NJ Governor McGreevey a devout Catholic, yet diplomatic {Barf Alert}

Press of Atlantic City ^ | 01.11.04 | Pete McAleer

[Coleus]

McGreevey devout, yet diplomatic

By PETE McALEER Statehouse Bureau, (609) 292-4935

Ask Gov. James E. McGreevey about the Tropicana Casino Parking Garage collapse and the first person he mentions is Sister Grace Nolan from Atlantic County Catholic Charities and her power to console in the midst of tragedy.

Listen to the governor speak and you're likely to hear a lighthearted story about the nuns who taught him at St. Joseph's grammar school in Carteret.

Stop in his office in Trenton and you will see numerous pictures of John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president, and his brother Robert.

McGreevey's Catholic faith is an integral part of his political identity and he is not shy about letting people know it. Yet refer to him as a Catholic politician and McGreevey shakes his head as if he doesn't appreciate the term. The response is hardly surprising.

McGreevey's politics and the politics of the Catholic Church don't always follow the same path. Right now, it would seem the two could not be further apart.

Last Sunday, McGreevey signed a bill that made New Jersey just the second state to promote stem-cell research. He is expected to sign a bill Monday that provides benefits to same-sex couples. And McGreevey supports needle-exchange programs based in a hospital setting.

The New Jersey Catholic Conference, which serves as the lobbying arm for the state's Catholic bishops, has posted three legislative alerts on its Web site since October: oppose human embryonic stem cell research, oppose domestic partner benefits and oppose needle-exchange programs. Citing moral grounds to oppose each issue, the organization asks readers to contact McGreevey's office and urge him to veto the legislation.

Repeated calls to the New Jersey Catholic Conference Executive Director Bill Bolan seeking comment for this story were not returned, but the organization released a statement that said the bishops are "deeply distressed" that McGreevey signed the stem-cell bill into law.

"We believe it is more important than ever to stand for the principle that government not treat any living human being as research material, as a mere means for benefit to others," the statement read. "Research that relies on the destruction of some defenseless human being for the possible benefit to others is morally unacceptable."

The stem-cell law gives patients at fertility clinics the option to donate for research unused embryos that otherwise would be discarded. The church condemns the procedure because it involves researchers destroying days-old embryos. Scientists hope to use stem cells to replace damaged organs and tissues and eventually find cures to diseases.

During an interview in his office, McGreevey recalled a woman from Wisconsin he met just before Christmas. Her daughter suffered from a degenerative brain disease. Doctors drilled six holes into the girl's head and injected thousands of cells into her brain.

"For the first time in her life, her daughter's smiling," McGreevey said. "She's moving her arms. She said to me, 'Jim, this is a miracle.' "

McGreevey paused a few moments when asked how he reconciles the disparity between his views and the views of his church.

"For that mother there is such profound suffering, and we have an opportunity to alleviate that suffering," he says. "From my perspective, it's reflecting on the compassion, on the caring, on the love of Christ. To cure the sick, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked."

Though McGreevey's clashes with church politics date back to his campaign for governor - he supported abortion rights and criticized Republican opponent Bret Schundler for supporting school vouchers - he is hardly the first Roman Catholic politician to stray from church policy. Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and current Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry all caught flak from the church for their pro-choice stance on abortion.

Yet McGreevey's efforts are far bolder. While pro-choice Democrats are practically a redundancy, few states have supported laws that recognize the rights of gay couples. California is the only other state to approve stem-cell research.

The Vatican, meanwhile, has taken steps to reassert its political power. In January 2003 it released the "doctrinal note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life." The paper reiterated the church's opposition to stem-cell research, abortion, same-sex marriage and euthanasia and urged Catholic politicians to vote in line with those "non-negotiable ethical principles."

McGreevey believes he is doing just that, even if his own ethical compass doesn't follow the path set by the Vatican.

"We all reflect on our respective faith traditions and family values and upbringing and we struggle and we search in our hearts to do what is morally right, what is morally compassionate, what is morally decent," McGreevey said. "For me, Christ's great courage was his compassion and decency."

After the interview, McGreevey grabbed a copy of a book he's reading by Garry Wills, called "Why I Am A Catholic." In it, Wills fondly remembers his Catholic upbringing and argues that one can criticize church leaders while embracing the tenets of the Catholic faith.

