Posted on 10/05/2008 6:11:38 AM PDT by reaganaut1
As the Roman Catholic Church observes its annual “respect life” Sunday in this heated presidential election season, the unusually pitched competition for Catholic voters is setting off a round of skirmishes over how to apply the church’s teachings not only on abortion but also on the war in Iraq, immigration and racism.
...
The escalating efforts by more-liberal Catholics are provoking a vigorous backlash from some bishops and the right.
In Scranton, Pa., every Catholic attending Mass this weekend will hear a special homily about the election next month: Bishop Joseph Martino has ordered every priest in the diocese to read a letter warning that voting for a supporter of abortion rights amounts to endorsing “homicide.”
“Being ‘right’ on taxes, education, health care, immigration and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life,” the bishop wrote. “It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice.’ ”
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To underscore the point, a nun is collecting the signatures of prominent Catholic leaders there for a newspaper advertisement reminding those who may be wary of voting for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic nominee for president, that the church also considers racism a sin that threatens the dignity of life.
“Here in Scranton, racist attitudes often prevent us from seeing all of our fellow citizens and candidates for public office as God’s children,” says the petition, circulated by Sister Margaret P. Gannon, a professor at Marywood University.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I just got back from Mass and am busy writing a letter to my pastor about the awful and misleading homily he preached. His message? Abortion was just one of many issues, treatment of the “homeless” being another equally important issue. I have no idea how treatment of the “homeless” got in there, because to my knowledge, neither Bush nor McCain has advocated a policy of forced extermination of the derelicts in the plaza. But that was the implication. In any case, he said that Catholics had to vote for “change” from the “awful way” things were now. “Change,” of course, means Obama.
Then he went on to tell us about 20 times that abortion wasn’t really that important as “life issues” go.
I couldn’t even go to Communion and I was so angry my hands were shaking and I had to leave early.
When I hear “social justice” in the Catholic church I want to stand up and scream....or in any other Christian denomination, for that matter because it has crept into the lexicon of a lot of churches as a tenet of Christian religion. When did Communism ever honor religion of any sort except for the state or the leader? What is wrong with these people? Don’t they understand how “social justice” will be their own undoing?
Our pastor put abortion, going green and ‘social’ justice all on the same level. So if you have strong pro-abortion ‘Catholic’ candidate who increases funding for abortion and supports the green agenda and high taxes - you’re all right to vote for her since she got 2 out of 3. I guess I missed the commandments about government run ‘income redistribution’ and ‘reducing your carbon footprint’. Come to think of it, didn’t Tax Collectors generally get a bit of a bad rap in the Gospels?
I’m in a red part of a red state and I was asked to pray that the election leads to peace and justice this morning at Mass... For those who don’t know - Peace and Justice are code words for liberation theology, anti-capitalism, pro-socializm. Add to this the feminazi modification of the Nicene Creed and the senility of the priest who repeated whole parts of the Mass because he forgot where he was and I’m not feeling very serene this morning. Oh, and the homily which was really sad, this man needs to be retired - the Church is a 2000 year human experience - no mention of Jesus Christ. arrrggg!!!!!
I had a similar experience this morning. See my post 23. But the phrase that kept running through my head is what Peter says to Jesus... where would we go Lord. You have the words of everlasting life. I go for the Eucharist. Maybe I should go to the Spanish Mass so I could ignore what is being said and just receive Communion.
I sort of put Trig in a much much higher Elian Gonzalez type moment, through him the thoughts of many are being revealed. Interesting isn’t it, wheat and tares.
the northern catholics are in denial. god never changes. they are mocking him and trying to be cool and rationalize how they can be pro choice and pro baby.
sad really. catholics were instumental in getting W elected last go round. hope they come through for us in 08.
What is the name of your pastor and Parish?
I didn’t go to mass this morning or last Sunday and for the same reason as you. I was in RCIA and I had to drop out because of the bull that was being taught. I have been out shopping for another church where solid doctrine instead of socialism is being taught. I just seem to be getting more tired of looking and being disappointed by the lack of choices. It’s a scary thing to let your mind become so vulnerable and receptive and let someone teach you who has a psuedo-communistic agenda. Why have these types been allowed to infiltrate the church? They are driving people away! As far as I can tell, either I was supposed to buy their agenda or get lost.
If I could make a living begging on the streets of Rome, I would go to Italy for a year and learn real doctrine. I am so disgusted with this “new wave” church stuff.
He did not endorse a candidate, but he provided all the necessary information for the faithful to make an informed decision. :-)
We are blessed to have excellent priests.
Here in Scranton, racist attitudes often prevent us from seeing all of our fellow citizens and candidates for public office as God’s children,
Why do Obama’s supporters hate America? And why are the Sheeple blind to his views?
‘...priest..... told us which evils Obama supported (basically all of them), and which ones McCain opposed (basically all of them). ...’
Wow. This is very encouraging. I’ve often wondered why our Priests are not much more outspoken about politicians who support abortion.
I just googled her image and... you’re right!
LOL! Unfortunately, I speak Spanish, so I'm not even safe there (although priests generally speak such bad Spanish that they're unintelligble anyway).
I'm going to write to the pastor and complain. And then I guess I'll find another parish to attend. The nearest orthodox one is, alas, about 45 minutes away from here, but I could do that on Sundays.
I’d be okay if I could just choose which of the two English speaking priests said the Mass. Actually, the priest who has Spanish as his primary language did a better job saying an English Mass and actually did a pretty good homily. The pastor is okay and knows theology. He has a nice energy and respect for life. Its this wacko semi retired guy. He’s the one who, last time I received Communion from him, asked my name.
I know what you mean! Sometimes the situation makes you feel just plain desperate. If you're in a bad diocese it can be very hard to find any orthodox teaching. My diocese (St. Augustine, Florida) ranges from outright bad to just sloppy. Fortunately I have found a Polish Carmelite monastery with no connection with the diocese that I can go to if I have time to make the drive.
What diocese do you live in?
That's exactly what they're supposed to do! It's refreshing to hear about a priest who actually does it.
If there is any question at all it shows there is a lack of sincerity on the part of those who are confused.
Killing babies, and supporting those who do, disqualifies one as a Catholic, and as a person Catholics should support. PERIOD.
People who want to claim they are Catholics but want to make up their own rules are the same type of people who say they love America but want to change everything about it.
They are people who buy into mushy headed thinking like this:
“America is the greatest country on earth. Vote for me so we can change it.”
My experience has been that the retired or semi-retired ones (who show up here a lot because I live in Florida) are the worst. They must have been in their heyday during the 1960s and 70s. Out doing everything they could to destroy the Faith and the liturgy. And now they won’t even go away quietly!
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