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Posted on 01/30/2012 11:38:58 AM PST by OPS4
Over the weekend, the Catholic Church’s letter went beyond simply issuing oppositional rhetoric to media. Instead, priests read an open note to congregations across the country, dubbing the administration‘s take on women’s health and religious violations as an attack on their faith. In the letter, Bishops highlighted what they called “an alarming and serious matter,“ as their words contended that the federal government has ”dealt a heavy blow” to the Catholic population.
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
Gotta say, I don’t understand Obama’s election calculus. Are there really that many minorities+yuppies in America? Because he’s alienated everyone else.
Not in my parish...this is the first I’m hearing of this.
Here’s an oddity... at the conservative Catholic parish I currently attend, under the Eparchy of Parma diocese, a variation of this letter was indeed read aloud by our pastor during this Sunday’s homily (and was applauded). However, at the parish I grew up in (and my parents still attend), there was absolutely no mention of the letter. This parish is under the Archdiocese of Chicago, so their bishop is the “conservative” Cardinal Francis George, former President of USCCB. Does anyone know if Cardinal George sent out such a letter? I checked the Archdiocese of Chicago’s webpage as well as Cardinal George’s personal page and I see no reference to such a letter. I’d like to investigate this one without calling the Archdiocese of Chicago office and telling them I’m snooping around (and while we’re at it, I’d also like to know what happened to the “transition plan” that Fr. Pfleger promised to present to the Archdiocese of Chicago “by the end of the year” in 2011)
Considering that the Catholic heirarchy kissed the democrats’ backsides in the last election with their positions agreeing with the democrats on everything except this topic, I’d say the irony is rather enjoyable.
Well, they DID ask for it (sort of).
According to www.catholicnews.com, Barack Obama enjoyed the support of 54% of Catholic voters in 2008, a bit higher than he received from the country as a whole (52%).
George W. Bush probably stole it, just like he did with Barack Obama's proposed FY2010, FY2011, FY2012 and FY2013 budgets...
It was not read at my small South Ga parish. But I have forwarded it to many in the church and emailed my Priest and Deacon if I can expect to hear it next week. I will see our Priest face to face Wednesday and this will be brought up.
Our priests in NC read the letter, but I got the impression it wasn’t a mandated thing - Father decided it was worth spending a homily on, and the congregation applauded when he was finished (those who believe in clapping in church, anyway). Of course it would be up to the individual bishop to require it anyway.
Not in my parish...this is the first I’m hearing of this.”
You’ve hit the nail on the head! Too much “ecclesiastical freelancing” on the part of individual priests and the “higher ups” in the Catholic clergy. The “radical priests” don’t get eliminated. It’s the same thing with the Mormons. Romney and Reid get a pass on their blatant disregard for that church’s basic teachings. Oh well, so much for “organized religion.” It’s devolved into “The God Busniess.” Money and political clout trump theology every time. Just have to wonder what The Lord thinks of all of it.
Ah, the expected conclusions of a belief in works-based salvation...
of course, the promise of the credit for “doing” good works without actually personally sacrificing anything, ie, through using the government to tax the other guy to do “your” good works,
is appealing to liberals of all stripes.
Vatican II and its liberalizations did some horrible things to the Church and the membership. Of those who reject it, I can assure you not a one of us voted for the obamanation.
Unfortunately about half that population is lapsed and half is active. Churchgoing Catholics lean conservative.
But only 49% of weekly church-going Catholic voters (http://spectator.org/archives/2011/04/25/obama-faces-hard-times-with-ca) - and I'll bet considerable lower among Catholic voters who go every week to a parish that actually preaches Catholic beliefs (not St. Kumbaya).
The letter is featured prominantly on the Archdiocese of Hartford website, but I did not see any kind of mandate that parish priests read or provide it to parishoners.
Archbishop Mansell has mandated that other messages be read to parishoners in the past. Perhaps he will in the future...the letter states:
“The Dioceses of Bridgeport and Norwich, as well as the Ukrainian Diocese of Stamford, will be joining us in the Archdiocese of Hartford as we mount a campaign against this horrific development.”
I think I’ll write a note to the archdiocese, suggesting that this letter SHALL be read to parishoners.
Obama picking a fight with the Vatican; does anyone know where I can get a bet down?
When I visited my parent's house, they never heard of the letter. The first time they noticed it was in the bulletin I brought from my parish. I assumed that my diocese bishop must have specifically written the letter just for the Eparchy of Parma.
Now comes this article on FR saying all Catholic bishops in the U.S. were supposed to send out a variation of that letter. I wonder how many of them actually did so? Especially since the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the biggest of the country and in the heart of Obama's power base.
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