Posted on 01/25/2003 8:37:41 PM PST by Polycarp
How The Media Spun The March
CRISIS Magazine - e-Letter
January 24, 2003
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Where were you 30 years ago?
You may not remember. In fact, you might not have even been born. But whether you recall January 22, 1973 or not, you and I are living in its dark shadow.
As you may have seen on the news, things here in DC were hopping over the past few days as people geared up for the event. Both pro-life and pro-death (oops, "pro-choice") forces were hoping to get their voices heard. If you read about the events in any of the newspapers, you might have thought that the march was dominated by belligerent "anti-choicers." The Washington Post ran a cover photo yesterday with the caption, "Anger-Filled Anniversary." Other articles highlighted the pro-abortion demonstrations in detail, making them sound widespread, while the March for Life was made to seem like a lesser fringe event.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me give you a better idea of what happened, from someone who actually lives here and saw it first hand.
Commemorations of the day actually began the night before. At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a "Mass for Life" was attended by five cardinals, 36 bishops, 250 priests, and 7,000 people from across the country to begin what Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua called "a day of mourning."
"Most anniversaries are causes for celebration," Bevilacqua said. "This one is not. It is a day of mourning. Mourning for this immoral, unjust, illogical decision." Following the mass, the archbishop led an all-night vigil at the shrine to pray for the 40 million children aborted since 1973 and all other people who have been affected by abortion.
While Catholics were mourning at the shrine, on the other side of town, NARAL Pro-Choice America was throwing a party. The gala event attracted many prominent figures in the pro-abortion cause, including all six of the declared Democratic presidential candidates.
What followed was an evening of self-congratulatory pats on the back for "protecting the rights of women" and a side-show event featuring the Democratic presidential hopefuls tumbling stooge-like over one another to be seen as the greatest protector of abortion.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said, "This is about human rights. This is about human dignity." (Earth to Al...your spaceship is cleared for landing.)
Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri claimed temporary insanity as he told stories about his naïve early days as a pro-lifer in Congress. Now, of course, he has seen the light: "I did not fully understand the consequences of my action and my beliefs. Over the next decade, my eyes were opened...."
Probably the most disturbing comment came from Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- a self-proclaimed Catholic -- who vowed to take on the president over the abortion issue. "One of the first things I'll tell him is, 'There's a defining issue between us. I trust women to make their own decisions. You don't.'"
Last week, Kerry showed his true colors when he flatly rejected the Vatican's document on the responsibility of Catholic politicians to support life. This week, he seems ready to sell his soul to become the next president.
Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut topped off the speeches by saying, "If you believe in choice, there is only one choice, and that is the next Democratic nominee for president." (Why do so many people think this guy is a "different kind of Democrat"?)
Of course, this leaves no choice at all for pro-life Democrats who have now been left high-and-dry by their party -- one that's increasingly proud to be known as the party of death. (See our story on the sad plight of pro-life Democrats here: http://www.crisismagazine.com/may2002/feature1.htm)
But as revealing as the warm-up events were, Wednesday was the big day for everyone. Anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 pro-lifers gathered by the Washington Monument for the March for Life, a procession that made its way down Constitution Avenue to the steps of the Supreme Court. Young and old both -- but an especially encouraging number of young -- carried signs and banners declaring their dedication to life, singing and praying as they went. It certainly was a change of pace from the usual marches that come through DC: No arrests, no violence or vandalism, and no clownish chanting of "Free Mumia!"
You might be wondering where the pro-abortion demonstrators were during the march. To be honest, so was I. Apparently, a handful showed up at the Supreme Court, but I never saw one myself. They must have been lost in the masses of pro-life supporters.
Of course, the papers make it sound like there was a showdown between the two groups on the steps of the Supreme Court. Both the Washington Post and Times ran different pictures of pro-life marchers arguing with some pro-abortion demonstrator. Funny thing is, both papers had pictures of the same pro-abortion guy. It kind of makes you wonder if the papers had to plant him to get their "anger-filled" angle on the day.
