Cardinal: Catholics, Mormons must defend religious freedom together (OPEN)

Catholic News ^ | February 23, 2010

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Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addresses an audience at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo Feb. 23. (CNS/courtesy of BYU)

By Catholic News Service

PROVO, Utah (CNS) -- Catholics and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must continue to stand together as a "vital bulwark" against those in American society who want to "reduce religion to a purely private reality," the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told a historic gathering at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago spoke Feb. 23 on "Catholics and Latter-day Saints: Partners in the Defense of Religious Freedom" as part of the Mormon school's forum series. He was the first cardinal to speak at the university.

Cardinal George praised the Mormons for their work with Catholics to protect the conscience rights of health care providers and institutions that do not want to participate in abortion or assisted suicide and to defend marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

"When the government fails to protect the consciences of its citizens, it falls to religious bodies to defend them," he said.

True religious freedom means not just freedom to worship or "individual conscience rights as long as you don't make anyone unhappy," but the right to "influence the public square," he added.

The cardinal said Catholics and Mormons shared not only a common understanding of religious freedom, but the common experience of growing from a small, sometimes persecuted religious minority to larger communities of 67 million U.S. Catholics and about 6 million U.S. Mormons today.

"Both our communities have prospered in a nation that respects religious freedom and recognizes that government should never stand between its citizens and almighty God," he said.

Catholics and Mormons also have stood side by side in efforts against "the degradations associated with pornography" and in promoting "respect for the lives of those waiting to be born and respect for marriage," he added.

Although he did not refer directly to the successful 2008 campaign to overturn same-sex marriage in California, in which Catholics and Mormons were prominent, Cardinal George said both religious communities believe that "every single person is made in God's image and must be respected."

"But that does not mean you accept everything they do," he said. "The relationship is at question here, not the persons."

He also said that those who "have gay people in their families, as I do ... have to be there for them and love them."

The audience at the 22,700-seat Marriott Center gave Cardinal George a standing ovation after his talk, which also was attended by two top officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Elders Quentin L. Cook and M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Cardinal George told the gathering that his own experiences with the church began when he went to Salt Lake City as a child with his mother, a church organist, who wanted to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Many years later in 2007, he was offered an opportunity to serve as guest conductor for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for one song. "Never had I been asked to do something like that," he said. "It was a tremendous feeling of awe and power and great satisfaction."

It was also "something of an ego trip" to have "that great choir waiting for me," Cardinal George said. And when he moved his arm, the choir erupted into "a magnificent sound -- all in unison, all in harmony," he added.

"I thought to myself, 'I'm doing better with the Mormons than I am with the Catholics,'" the cardinal said with a laugh. "I've had a lot harder time getting (Catholics) to sing together."

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[Tennessee Nana]

That’s interesting...

While the Catholic Church has always been pro-life...

The mormons have not...

“We have no revelation on abortion” The mormons need a so called “revelation” to know that abortion is murder ???

The Mormon church accepts abortion for a number of reasons. The Church Handbook of Instructions, approved in September, 1998, states that abortion may be performed in the following circumstances: pregnancy resulting from rape or incest; a competent physician says the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy; or a competent physician says that the “fetus” has severe defects that will not allow the “baby” to survive beyond birth. In any case, the persons responsible must first consult with their church leader and receive God’s approval in prayer

This same Handbook, the official policies of the Mormon church to be followed by all local church leaders throughout the world, also claims: “It is a fact that a child has life before birth. However, there is no direct revelation on when the spirit enters the body”

Previous teachings by former Mormon prophets referred to the unborn child as “a child,” “a baby,” a “human being,” and decried abortion as “killing,” “a grievous sin,” “a damnable practice.” Spencer W. Kimball, the prophet who died in 1985, taught, “We have repeatedly affirmed the position of the church in unalterably opposing all abortions” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 189).

It appears that this “unalterable” position, constantly “affirmed,” is just another in a series of doctrinal and moral teachings that Mormons have reworded, reworked, rescinded, or reneged—though never officially renounced. Such is the quality of the Mormon belief in “continuing revelation.” Don’t expect dogmatic or ethical consistency. Rather, look for expediency and conformity with “the times.”

A further statement in the Handbook says: “The church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion (156).” While the Mormon prophet claims to speak the mind and will of God, he can neither figure out when the unborn child becomes human or if it is God’s desire that we protect the unborn unconditionally.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[reaganaut]

Thank you for posting this on a thread where we actually have freedom of speech!

[T Minus Four]

those in American society who want to "reduce religion to a purely private reality,"

Does anyone have a CLUE what that means?

[Tennessee Nana]

Yes our 1st Amendment rights at work...

FReedom of religion, FReedom of speech, FReedom of the press

[svcw]

That would pretty much put the kabash on door to door “witnesses”.

[Godzilla]

they want to rule out any religious based opinion in the private sector.

[ejonesie22]

I have no heartburn over this, just like I did not over the Prop 8 fight and indeed welcomed them to it and defended them over it. All are welcome in the political battle over secularization.

There are things of this world and things beyond. It requires multitasking as well as multifactored discipline to deal with it all.

If, in the very unlikely event, the Catholic Church (or any other mainline Christian denomination) comes out and addressed the LDS as fellow Christians and recognizes them as they now do each other, then...

[metmom]

From what I see, the bishop is right. Freedom to worship means even if you think the other guy is wrong.

So, although I think Mormonism is a false religion, they do have the right to worship the god they choose.

Correct me if I’m wrong. Anesthesia still has me groggy and it’s not unlikely I missed something.

[SZonian]

Is this one of those “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” kind of things? It’s no big secret that the mormon church still teaches that Catholics are the “Whore of Babylon”.

[greyfoxx39]

they want to rule out any religious based opinion in the private sector.

"against those in American society who want to "reduce religion to a purely private reality"....that IS a puzzling statement...it could almost relate to trying to limit discussion of religion in public....perhaps set up a situation where the discussion is watched closely for deviating from the "approved" content.....oh...WAIT!

[greyfoxx39]

Well, Praise God that you are able to be with us.

[metmom]

He also said that those who "have gay people in their families, as I do ... have to be there for them and love them."

This line, however, wanted to make me puke.

It shows they've swallowed the leftist, liberal indoctrination that speaking out against homosexuality equates to *hating* them.

I hate what they do, but not them. I actually pity most of them, because someone I know who has lots of homosexual friends tells me that most of them hate it as well and are miserable, tormented people.

I know of one young man who killed himself because he could not come to grips with who or what he was. It breaks my heart every time I think of him.

[svcw]

The way things are going today anesthesia grogginess is probably going to make you more lucid. ,-)

[ejonesie22]

You are right, politically and in a secular POV that is the correct approach.

Now spiritually...

[metmom]

In a manner of speaking. Don’t know how much I’ll remember tomorrow.

La la land was nice. :)

[ejonesie22]

That is what it sounds like.

[metmom]

It makes it less painful to read.

[metmom]

Yeah, I know.

But my understanding of the Constitution indicates that view.

However, free will means freedom to be wrong as well.

You warn them of the consequences, but even God doesn’t force anyone to believe.