It is that same philosophy that allows McGreevey to continue to reference his Catholic faith at a time when bishops are offering prayers that the governor will change his mind about his stance on stem cell research. Ask him about the past year's battles with Atlantic County Sen. Bill Gormley and the Governor smiles and recalls Sister Grace.

"She prays for both Sen. Gormley and I both," McGreevey says. "And I'm counting on it."

To e-mail Pete McAleer at The Press:

PMcAleer@pressofac.com

[Coleus]

I wonder why the reporter never contacted any of the 5 bishops in the state for their official comments regarding the issues above and whether someone can be a "devout" Catholic and still be in favor of homosexual unions, embryonic stem cells, human cloning, and needle exchanges. Nor did the reporter ever mention that the governor is divorced and has a daughter living in Canada and remarried in the Episcopal Church. The reporter never stated that the stem-cell bill included human cloning.

The stem-cell law gives patients at fertility clinics the option to donate for research unused embryos that otherwise would be discarded>>

The Catechism of the Catholic Church forbids in-vitro and in-vivo fertilizations for this very purpose. The so-called "embryo" is a human being and deserves to be born.

The church condemns the procedure because it involves researchers destroying days-old embryos.>>>

The church condemns the procedure because it involves researchers destroying human beings, with a soul, created in God's image and likeness.

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[Coleus]

Catechism of the Catholic Church #2271...

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

DOCTRINAL NOTE
on some questions regarding
The Participation of Catholics in Political Life

Living the Gospel of Life:
A Challenge to American Catholics

A Statement by the Catholic Bishops of the United States

Faithful Citizenship:
Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS
TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION
TO UNIONS
BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

An Old Testament, Litany of Life
Canon Law and Abortion

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2274...

Sign Petition:
The Gospel of Life--Evangelium Vitae
Herod's Heroes

[Kuksool]

McSleazy must be talking lessons from Howard Dean.

[Coleus]

`

[oceanview]

just what we need, a devout catholic bisexual governor.

[Erik Latranyi]

I left the Catholic Church last year and became Presbyterian.

I was sick and tired of the Catholic Church's stance as anti-Iraq war even though hundreds of thousands of people will not die as a result of our intervention.

I was sick and tired of the Catholic Church ignoring the homosexuals in their midst (priests) who prey on young boys. It is not pedophilia, it is homosexual aggression gone rampant.

I was sick and tired of the Catholic Church giving an anullment to Edward Kennedy and turning a blind eye to his and other prominent Catholic politicians' indiscretions.

The Catholic Church needs to kick these Rats out of their church and refuse to give them communion. Tell them that they are not wanted. Tell Americans that if you support abortion, stem cell research, etc, you can not be a Catholic in good standing and receive communion.

When the Catholic Church grows some balls (instead of feeling them), I might return.

[JohnnyZ]

After the interview, McGreevey grabbed a copy of a book he's reading by Garry Wills, called "Why I Am A Catholic."

Yup, that's about right. Anti-Catholics like McGreevey and Wills need to be tosed out as they do grave spiritual harm to the Church by misrepresenting Catholicism to the public.

[JohnnyZ]

When the Catholic Church grows some balls (instead of feeling them), I might return.

Stay where you are until you figure out what religion is about. Your bitterness and hatred would only poison the Church were you to rejoin now.

[nmh]

Yeah, I especially like his same sex benefit package passed recently in NJ (major barf). Maybe he is taking his cue from the Catholic church in embracing it. Meanwhile live-in heterosexuals do not have access to health care. I'm not saying they should but only emphasize special rights given to homos and exalting perversion.

[ladylib]

He's a devout Catholic who was divorced from his first wife (who I read somewhere is so terrified of him (for what reason I do not know) she lives in British Columbia with their daughter), has remarried and had another child.

But he's a devout Catholic and that's all that counts, right?

[madprof98]

I think a "devout Catholic" is any person baptized into the Church as an infant who tells a reporter he feels devout. I believe Howard Dean would qualify.

[ladylib]

Zsa Zsa Gabor (anyone remember her?)used to tell people she was a devout Catholic.

That woman governor Grandholm(?), Michigan is pro abortion but she's also a devout Catholic. I don't see how.

