means that you believe and accept the teachings of the church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the church personally, publicly, spiritually, and financially."
Simply put, the church has membership requirements. Kennedy is free to reject them. What he is not free to do is............
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
This is the issue of today, not only for Kennedy but also for numerous other "Catholics" including members of the laity and also some priests and loony nuns.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-MEN!!!!!!!!!!
this protégé of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua
Had some issues with Cardinal Bevilacqua when he was stationed in Western, PA. Had been using some direct word-for-word quotes from Karl Marx to support Church social teachings.
An excellent summary of the issue.
Related threads:
More Quote Malpractice...(Fraud! Journalistic Skulduggery Exposed re Bishops and Health Reform Bill)
Will The USCCB Barter the Catholic Catechism with Politicians?
Catholic Bishops: Health Care Bill ... Money-Laundering System for Funding Abortion
Caos Catholic conscience
Denver bishop: Catholics must demand delivery from Obama on health care promises
Schizophrenic Health Care Policy [the right hand of the USCCB works cross purposes to its left hand]
BREAKING: Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills Or Else
US Church leaders urge Catholics to engage in health care debate
Obama Adviser Hopes Catholic Bishops Will Find A Way to Support Health Care Reform Legislation
Bishop Tobin Publicly Calls Rep. Kennedy to Conversion and Repentance
Catholic Publisher Apologizes after Distributing Prayer Praising Kennedy
Year of Catholic Political Success Continues With Election Day
Recorded Calls to Voters From Brooklyn Bishop Praise a Democratic Leader
Africa bishops speak of Obama in religious terms
Catholic Healthcare West Responds to President Barack Obama`s Health Care Reform Speech
Obama Adviser Hopes Catholic Bishops Will Find A Way to Support Health Care Reform Legislation
Cardinal Lashes out at Angry Pro-Lifers, Soft-Pedals Criticism of Kennedy Abortion Support
Catholic University Association Drops Possible Rift With Bishops Over Abortion
Bears repeating!
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
US Bishops: Abortion Isn't Health Care
Denver Archbishop Chaput says promises were broken on abortion
Catholic Bishops: Health Care Bill ... Money-Laundering System for Funding Abortion
Catholic Caucus: The Bishops Go On Offense
US bishops conference mounts late drive against 'unacceptable' health-care reform
Catholic Bishops Urge Members to Oppose Abortion Funding in Health Care Plan [Catholic Uprising!]
Bishops Announce Unprecedented Massive Catholic Opposition to Obamacare
Bishops Call for Massive Catholic Opposition to Abortion in Current Health Care Reform
Archbishop Charles Chaput on the Current Struggle Between Catholics and "Caesar"
The Bishop's Ax Falls on Obama. And on the Vatican Curia (bombshell article)
US Bishops: Heath Package Still Funding Abortions (Urge Congress to Keep Working)
Catholic Bishops Declare They Will Vigorously Oppose Health Care Bill as It Now Stands
Bishops Restate Vow vs. Obamacare's Abortion
Important: US Bishops taking the gloves off on health care reform
BREAKING: Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills Or Else
U.S. bishops warn of vigorous opposition if Congress fails to fix health care bills
List: *41* Bishops against Obamacare (and counting!)
Bishop Murphy Issues Video Statement on Health Care Reform [Diocese of Rockville Centre]
Health Care Principles [Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND]
Florida Bishop [Thomas Wenski] Weighs in on Health Care Reform
ObamaCare and Catholic social teaching [Bishop Neckless]
Some Catholic bishops question gov't health care
Bostons Roman Catholic Cardinal Says He Confronted Obama about Abortion in Health Care Plan....
Iowa Bishop: Dont Be Railroaded into the Current...Health Care Proposals
in a message issued by the Diocese of Sioux City (The Church on Universal Healthcare)
Nazi Health Care A Catholic Bishop Speaks Out Against "End of Life Care" (Germany, 1941)
Bishop Nickless: "No Health Care Reform is Better than the Wrong Health Care Reform"
Cardinal Rigali, Abp. Chaput Intensify Warnings Against Obamacare's Abortion Expansion
The heart of the problem is that "religion" has been redefined. It no longer means a theory of absolute, objective, and (yes) factual truth. It now means something wispy and indefinable, a cross between ethno-cultural folklore and "intensely private" philosophical speculation.
The mainstream religions must stop attacking "fundamentalism." "Fundamentalism" is simply the recognition of the facticity of religious truth. So long as mainstream religions continue to stigmatize this position they will not be able to consistently preach to idiots like Kennedy.
It all started when Genesis ceased being factual and became purely symbolic and speculative. But how many "conservative" religions are willing to reexamine their enthusiasm for non-factual (non-"fundamentalist") religion?
Willful disobedience to God's Law is what it is, but Patrick, being a Kennedy, thinks God's Law is optional for the likes of him and his family.
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