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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14219
Pro-Obama Catholics plan ‘stop the vote’ at parishes
Chris Korzen / Fr. Frank PavoneDenver, Oct 31, 2008 / 06:26 pm (CNA).- Priests for Life is warning that James Salt and Chris Korzen from the pro-Obama organization Catholics United sent a blast email on Thursday offering instructions on how to prevent pro-life Catholics from distributing electoral guides near Catholic parishes around the country. Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, has also pointed out that the Catholics United plan could have negative legal consequences.
In a message sent from the email address parishprotection@catholics-united.org under the subject “Help Protect Catholic Churches from Political Manipulation,” James Salt and Chris Korzen say that with less than a week to go until Election Day, things are getting ugly. “In a final act of desperation, the religious far right is calling on its activists to defy the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ order to keep unapproved election materials from church property by doing a ‘literature drop’ at parishes across the country. The goal of this activity is to convince Catholics that it’s immoral to vote for candidates who don’t subscribe to the right’s narrow agenda.”
The email goes on to warn that last Monday, “the partisan group Priests for Life held a teleseminar to train some 3,300 activists nationwide on how to place divisive political literature on the windshield of every churchgoing Catholic’s car this Saturday and Sunday.”
Salt and Korsen then announce that Catholics United is “spearheading an effort to put the brakes on the religious right’s plans in as many parishes as possible,” and is asking followers to “call your pastor and encourage him to instruct the ushers to monitor the church parking lot during the worship service.”
They also promise to provide “detailed information on how you can protect churches in your neighborhood.”
“The extreme right will stop at nothing to distort church teaching for political gain. It’s time to say that enough is enough. Catholics are tired of our faith being used as a political weapon,” concludes the email of the pro-Obama organization.
On Friday, Fr. Frank Pavone, President of Priests for Life, emailed James Salt and Chris Korzen. “I don’t know if you attempted to speak with me before sending this out, but we would welcome such an approach in the future,” Fr. Pavone wrote.
“Please inform those to whom you communicate that they might also want to alert their pastors that a large number of people are ready to file lawsuits against any individual or institution who tries to intimidate or prevent citizens from fostering the electoral process or informing their fellow citizens about the candidates,” the priest warned.
Fr. Pavone explained that while “Priests for Life” is not initiating any such activity, “many people have told us they are ready to do so depending on what happens this weekend.”
“Pastors and dioceses –he added- want to avoid ‘legal entanglements,’ and the activity you recommend here will get them entangled far faster than mine will.”
“Obviously, an email like the one you sent below would implicate you in such entanglements as well,” Fr. Pavone said in reference to the group’s email.
Finally, Fr. Pavone thanked Korzen and Salt for the extra publicity, and asked them to “be sure to register for the November 5 teleseminar as well.”
Speaking to CNA, Fr. Pavone said that he devoted a significant part of the homily he preached this Friday on EWTN to urge Catholics to get out and distribute literature in the parking lots of parishes. “I encouraged them to do so especially this weekend, which obviously will be decisive for the outcome of the elections,” he told CNA.
CNA attempted to get reaction from Chris Korzen but was unable to before press time.
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Will this get through to the millions of Catholics that are planning an Obamanation? What about Biden? Isn’t he Catholic? The Kennedy’s?
I heard a preacher this morning say “What if a muslim leads this country?” He admitted he was getting real close to the IRS exemption rules.
I tell you these men of God KNOW who and what obama is and they’re trying to do their jobs. If only America would listen.
If he wins and they go after the churches we had better all stand up with them and do whatever we have to do.
Unfortunately, as the leaders of the Catholic Church announce Judgment from God on their parishioners if the US votes in a totally pro-abort crowd, we will ALL be under God’s judgment if “that one” gets in.
God bless them! In my parish, the homilies for two weeks focused on Prop. 8 and voting pro-life when there is a viable pro-life candidate. They also passed out a nice booklet called “Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics” put out by Catholic Answers Action. It listed the five non-negotiable issues a Catholic must consider when voting: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual “marriage.”
It also told us how NOT to vote:
1) “Do not just vote based on your political party affiliation, your earlier voting habits, or your family’s voting tradition. Years ago, these may have been trustworthy ways to determine who to vote for, but today they are often not reliable.”
3) “Do not vote for candidates just because they declare themselves Catholic. Unfortunately, many self-described Catholic candidates reject basic Catholic teaching.”
I am proud that the Catholic Church is speaking out.
Proof yet again that bambi is not a Christian.Period.
Given the demographics of my local catholic church I think they ought to say it in plain Spanish too.
I’m really disgusted with our parish priest and with our Cardinal DiNardo. All I’ve heard is, “Check the USCCB website.” Ugh. Total failure of responsibility.
You can email Mr. Salt from Catholics United using this address. Remind him that Catholics who condone abortion are not really Catholics at all. They are “Pretend Catholics.”
jsalt@catholics-united.org
That will leave a mark!
I posted this several weeks ago but it won’t hurt to do it again. Our friends went to a large downtown Columbus church. The Priest’s sermon was about abortion and how important it was to vote pro-life. I understand the sermon was eloquent and my friend said you could hear a pin drop as he spoke. He finally said he had to stop, that he was getting close to the edge. When he ended, the entire large congregation jumped to their feet with thundering applause and shouts that went on for many minutes. Many were in tears and the emotions were obvious.
Priests can’t tell us who to vote for, but they should tell us what is sin and what is not and then everyone in good conscience takes it from there.
That said, however, I’d be delighted to see some excommunications of those supposedly Catholic politicians who PREACH pro-abortion positions. It is a life / death matter and their BAD theology must not go unpunished by an “organization” or “institution” which though very free in many respects, demands a certain orthodoxy.
One simply cannot believe that abortion is permissible and be a Catholic... or rather, wanting to be as liberal as possible, one cannot TEACH it. THAT is plainly too much.
I know a handful of professed Catholics and only one is a social conservative. The others champion "equality" programs, are vehemently anti-war, and are pro-abortion (just not they would ever do so themselves).
How in hades any "Christian" could support a person, organization, or political party that endorses and advances abortion policies is beyond me. That strikes me as akin to a die-hard vegan PETA member supporting the Meat-Eaters-Party.
Talking to Christians of all stripes I am shocked to learn how many stray from their church’s teachings on things like abortion.
Good for them. I’m glad men of faith are standing up for life in difficult times.
I can infer from what our pastor says who he believes Christians should vote for, but he won’t say directly. He did say, if anyone wanted to ask him when he wasn’t on the platform, he would tell them.
I know of a preacher who was a guest speaker at a church, and told the congregation to follow their conscience when voting many years ago. He didn’t mention candidates names. He was told he would not be asked to speak at the church again. I guess they knew in their hearts what “voting their conscience” meant and knew they weren’t. Sad.
Any idea how many of the expected voters are firm Catholics???