I was raised a Catholic, had some issues with the Church, and decided I could no longer be a Catholic (it would be hypocritical of me, and I don't pick and choose the rules I want to follow as far as the Church is concerned), but then again, I'm not a politician.

[Salvation]

**It is that same philosophy that allows McGreevey to continue to reference his Catholic faith at a time when bishops are offering prayers that the governor will change his mind about his stance on stem cell research.**

I'm afraid that Gov. McGreevey needs to wake up to what the Catholic Bishops are saying!

[Salvation]

There have been many changes in the Catholic Church.

Maybe you need to re-investigate. And you are always welcome to return the the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

[Coleus]

That woman governor Grandholm>>

Stop Granholm

[Salvation]

Catholics and Politicians -- For your reference:

The Deadly Dozen

Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: "I Am A Catholic And For Abortion"
Catholic Church asks Tom Daschle to stop calling himself a Catholic
On Catholic Politicians and Faith
Vatican Urges Catholic Politicians to Vote Along Church Lines
Senator Santorum on Being Catholic and a Politician
William E. Simon, Sr. and Jr. Devout Catholics, Philanthropists and Politicians
Deadly Dozen senator taken to task over claims of Catholicism
THE BISHOP AND THE SENATOR [author links to FR thread regarding Daschle in her online column]
Blood On Their Hands: Exposing Pro-abortion Catholic Politicians
MI Gov Granholm Proclaims June "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month"
Colorado Governor To Media:'WE LOVE OUR CHURCH' [Gov. Bill Owens
U.S. Senator Brownback and Commentator Dick Morris Join Catholic Church
PRIEST REFUSES COMMUNION TO KNEELING PRO-LIFE POLITICIAN [Richard Black, Virginia]
Kerry [Catholic} says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights
Pope to MPs: Stop gay marriage
Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons
CONFUSIONS ABOUT POLITICAL JUDGMENT AND THE MORAL LAW
Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion
Bishop draws fire for targeting Chrétien
Kennedy likens Vatican stance on gay unions to 'bigotry' (oh, go get a job, you little creep)
Ignorance or Malicious Intent? "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to..."
George Weigel on Authentic Catholic Citizenship, and the Duty of Catholic Politicians to Behave as Catholics
Conservative Catholics urge Church to challenge "dissenters"
[Robert F., Jr.] Kennedy to speak at Festival of Faiths (Environmentalism as religion)
Faithful Catholic Politicians
Catholic Bishops Eye Possible Crackdown of Pro-Abortion Pols
PETITION TO EX-COMMUNICATE PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS
It is Time to Excommunicate the Politicians
Church vows to fight gay marriage: Catholics pressure pols
Should politicians toe their church line?
Church May Penalize Politicans
Catholic politicians facing dogmatic threat
Bishop appeals to Catholic lawmakers [Wisconsin]
New St. Louis Catholic Archbishop Warns Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians of Excommunication.
Bishop Objected to AIDS Walk
Wisconsin Catholic Lawmakers Seek Victim Status In Feud With Bishop
Bishop Burke discusses the letters he sent to Catholic politicians
Congressman Places Internal Pro-Abortion Docs in Congressional Record
Flynn: Dems ignore Catholics
Granholm gay rights order "a slap in the face"
Calif. Bishop To Gov. Davis: Pick Abortion Or Communion [formal excommunication?]
California Bishop to Gov: Oppose Abortion or No Communion (New Title)
Sacramento Bishop Challenges Governor on Abortion; Tells Davis to Stop Receiving Communion
Granholm's Bible-thumping Sure to Rile GOP
Bishop: No Communion for Abortion Backers
Legislators can't have Eucharist, bishop says: Don't serve supporters of abortion rights, euthanasia
Wisc. Bishop Tells Pro-Abort. Catholic Pols: Change Your Stripes or Stay Away from Holy Communion
Diocese targets Granholm on abortion

[breakem]

Why did you highlight the needle exchange. Is that against church doctrine?

[Coleus]

`

[mom-7]

The Gov. can say that he is Catholic until you know what freezes over. He is a Catholic in name only. You cannot go against the teachings of the Church and be in good standing.It is about time that the Bishops start telling these jokers just where they stand. I cringe everytime I hear these people being refered to as Catholic.