Posted on 09/21/2012 8:42:15 PM PDT by annalex
On Jan. 8, 1962, President John F. Kennedy wrote a letter expressing condolences on the death of James Cardinal Gibbons. Kennedy, who rarely discussed his Catholicism, did so while describing the Cardinal: "He nobly expresses the essential traditions of my church in the United States ... the deep sympathy for the plight of the working man and of minorities, the steady concern for the betterment of society and mankind."
Thus, it was somewhat startling to see JFK's daughter, Caroline, invoke her father's name and describe herself as a "Catholic woman" when espousing a passionate defense of abortion rights at the Democratic Convention. President Kennedy never publicly commented on abortion and, indeed, his brother Teddy was ardently pro-life when he began his political career. Of course, that changed over time as Sen. Kennedy evolved into a liberal lion and enthusiastically entered the pro-choice den.
Caroline Kennedy has to know that the Catholic Church condemns abortion. It is a mortal sin in the eyes of the institution. There is no debate on that. So for Ms. Kennedy to describe herself as a Catholic woman in the context of promoting "reproductive rights" is a direct insult to her religion. Why would she do that? Other Catholic politicians like Mario Cuomo say they don't personally believe in abortion but respect the legal process that allows it. Not Caroline Kennedy — she openly told the world that she is an abortion crusader.
A Gallup poll says 24 percent of practicing Catholics believe abortion is morally acceptable. At first glance that's hard to fathom, but not when you analyze the landscape. After Caroline Kennedy's speech, not one American Catholic leader publicly criticized her. There was complete silence from the Archbishops. Given a huge opportunity to explain why all life should be considered sacred, and why Ms. Kennedy is misguided — to say the least — the clerics passed. Call it the silence of the lambs.
It was obvious at the Democratic Convention that President Obama and the Democratic Party are extremely bullish on "reproductive rights" and are using the issue to promote a fabricated "war on women" by the Republican Party. In response, the GOP has little to offer. It fears being branded "anti-woman."
But theologians don't have to run for office or curry favor with any group. They supposedly have a moral obligation to define their beliefs and stand up for what they consider God's will.
Abortion eliminates life. That's what the procedure does. Human DNA is present upon conception. If the Catholic Church believes that abortion is against what God intended, then it should be just as adamant about stating its case as Caroline Kennedy is about stating hers.
It is not.
Bill O'Reilly hosts "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News and has written many books, including "The No Spin Zone."
If the Catholic Church believes that abortion is against what God intended, then it should be just as adamant about stating its case as Caroline Kennedy is about stating hers.
Perhaps the Catholics, like most of the rest of us, couldn’t give a rat’s @ss what Caroline or any other Kennedy has to say about anything....??
The same attitude of “my religion won't influence my politics” has been used as cover ever since.
This is why I am so disillusioned with the Catholic Church—not Catholic Theology-—just the hierarchy..... Geeeeshh. They are such cowards and so afraid at how the press will portray them if they voice the Truth.
It is the environment that Pastor Bonhoeffer talked about which transformed Germany into secular humanism in the 20’s and 30’s-—same in many popular churches in the US like Riverside in 31. “Religionless Christianity” . Just mush preached inside the churches.
They might as well throw in the towel and bow to Satan if they don’t SHOUT the Truth from the rafters.
No one can hear them above the din of the press and preaching of Godless feminists. The Church needs to get real men in the Church again and get rid of the pansies. Can they please find someone with the personality of a St. Paul!!!! Stand by the Church—Shout the Truth and Stand Tall and Proud. You have a group to support you.....get rid of the progressive Marxists/homosexuals that are undermining the Church from within and study Jonathan Edwards or SOMETHING!!!! ACT! and stand by the Truth. Excommunicate these radical Godless Feminists, please.
Ted Baxter reminds me why I quit watching his dumb show.
Serial intern harassing O'Reilly opining about anything Catholic is the epitome of chutzpah. The next time he goes to the Ed Sullivan theater to schmooze with fellow philanderer Letterman somebody needs to ask him if he thinks the Sixth Commandment is just a suggestion.
Ping for later.
Yep. The Leprechaun is a sell out. But, we already knew that.
A few years ago I didn’t know who he was, and couldn’t watch his show, so I read one of his books. I got the impression that O’Reilly was pro-choice, I think the book was from the late 1990s.
The truth is, she hasn't really been Catholic in years. I'm not even sure how seriously she pretends to be Catholic anymore. It's kind of funny that the media have stopped referring to her as Caroline Schlossberg Kennedy in recent years -- as if to avoid raising the obvious questions about her Catholic "credentials" if she has a Jewish spouse.
I only know what happened through O'Reilly's article, -- I am one who doesn't, really, give a rat's ass about conventions, -- but if the article is factually correct, this is a speech given at a convention of a major political party by a well-known offspring of a prominent clan, who framed her speech as one given by a "Catholic woman".
O'Reilly makes a correct point: reasonable lay people can safely ignore any such speech, but the bishops of the Church have a duty to teach, and therefore to correct a public misapplication of the epithet "Catholic" to things that are anti-Catholic.
Amazing fact is that JFK's weasel act somehow added to his popularity, -- and not among our theological opponents such as Jews, Muslim or Calvinist but among the very Catholics this coward promised to betray.
There was, this political season, one moment that still may redeem it to political history: the "I wanted to puke" remark by Santorum. Of course, nausea is not healed by wanting to puke, but by actually puking, but it was a start. Maybe next time the relief comes.
I don’t care what Caroline Kennedy has to say or BOR.
Absolutely. But it won't happen until we have real men in the pews, who won't stand for a gelding leadership.
This is why voices like O'Reilly's matter.
Who's that?
I disagree. No one needs to wait for his own sanctity before he can point out a real problem, that of Catholic leadership.
Thank you.
It doesn’t matter who O’Reilly is.
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