So don't be fooled by the reports -- the march was a huge success. Maybe it won't change legislation overnight, but it rededicated millions of Americans across the nation to the support of the sanctity of human life, a battle we'll fight to the end.
Helping lead that fight is Sacramento Bishop William Weigand. You may not have heard his name in the news before, but you'll want to remember it now. Weigand gave what is arguably one of the strongest statements on our duty to defend life that I have ever heard.
In a homily delivered on Wednesday, Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanaugh for confronting California Governor -- and "Catholic" -- Gray Davis for his pro-abortion position. The bishop said, "I applaud Monsignor Kavanagh for his strong and consistent witness. People need to understand that you cannot call yourself a Catholic in good standing and at the same time publicly hold views that are contradictory to the Catholic faith. Thank you, Monsignor Kavanagh, for standing up for the unborn, for your dedication to truth and for your pastoral concern for souls, including the Governor's."
When was the last time you heard a bishop -- let alone a priest -- standing up to their political leaders on abortion?
Weigand went on to say, "As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone -- politician or otherwise -- who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the Church. Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart."
I would quote his entire homily here if I had the space, but there's just too much to say. You can read it for yourself at http://diocese-sacramento.org/bishops/bishop.prolife.homily.2003.htm. Please take a look. It's a blueprint for what EVERY bishop should be saying.
Finally, a bishop with the courage to lead and the integrity to do the right thing! Bishop Weigand reminds us of our duty, not just to commemorate an anniversary once a year, but to live our Christian lives fully, every day, and without fear.
If this sounds like too great a task for one small person, remember the good bishop's words: "As the U.S. bishops remind us: 'We are not powerless. We can make a difference. We belong to the Lord; in him is our strength and through his grace, we can change the world.'"
Weigand went on to say, "As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone -- politician or otherwise -- who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the Church. Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart."
I would quote his entire homily here if I had the space, but there's just too much to say. You can read it for yourself at http://diocese-sacramento.org/bishops/bishop.prolife.homily.2003.htm. Please take a look. It's a blueprint for what EVERY bishop should be saying.
Finally, a bishop with the courage to lead and the integrity to do the right thing! Bishop Weigand reminds us of our duty, not just to commemorate an anniversary once a year, but to live our Christian lives fully, every day, and without fear.
If this sounds like too great a task for one small person, remember the good bishop's words: "As the U.S. bishops remind us: 'We are not powerless. We can make a difference. We belong to the Lord; in him is our strength and through his grace, we can change the world.'"
Pinging!
Dear Friends,
Today marks thirty years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. The Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions made abortion legal throughout pregnancy. These decisions held that the child in the womb is not human like the rest of us: that the child in the womb does not have a fundamental and inalienable right to live.
Instead of liberating women from discrimination, abortion has betrayed women. As the U.S. bishops wrote in November: "Legal abortion promised what it could not give. It promised women freedom to participate more fully in society, but it took their children and broke their hearts. Countless women have suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually because of abortion; many have even lost their lives. Many men, too, mourn the loss of their children, while others carry the heavy burden of having persuaded their daughter, wife, or girlfriend to have an abortion." (A Matter of the Heart) Women are blessed by God and are created equal to men, with no need to mutilate or poison themselves and kill their own children in order to be regarded as equals.
We must not be discouraged because the Roe v. Wade decision still stands, or that abortion has become a virtual entitlement that cannot even be questioned. We must be people of hope. We cannot see all that God sees, and we know that Life will triumph over death and Truth will triumph over lies. The culture of death is a culture of lies.
Roe v. Wade will not stand forever. In fact, the tide has been turning for some time now. About ten days ago, the Sacramento Bee reported that the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, acknowledges that the abortion rate has fallen to its lowest level in 29 years. While 1.3 million abortions still take place every year in the U.S. (42 million in the last 30 years), there is more reason than ever to be hopeful. In a Matter of the Heart, the November statement by the Bishops, we note the following:
Today fewer abortions are being performed each year, and fewer doctors are willing to be involved in abortion.
