Catholic Lawmakers Confronted on Pro-Abortion Stance

Just days before the 30th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, the Vatican challenged Catholic politicians to apply their religious beliefs to their political decisions, including those dealing with abortion. Pro-life Catholics took that call one step further Tuesday, asking bishops to discipline errant lawmakers.

The 12-page "doctrinal note," issued Jan. 16 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is not a comprehensive guide to political life for Catholics, "but intends only to recall some principles proper to the Christian conscience, which inspires the social and political involvement of Catholics in democratic societies."

Among those principles is that the church's pro-life position is non-negotiable, especially for Catholics who hold elective office.

"[T]hose who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a 'grave and clear obligation to oppose' any law that attacks human life," the document states, quoting Pope John Paul II. "This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia... Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death."

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the Vatican's note strikes the proper balance between devotion to one's faith and the differences between politics and religion.

"Catholic politicians cannot subscribe to any notion which equates freedom or democracy with a moral relativism that denies these moral principles," Gregory said in a statement.

"The values brought by Christians to the political process must not be muted or silenced by any intolerant secularism," he continued, "which would deny the legitimacy of moral values espoused by Christians who would speak or act according to their conscience."

American Life League (ALL), a predominantly Catholic pro-life organization, announced Tuesday its plans to identify a "Deadly Dozen" Catholic members of Congress who are "flagrantly ignoring this truth."

Judie Brown, president of the group, is calling on the bishops responsible for the dioceses in which Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) and seven other lawmakers live, to discipline them for their pro-abortion positions and votes.

"Because they are in favor of abortion, they have violated the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church," Brown said. "They should be denied access to the sacrament of Holy Communion until such time as they make reparation in public for their advocacy of this terrible sin of abortion."

Kennedy invoked the Bill of Rights in defending the contradiction between his church's beliefs and his political positions.

"It is important to maintain the separation of church and state. I've always done that, and I will continue to do so," Kennedy said. "It's part of the oath every senator takes, to defend the Constitution."

"'Separation of church and state' means that the state may not impose a religion on the people of the United States of America," Brown said. "It does not mean that [a senator] is required by law to deny the existence of God."

Kerry cited responsibilities to his constituents in defending his admitted disobedience to church law.

"As a Catholic, I have enormous respect for the words and teachings of the Vatican," Kerry said. "[But] I represent all the people of Massachusetts, and they expect me to speak with respect for all of their views and values."

"You are a practicing Catholic," Brown said of Kerry. "If you truly believe in the doctrine of the Catholic faith, then you know that your first allegiance is to God and that, after that, you have allegiance to the people of your state.

"If you have chosen to favor abortion because the people of your state expect that of you," Brown challenged Kerry, "then, please, no longer call yourself Catholic."

Both men invoked a comment by Kennedy's late brother, President John F. Kennedy, who sought to comfort Protestant voters concerned that the Vatican might hold sway over an American president.

President Kennedy stated that no elected official should be "limited or conditioned by any religious oath, ritual, or obligation," Sen. Edward Kennedy said. "I continue to agree with the clear position taken by President Kennedy."

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, in a letter to be released Wednesday, addressed the late president's comments and their application to modern-day politics.

"John F. Kennedy promised he'd keep his Catholic faith out of his public service," Chaput wrote. "I think all Americans - not just Catholics - have been paying for that mistake for 40 years."

While politics is obviously the focus of the debate, Brown sees the underlying issue as one of simple honesty.

"This is the way it is. This is the law of the church," Brown concluded. "Please obey the law or don't call yourself Catholic."

ALL's "Deadly Dozen" will be featured in the first part of a three-part advertising campaign designed to call attention to the contradictions between the Catholic lawmakers' stated religious beliefs and their pro-abortion records.

Click here to view the "doctrinal note" published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Catholic Church.

The notorious Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is "outed" as one of the deadly dozen, but her partner in crime, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), who is also Catholic is not mentioned because he is Greek Orthodox not Roman Catholic. Does anyone know what the Greek and Russian Orthodox Catholic positions are on abortion (can't imagine it is anything but against) and will they do something similar to what the Roman Catholics just did? Will Protestant denominations follow suit? Will the Roman Catholic church have the guts enough to go one step further and ex-communicate these politicians for their anti-Catholic beliefs?

"It is important to maintain the separation of church and state. I've always done that,

This is true and it needs to be permanent

Well hopefully this divorced man that needed a confessional badly after Chappaquiddick needs to be seperated from the church that allows him to pretend he is a Christian

I guess you have a different bible than me. Mine has admonitions against the kind of viterol you display.

Come to think of it, you DO have a different bible than me. LOL

Putz, cretin, heretic.

Leaving aside the first one for a moment in your name calling barrage, explain why you think I am a cretin and then what I said that was heresy.

Take your pick and while you try and tap dance during your particular judgment we'll be shaking our heads at your sorry backside.

What have I done that will cause this tap dance at judgement? Be specific please.

BTW, what is the definition of "putz" Mr. Catholic?

Putz has a couple of definitions, oh learned one. The one that applies to you is fool or idiot. The word that those of you who are spelling challenged and that you thought would be appropriate is vitriol but it isn't since none of my remarks are bitterly abusive. People like you have a tough time accepting the truth, putz. Cretin is also appropriate in that you have demonstrated that you are an idiot. Rejecting the teachings of the Catholic Church makes you, by definition, a heretic. Get someone who can spell help you look those words up but try not to exhibit your stupidity by laughing so much.

You have an abridged, heavily edited version of the Bible. The original was brought to the world in book form by the Catholic Church in 405 AD.

You are a funny man. Demented, but funny.

Putz is yiddish for penis, oh learned one. And calling someone names time after time like cretin, idiot, stupid, penis, fool and heretic is bitterly abusive whether you want to admit it or not. It's not allowed in any bible. And your Pope disagrees with you on whether people who are not Roman Catholic are heretics. As you know, the Pope is infallable on such matters, so turn in your Catholic pride button and hit your knees.

People like you are the reason that the problems in your church, like pedophilia, are driving real people of faith away. I'm not so sure that your Roman Catholic brethern here are very proud of your association with them.

You are a disgrace to your church.

"If you have chosen to favor abortion because the people of your state expect that of you," Brown challenged Kerry, "then, please, no longer call yourself Catholic."

IMO, they are only "Catholic" in as far as it is politically convenient. About the same as when they say they love this country. Or Holy Joe when he asks you if he told you he is Jewish etc, etc.

"John F. Kennedy promised he'd keep his Catholic faith out of his public service," Chaput wrote. "I think all Americans - not just Catholics - have been paying for that mistake for 40 years."

I AGREE.

KEEP YOUR OAR IN THE WATER AND ROW OR GET OUT OF THE BOAT!

It's no accident that BILLDO had JFK as a mentor.

Choices have consequences else there's no authentic choice.

The 'choice' for abortion has a consequence different from the choice against abortion else there'd be no fight.

Either the choice to BE a Roman believer makes a difference or it's no choice.

Alas, we protestants have plenty of 'rice Christians' too. Where the convenience stops, the 'Christianity' stops, too.

God has a few words about those turning back from the faith.

Lot's wife evidently found His words very salty, indeed.

"It is important to maintain the separation of church and state. I've always done that, and I will continue to do so," Kennedy said. "It's part of the oath every senator takes, to defend the Constitution."

From the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

Can somebody tell me where the term "separation of church and state" occurs in the Constitution?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.