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Buffalo’s New Bishop Confronts Politician’s Duplicity on Abortion
Crisis Magazine ^
| March 4, 2014
| Anne Hendershott
Posted on 03/04/2014 2:14:30 PM PST by NYer
Faithful Catholics in Buffalo were discouraged to read in their local paper late last month that their allegedly pro-life Catholic senator Tim Kennedy (D-63rd District) intends to vote in favor of New Yorks Democratic governor Andrew Cuomos expansion of abortion in the State. Kennedy won his seat in 2010 by running as a pro-life candidate ousting then-Senator Bill Stachowskia Democrat with a strong pro-life record.
Claiming that his position on abortion has evolved after much thought and prayer, Kennedy joins a long list of self-described Catholic politicians like Governor Cuomo himself who claim that they are personally opposed to abortion, yet would never stand in the way of those who choose abortion.
Kennedy has already won accolades from New Yorks progressives who are already making him a hero much like they made New York State Democratic assemblyman George M. Michaels a hero back in 1970 when he changed his vote to break a legislative tie by voting in favor of legalizing abortion in the State. In that important votelegalizing abortion in New York long before Roe v WadeAssemblywoman Constance Cook had forced a bill to repeal New Yorks anti-abortion laws. The New York State Senate passed the bill 31 to 26. But, when it moved to the Assembly, the vote resulted in a tie: 74 to 74. That would have been a defeat, but Michaels, a Democrat who represented a district that with a 65 percent Catholic majorityin the days when all Catholics were pro-lifechanged his vote from no to yes.
Michaels became an instant hero for the pro-choice side, but a pariah in his own district. He had been elected on the votes of his Catholic constituencya group that made up 65 percent of the city of Auburnand he never again held public office. But, he is remembered today among the Democratic elite as one of the most courageous men of his time. In 2002, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award was posthumously given to Michaels for striking down abortion laws in New York.
While State Senator Kennedy is now sharing the progressive stage with the memory of Michaels for his bold decision to reject the wishes of his pro-life constituents by expanding access to abortion, the stinging response from the Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, the courageous leader of Buffalos Catholic diocese has been welcomed by faithful Catholics throughout the country. In what the Buffalo News has called an unprecedented statement by a Buffalo bishop about a local Catholic officeholder, Bishop Malone wrote that For anyone to say that he or she is a faithful Catholic and to be pro-abortion/pro-choice is totally inconsistent with Catholic teaching, which is clearly articulated in the catechism of the Catholic Church.
In his defense, Kennedy claims that he remains a practicing Catholic at St. Martins Church in South Buffalo and that he is nurturing his children in the faith. But, Bishop Malone countered such a claim by issuing yet another statement pointing out that practicing Catholics who claim they are nurturing their children in the faith must teach their children that abortion is intrinsically evil, that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.
Bishop Malone personifies the new generation of what Christopher White, my co-author and I call transformational bishops in our new book, Renewal: How a New Generation of Bishops and Priests is Revitalizing the Church. For this new generation, sanctity of life issues are foundationalnot just because of religious views about abortion, but because the act of dehumanizing and killing the unborn child attacks human dignity in a uniquely grave way.
These transformational bishops have been outspoken on the role that Catholic politicians have played in contributing to the culture of death through their votes to expand womens access to abortion here and abroad. In fact, this is where the transformational bishop distinguishes himself from the others, for it takes real courage to publicly confront the culture of death that has been promoted at the state and federal level by Catholic politicians who continue to maintain that they can be personally opposed to abortion yet still vote in favor of legislation that expands the rate of abortion.
New Yorks Senator Kennedy was likely surprised by the strong response from his bishop. Until 2012, Buffalo was led by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, a member of a cohort of bishops who remained silent on the pro-abortion activities of Catholic politicians in their dioceses. In fact, back in 2007, when a deacon in the Buffalo diocese was publicly critical of the pro-choice voting record of Catholic Democratic representative, Brian Higgins, Bishop Kmiec publicly apologized to Higgins and chastised the deacon. In response, Higgins scolded the Church saying to reporter for the Buffalo News that the Church has enough problems and should take greater care before allowing non-priests to use the church as a forum to advance what clearly was a political agenda.
Whether Albanys bishop will follow the lead of his Buffalo brother bishop by reminding the self-described Catholic Governor Cuomo of his obligation to respect life remains to be seen. But, faithful Catholics are hoping that the courage of a growing number of transformational bishops like Bishop Malone, can be contagious.
TOPICS: Catholic; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; bishopmalone; canon915; catholic; catholicpoliticians; ny; prolife; scharfenberger; timkennedy
1
posted on
03/04/2014 2:14:30 PM PST
by
NYer
To: Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; ...