More Americans identify themselves as pro-life, while the number of those saying they are pro-choice has declined significantly.
Ultrasound and other medical advances have made possible a greater appreciation of the humanity of the unborn child. (Last November, Time magazine had a wonderful issue on the new technology available to observe human life in its earliest stages. A front cover photograph of a fetus showed the clear development of the brain, heart, and other organs of a child only 54 days after conception.)
The Bishops' message goes on to observe:
In these three decades, thousands of pregnancy resource centers have been established to provide practical assistance and support to women facing difficult pregnancies, aiding many thousands in need of help.
Most state legislatures have enacted measures to restrict or regulate the practice of abortion and reduce its incidence.
Roe v. Wade's disregard for human life has moved some people to reconsider their positions in favor of capital punishment and to resist the push to legalize assisted suicide. Above all, the pro-life movement is making major gains among the young. "Many in the last generation fought for legal abortion, but more today fight for true freedom for women." In recent Gallup polls, major restrictions on abortion were supported by 55% of adults under 30, a higher figure than for any age group except those 65 and over. Our young people know that they were created as unique individuals with their own unique DNA from the moment of their conception. They look around them and realize that in every gathering of people under thirty, one third of them are missing, because they were killed before they were even born.
As many of you are aware, Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, Pastor of St. Rose Parish and Director of St. Patrick's Home, has been one of our leading pro-life activists for many years. He has spoken the truth without regard to whether it was popular or not. In December, Monsignor confronted Governor Gray Davis about his support of abortion and challenged him to examine his conscience. I applaud Monsignor Kavanagh for his strong and consistent witness. People need to understand that you cannot call yourself a Catholic in good standing and at the same time publicly hold views that are contradictory to the Catholic faith. Thank you, Monsignor Kavanagh, for standing up for the unborn, for your dedication to truth and for your pastoral concern for souls, including the Governor's.
In stating publicly that many Catholics believe as he does, and insisting that women should retain the right to decide to kill their own children by aborting them, under the guise of making their own decisions about their bodies, Governor Davis needs to recall that we do not own our bodies. We are not proprietors. We are stewards — stewards of a sacred trust. We all must decide how to care for our bodies. But abortion entails another body, that of the infant. The prohibition of God and of the law of nature is abundantly clear: "Thou shalt not kill."
As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone — politician or otherwise — who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the Church. Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart.
Just last week, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed a statement directly to politicians. In part, it stated: Catholic politicians "have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard. Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals."
Issues of the sacredness of human life and other questions of basic morality are matters of natural moral law, not simply of Church teaching. The Vatican statement states: "No Catholic can appeal to the principle of pluralism or to the autonomy of lay involvement in political life to support policies affecting the common good which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical requirements." There can be no division between public and private morality. It is untenable to say, "I am personally opposed to abortion," but support someone else's right to kill their unborn baby. Catholic moral doctrine respects the "rightful autonomy of the political or civil sphere from that of religion and the Church — but not from morality."
The U.S. Bishops' statement of November 1998, Living the Gospel of Life, is even more explicit. "As bishops, we have the responsibility to call Americans to conversion, including political leaders, and especially those publicly identified as Catholics. As chief teachers in the Church, we must therefore explain, persuade, correct and admonish those in leadership positions who contradict the Gospel of life through their actions and policies. Catholic public officials who disregard Church teaching on the inviolability of the human person indirectly collude in the taking of innocent life." (#29)
"We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin. We call on them to reflect on the grave contradiction of assuming public roles and presenting themselves as credible Catholics when their actions on fundamental issues of human life are not in agreement with Church teaching. No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life. No appeal to policy, procedure, majority will or pluralism ever excuses a public official from defending life to the greatest extent possible. Those who justify their inaction on the grounds that abortion is the law of the land need to recognize that there is a higher law, the law of God. No human law can validly contradict the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill.'" (#32)
The path Jesus chose was not the easy one; but then the path of a leader never is. A true leader stands up for what is right, not for what is popular, and serves as an example for the rest of us. We know it is not politically correct to be pro-life; but right and wrong, good and evil, are never revealed to us in a poll. All human life is sacred. As stewards of God's gift, we are to respect and protect it — always and without exception. "Governor, we pray for you that you will change your heart."
