Courtesy The New York Times.
As the Roman Catholic Church observes its annual “respect life†Sunday in this heated presidential election season, the unusually pitched competition for Catholic voters is setting off a round of skirmishes over how to apply the church’s teachings not only on abortion but also on the war in Iraq, immigration and racism.
In a departure from previous elections, Democrats and liberal Catholic groups are waging a fight within the church, arguing that the Democratic Party better reflects the full spectrum of church teachings.
It is a contest for credibility among observant Catholics, with each faction describing itself as a defender of “life.†The two sides disagree over how to address the “intrinsic evil†of abortion.
The escalating efforts by more-liberal Catholics are provoking a vigorous backlash from some bishops and the right.
In Scranton, Pa., every Catholic attending Mass this weekend will hear a special homily about the election next month: Bishop Joseph Martino has ordered every priest in the diocese to read a letter warning that voting for a supporter of abortion rights amounts to endorsing “homicide.â€
“Being ‘right’ on taxes, education, health care, immigration and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life,†the bishop wrote. “It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice.’ â€
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October 6th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Why is it that leaders in the Catholic Church seem to put their heads up their jackasses? Need I remind them of the history of their own church and the mass homicide the Church has had a hand in. The previous pope even apologies* for it…
“Language of the apologies:
The language used in both Pope John Paul II’s apology and the “Memory and Reconciliation” seems to downplay the seriousness of the sins and errors committed:
+ In an apparent reference to the instructions of church leaders and councils which resulted in burning hundreds of thousands of Jews alive, in exiling them from entire countries, in forcing them into ghettos, the document said that “The hostility and wariness of numerous Christians toward Jews over the course of time is a painful historic fact.” In the pope’s homily, he referred to “attitudes of mistrust and hostility assumed towards followers of other religions.” Some might think that the church’s actions went well beyond simple “hostility,” ” wariness” and ” mistrust” to include mass murder and perhaps even genocide.
+ In an apparent reference to:
- the jailing, torture, and burning alive of individuals such as outspoken scientists, people perceived to be heretics, natural healers, midwives and others, and to
- the wars of extermination committed by the Church against the Cathars, Knights Templars and other break-away Christian groups,
the pope referred to “the use of violence that some have committed in the service of truth..” The report refers “to intolerance and even the use of force in the service of truth.” It also discusses the past “lack of discernment by many Christians in situations where basic human rights were violated.” Some might think that the church’s:
- Use of torture on prisoners, and the subsequent burning them alive, and
- Genocide against entire religious groups,
went well beyond simple violence and lack of appreciation of human rights. Fr. “Brugues was more direct in his language. According to Reuters, he “said this was a reference to the Inquisition, which was marked by the torture and killing of people branded as heretics, and the enforced conversion of non-believers.”"
*( reference… http://www.religioustolerance.org/popeapo2.htm )
Oh, but that’s history and it’s in the past. Really? Should we discuss Liberation Theology in South America and how the Vatican put the squash to it and how many people continue to die because by squashing it the Vatican, indirectly, supported the murderers? I’ll even go so far as to bet that those murderers are very religious Catholics and probably against abortion.
Ok, so now this good bishop wants us to support candidates who are against abortion. Does he not know that those same candidates also support the death penalty and the war in Iraq? Isn’t that homicide too. Those same candidates support cutting government programs to family’s and especially children in such areas as healthcare, welfare and education. How many will died because of that? Sorry bishop, but focusing on one point is a grave mistake that can be made by both sides of the political spectrum. Your single issue was a major focus point in the last two elections and just take a good look at where this country stands now. May I suggest that a person must consider all of the issues before making a good informed decision and penalizing that person with “being cut off from their religion” for considering all of the issues doesn’t help matters.