Whether Albanys bishop will follow the lead of his Buffalo brother bishop by reminding the self-described Catholic Governor Cuomo of his obligation to respect life remains to be seen. The current bishop, Howard Hubbard, is, and will remain, silent on the issue. Now that his replacement has been named, we will need to await the ordination and installation of Bishop-elect Edward B. Scharfenberger (on April 10), to see how he handles Gov. Cuomo. Thanks to the internet we can read not only what Msgr. Scharfenberger has written about abortion and the culture of death, but we can also discover that he has been involved in the direct action of praying at abortion sites, joining most recently (Feb. 15, 2014) with the Helpers of Gods Precious Infants to pray for the unborn at an abortion clinic in Jamaica, Long Island.
2
posted on
03/04/2014 2:15:15 PM PST
by
NYer
("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
To: NYer
Until 2012, Buffalo was led by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec Didn't Kmiec have one of the most outrageous records in the (homosexual)sex abuse scandal?
3
posted on
03/04/2014 2:21:17 PM PST
by
maryz
To: NYer
Is this dork one of THE Kennedys, or just some dude named Kennedy?
To: NYer
Thanks be to God for such a man as this sacrificial Bishop Malone.
May Saint Michael defend and protect him, there in Sodom and Gemorah. I will pray for him, our faithful shepherd Bishop Malone.
5
posted on
03/04/2014 2:22:33 PM PST
by
RitaOK
( VIVA CHRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming.)
To: NYer
Simple answer..excommunication. Too bad the old bell, book and candle ritual isn’t still being used.
To: NYer
> his position on abortion has evolved after much thought and prayer
ROTFLOLOLOL!
Anybody who believes this steaming pile of mendacity is an idiot. But then, we are talking about DemonRAT voters.
7
posted on
03/04/2014 2:28:10 PM PST
by
Westbrook
(Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
To: NYer
Thank God that Bishop Hubbard is finally gone!
I’ll pray for the new bishop, he will need a lot of Divine help.
8
posted on
03/04/2014 2:48:54 PM PST
by
Deo volente
(God willing, America shall survive this Obamanation.)
To: NYer
***Claiming that his position on abortion has evolved after much thought and prayer,...***
Yes, but to whom was he ‘praying’?
9
posted on
03/04/2014 2:53:51 PM PST
by
Paulie
(Buy local, bank local, exert your influence locally; the left will fold like a cheap suit.)
To: NYer
Kennedy says he is nurturing his children in the faith. I say God have mercy on your soul Mr. Kennedy. You have not only put your own salvation in jeopardy, but are fully complying with doing the same to your own children by your own example. What a scumbag.
10
posted on
03/04/2014 2:59:44 PM PST
by
Gerish
(Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.)
To: NYer
Anything short of publicly barring this piece of filth from the sacraments until it publicly repents of its great evil is just more talk.
C’mon, bishop-dude, let your inner inquisitor loose and make an example of this critter. Excommunicate him in a nice, public ceremony with incense, bells, and candles. Proclaim him dead to the Church and to God until he dons sackcloth and ashes, repents of his crimes, resigns his position in politics, gives all he has to the poor and enters a monastery, taking a permanent vow of silence as he does penance for the rest of his life.
11
posted on
03/04/2014 3:01:57 PM PST
by
sitetest
(If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
To: NYer
I notice that the only people who go from pro-life to pro-baby-killing are politicians. The vast majority of real people go from pro-baby-killing to pro-baby-saving- former abortion doctors, abortion nurses, mothers of aborted children, recovering homosexuals, former pro-abortion advocates,etc.
Does the Feminazi Lobby REALLY have that much money?
12
posted on
03/04/2014 3:15:48 PM PST
by
MuttTheHoople
(Nothing is more savage and brutal than justifiably angry Americans. DonÂ’t believe me? Ask the Germa)
To: Liz; The Mayor
13
posted on
03/04/2014 3:40:18 PM PST
by
NYer
("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
To: NYer
Catholic politicians like Governor Cuomo himself who claim that they are personally opposed to abortion, yet would never stand in the way of those who choose abortion.Would that they were so libertarian about everything else.
14
posted on
03/04/2014 3:50:02 PM PST
by
BfloGuy
( Even the opponents of Socialism are dominated by socialist ideas.)
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
To: NYer
**Bishop Malone personifies the new generation of what Christopher White, my co-author and I call transformational bishops**
Praying this is true.
16
posted on
03/04/2014 5:24:47 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
Comment #17 Removed by Moderator
To: NYer
Hey, where's the "Bishop-Spine" award?
:-)
(God bless Bishop Malone!!! May his courage and straightforward approach spread quickly, and be unanimously adopted by all the bishops throughout the entire USCCB.)
18
posted on
03/04/2014 6:44:14 PM PST
by
Heart-Rest
("Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal 6:7)
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