As the U.S. bishops remind us: "We are not powerless. We can make a difference. We belong to the Lord; in him is our strength and through his grace, we can change the world." (#27)
The bishops also state: "We renew our offer of assistance to anyone considering abortion: If you are overwhelmed by the decisions you face, if you cannot afford medical care, if you are homeless or feel helpless, whatever your needs, we will help you. The Church and her ministries, inspired by the word and example of Jesus Christ, will help you with compassion and without condemnation.
"Roe v. Wade cannot stand as the law of this great nation, a nation founded on the self-evident truth that all people are created with an inalienable right to life. We are committed, no matter how long it may take, no matter the sacrifices required, to bringing about a reversal of this tragic Supreme Court decision. We will speak out on behalf of the sanctity of each and every human life wherever it is threatened, from conception to natural death. Roe v. Wade must be reversed." (November 2002)
Nice.
Because Canon Law does not explicitly state that politicians who actively vote to increase availability/legality/funding of abortion are automatically excommunicated. This gives these bishops wiggle room, and the so-called "Catholic politicians a loophole whereby they can technically still claim to be practicing Catholics.
Why give him the option of voluntarily abstaining from Holy Communion?
Good question. Bishops do have the authority to impose an Interdict.
An interdict is a censure, or prohibition, excluding the faithful from participation in certain holy things. These holy things are all those pertaining to Christian worship, and are divided into three classes:
*the Divine offices, in other words the Liturgy, and in general all acts performed by clerics as such, and having reference to worship
*the sacraments, excepting private administrations of those that are of necessity;
*ecclesiastical burial, including all funeral services.
We at the Catholic Family Association of America are working on getting a private audience with the Pope to present
1)the excommunication petition, to Excommunicate Culture of Death "Catholics" and
If you have not yet signed the excommunication petition, its not too late!
And please keep our efforts in your prayers, especially that our private audience with the Pope is secured and schedulued soon, to coincide with recent Vatican directives mentioned in the article above.
--Dr. Brian Kopp (Polycarp),
Vice President,
Catholic Family Association of America
Here is our request:
A Canonical Petition to Interdict or Excommunicate Culture of Death "Catholics"
TO:
Pope John Paul II,
Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church
Special Note: Part I of the petition requests changes in Canon 1398 to afford more protection for innocent life. Part II is a request for the 'medicinal' interdiction from the sacraments, pending repentance of grave public sin, and calls for excommunication of only those who stubbornly persist in supporting the Culture of Death. You incur no civil or financial liability in signing this petition.
FROM:
PETITIONERS
Mr. Stephen G. Brady, President, Roman Catholic Faithful
Dr. Craig Bozzacco, D.D.S., President, Dentists for Life
Mr. Michael Cain, Editor, The Daily Catholic
Mr. Vinny Ciappetta, President, National Cops for Life
Mr. Christopher A. Ferrara,
President, American Catholic Lawyers Association
Dr. Brian J. Kopp, Columnist,
Vice President, Catholic Family Association of America
Dr. Claude E. Newbury, President, Pro-Life South Africa; Founding Member, Intrnl. Right to Life
Regional Representative for Human Life Int.
Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, PhD, Editor, SAPIENTIA> Magazine; Co-host EWTN's Web of Faith,
President, Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Mrs. Judie Brown, President, American Life League, Inc.
