The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration.
In an impassioned discussion on Catholics in public life, several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy. Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates.
But Dr. Patrick Whelan, a pediatrician and president of Catholic Democrats, said angry statements from church leaders were counterproductive and would only alienate Catholics.
"We're calling on the bishops to move away from the more vicious language," Whelan said. He said the church needs to act "in a more creative, constructive way," to end abortion.
Catholics United was among the groups that argued in direct mail and TV ads during the campaign that taking the "pro-life" position means more than opposing abortion rights.
Chris Korzen, the group's executive director, said, "we honestly want to move past the deadlock" on abortion. He said church leaders were making that task harder.
"What are the bishops going to do now?" Korzen said. "`They have burned a lot of bridges with the Democrats and the new administration."
Good! What are you going to do, convince Obama to stick us all in re-education camps?!
SUPPORT OF AN OBAMA PRESIDENCY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH FIDELITY TO OUR CATHOLIC FAITH! BEING A FAITHFUL ROMAN CATHOLIC IS NOT ABOUT WINNING FRIENDS!
11 comments:
Amen!
Mark my words: their is a coming schism in the Catholic Church. It will split between the conservative, principled Church and the Liberal Church.
60% of Catholics, currently, are registered Democrats. SIXTY PERCENT.
Hey there, lady! I gave your post a shout-out because I loved it. Just loved it!
Being a Faithful Roman Catholic Is Not About Winning Friends
Tim, that is a sad piece of information. Wow. It almost makes the SSPX look good to me.
Tim - the schism is already here, and the line, defined by the Church and defended by many bishops, has been brought into clearer focus by this election.
IMHO, at least.
Dig:
Let's hope the Bishops put the continue to put the teachings of the Church above the "feelings" of its congregations. If "Catholics" don't want to adhere to the teachings of the Church, then I am certain they can find other churches that will accomodate their beliefs.
Remember: the original word for "cafeteria-Catholic" is "heretic".
60% of Catholics, currently, are registered Democrats. SIXTY PERCENT.
Tim, 40 years ago, I would probably have been a blue collar Democrat.
It's time they realized they need to leave the party because the Democratic party has left them.
Lock and load, fellow Catholics. They're coming for us next.
Obama will *not* be challenged or questioned. His moral authority is absolute and how dare the Bishops call him on it.
Someone recently wrote (and I wish I could remember where) that one reason Catholics are still largely Democratic is because of the rhetoric used against Catholics in the run-up to and the actual 1960 Presidential campaign. If so, it's pretty wretched: both that that rhetoric was used at all, and that almost fifty years later people are still cowed by it.
I am no Republican (in fact, my beloved recently said something about me being one in all but name and I told him never to say that to me again), but neither am I a Democrat. I am a Catholic. And regrettably, the Democratic Party has no room for me except when they want my vote or my money. If they're going to be as anti-life as the President-Elect has promised to be, I as a pro-life Catholic am clearly only welcome insofar as I throw my principles under the bus and get myself to the back of it.
Regrettably, I think Larry is right: the schism has been in place for some time.
Everyone must decide - wheat or chaff.
The schism is already here. We were all just too innocent/dumb/whatever to notice.
Were citizens of Heaven first!
The schism that "is already here" is a philosophical split.
I'm suggesting that, if Catholics do not re-discover the true Church, the split will be formal; between the Liberal Catholic Church (yes...they'll insist on calling themselves "Catholic") and the Conservative Catholic Church (or....as the Church was intended)
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