Mr. Richard L. Bucci, President, Catholic Radio, NY
Mr. Timothy A. Chichester,
President, Catholic Family Association of America, Inc.
Mr. William Cotter, President, Operation Rescue-Boston
Dr. Chris Kahlenborn, Author, "Breast Cancer: It's Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill"
Mr. Phillip F. Lawler, Editor, Catholic World News
Charles P. Prezzia MD, MPH,
President, Catholic Medical Association
Mr. Joseph Scheidler, Director, Pro-Life Action League
Donna Steichen, Author of "Ungodly Rage"
Monica M. Miller, Ph.D., Author
(Remainder to be filled upon closing of the signatory phase)
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request the following relief:
A. That Pope John Paul II, Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church take jurisdiction of this petition.
B. That Canon 1398 be changed to read: "A person who deliberately enables an abortion or euthanization incurs a latae sententiae excommunication. An elected or appointed official who votes for legislation enabling abortion or euthanasia or who publicly propagandizes for or promotes abortion or euthanasia incurs a latae sententiae excommunication."
C. That he issue to the bishops specific directives concerning the implementation and enforcement of interdiction and excommunication for public promoters of abortion, euthanasia and other forms of direct attack upon life.
D. That he publicly order Defendants to:
1. Refrain from any act or statement which enables, supports or condones abortion, euthanasia and other
forms of direct attack upon life.
2. Publicly repent and retract their errors and promise no further acts and/or statements
which enable, support or condone abortion, euthanasia and other forms of direct attack upon life.
3. Refrain from reception of the sacrament of Eucharist until the above orders have been followed.
E. That he publicly declare that Defendants' acts and/or statements as alleged are:
1. Contrary to and inimical to the faith of the Catholic Church ;
2. A scandal to the Mystical Body of Christ, the faithful of the Catholic Church ; and
3. A sacrilege to the Real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ when Defendants receive
the sacrament of the Eucharist.
F. In the event that any Defendant fails to follow any of the above orders to publicly
excommunicate him or her from the Catholic Church .
Dated at (to be implemented upon closing of the signatory phase)
Counter clockwise, that is to the left. It also is the direction of the so called "counter culture" which has now had about 35 years to work it's magic, which it has, pretty much messing up everything.
Us big family homeschooling gun toting Christian conservatives are the real counter-culture ;-)
And we're out-producing the infecund culture of death counter culture. We're gonna win just by numbers, regardless of the rest of the culture wars.
However, it is frightening to think that a bishop is courageous and prophetic when all he is doing is the normal bare minimum required of a Christian shepherd, and a bit late in this abortion game at that.
Our common denominator has fallen so low that when a bishop speaks that which is blatantly obvious to my ten year old we must applaud it, because its the lonely voice in a huge moral vaccuum.
God have Mercy on us. Please.
I've got some strong opinions on the capital punishment issue too.
Fortunately, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in its 1992 form, does not exclude the possibility that a state could justifiably use capital punishment in cases "of extreme gravity," but adds: "If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority should limit itself to such means..." [#2266, 2267]
Capital Punishment has continuously been regarded as morally licit, for the vast majority of the history of Christianity, with some modern changes in thinking.
St. Thomas Aquinas sums up the thought of most Christian tradition on the subject,
"The life of certain pestiferous men is an impediment to the common good which is the concord of human society. Therefore, certain men must be removed by death from the society of men.... Therefore, the ruler of a state executes pestiferous men justly and sinlessly in order that the peace of the state may not be disrupted.... [However], the execution of the wicked is forbidden wherever it cannot be done with out danger to the good. Of course, this often happens when the wicked are not clearly distinguished from the good by their sins, or when the danger of the evil involving many good men in this ruin is feared" (Book III, ch. 146).
Clearly, the continual teaching of Christianity has been that Capital Punishment is not only necessary but also just and licit. I don't think there is any danger for the Catholic politician who expresses this traditional view.
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