…the relative silence from the pulpit over the last few months may have deafened some Catholics already.

You’re right on that one…what happened to the little face-to-face Rep. Pelosi was supposed to be having with her Archbishop? I didn’t see anything coming out about her having to correct the record or apologize for her efforts to persuade Catholics (and others) to support abortion by deceiving them on the Church’s anti-abortion teaching.

Try not to blame the church for the failure and flaws of those mortals who make up the flock. Priests and bishops are no less human than the rest of us. We expect more of them and we are often dissapointed, but human beings are bound to dissapoint. God will not. I do not like or respect our parish priest, but that may only drive me to another parish, not from the church.

ThackerAgency

And we are happy not to have you. We have enough cafeteria Catholics, thanks.

The “pro-choice” movement is not pro-choice. It stands against the freedom to choose what is right according to the truth of the human person. In 2002, as an Illinois legislator, the present democratic candidate voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act. This law was meant to protect a baby that survived a late-term abortion. When the same legislation came up in the Judiciary Committee on which he served, he held to his opposition. First, he voted “present.” Next, he voted “no.” Along with 108 members of Congress, the present democratic candidate for President continues his strong support for the Freedom of Choice Act. In a speech before the Planned Parenthood Action Fund last year, he made the promise that the first thing he would do as President would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. What a choice for a new President!

Protestant, Obama supporter, Americans United…threatened Bishop Serratelli with IRS sanction or loss of non-profit status because of the above statement.

“This is also the month of the Angels. I ask you to join me in invoking the Guardian Angels of 47 million babies lost through abortion in our country in the last thirty-five years. This horrendous loss of life remains one of the greatest threats to human civilization we have ever faced. This week, please pray and make some sacrifices for our country. I ask every parish to provide some additional opportunity for prayer in the church: an evening Mass, or rosary, or time of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Say the rosary as individuals or as a family, or even simply a decade each night with your children. Say the election prayer. Give up meat, or do without some convenience this week. Make a good Act of Contrition and get to Confession. Offer a worthy Communion.”

Of course, Protestants don’t believe having sex with children is one of the sacraments like the male Catholic elitists do.

jim m on November 3, 2008 at 2:59 PM

Can someone explain why this kind of hatred-induced bashing of Catholics is accepted, but pretty much all other forms of bigotry and hate mongering toward other specific groups is not? even here at HA?

35 years ago I became very active in the pro-life movement. About ten years later I converted to Roman Catholic. Funny, my thoughts and feelings about the movement didn’t change at all. Pro-life is truly catholic (small “c”,universal).

Bishop Finn [refers to] paragraphs 2274 and 2322 of the Catechism…

What?! How many paragraphs does that thing have?
Sheesh, to become a Jew all you have to do is learn Hebrew!

http://www.gallup.com/poll/111715/Obamas-Support-Built-Change-McCains-Experience.aspx.

Only 3% of National Adults say it’s because of Abortion (one way or the otheer) although 5% of McCain’s supporters say its because of Abortion and 1% of Obama’s say the same.

Doesn’t this suggest that the Catholic Church failed in its message this time around?

While the Catechism instructions about supporting abortion are true and grave, it is just too manipulative to project this on the eve of the election as a vote that could put your eternal salvation in jeopardy.
-
Suppose President Obama is a reality — haven’t we now projected him as an agent of evil? Do we dare pay taxes for fear that some of those dollars will further the evil?
-
I expect my Church to nurture my spiritual development, to regularly challenge me to do a thorough examination of conscience, and to trust me to engage the world consistent with my Faith.
-
Since my eternal salvation is now at stake, I probably should bring my absentee ballot to Mass, and let the Bishop instruct me on the selections to make.

Mark30339 on November 3, 2008 at 5:50 PM

The Church is not ‘projecting’ this on the eve of the election. Catholics considering voting for the most pro-abortion candidate to ever run for President are getting a last reminder of what their religious authorities’ position is on this issue.

As if this wasn’t already widely known.

If you accept the Pope’s authority and the Church’s doctrine on this issue – they’re ALREADY challenging ‘(you) to do a thorough examination of (your) conscience’.

You either accept the Church Doctrine and Catechism as an authority or you do not.

If not, then the quote I made earlier applies to your situation.

When you accept what you like and reject what you don’t like, it’s not the Church, or the Pope, or the Bible you believe in but yourself.

The Catholic Church has made it crystal clear what it’s teaching is on this matter. If you can’t accept it, then you reject their authority. If you reject their authority, you have little cause for complaint when they reject you right back.

So why then are most pro-lifers NON-CATHOLIC?! And why then are MOST pro-choice politicians Catholic? Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry. . .

I appreciate that you’re using ‘most’, rather than ‘all’.
Can you quantify the numbers of pro-life Catholics or non-Catholic?
My expectation is that the politicians who profess to be Catholic, yet espouse political positions directly counter to Catholic doctrine do so for political gain, for temporal power. To some extent, their position may come from ignorance of the true teachings of the Church, but then again, it may be willful ignorance.

I just love the arrogance from Catholics that can’t see truth through their Vatican colored glasses. To you it is impossible for you to be a non-Catholic and pro-life. . . EVEN THOUGH THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT FROM INCEPTION WAS FROM PROTESTANTS LIKE FALWELL.

To whom is it impossible for an individual to be non-Catholic and pro-life? To a Catholic? I would disagree with that statement. Catholic Doctrine is clear that being Catholic necessitates affirming life at all stages. It’s absolutely true that some of the best leaders in the pro-life movement were/are not Catholic. Being non-Catholic does not preclude one from espousing the same position as a Catholic. It’s certainly true that Church leaders have not been the leaders that the faithful needed, at points in time. The Church appears to be actively taking steps to guide the Church members in their faith, again.

It doesn’t make sense that you people are smart, and you still seem to say that only Catholics are saved, only Catholics are pro-life, and that if you are not pro-life, you can leave the Catholic Church. A MAJORITY of American Catholics are pro-choice.

If pro choice Catholics leave the Catholic Church, you will have a lot of empty buildings on sundays. The fact that you Catholics can’t see that speaks volumes of the brainwashing that your receive.

“Saved” means many different things in religious contexts, and I’m not certain what context you’re referring to it as, so I’ll leave that point for now. As a Catholic, I accept the Church’s teaching that human life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. That view may define me as pro-life in many peoples’ eyes. Other views held by Catholics and non-Catholics alike who identify as pro-life may limit themselves to just the abortion issue. The majority of Catholics who identify as pro-abortion are probably not educated in their faith and may not be aware of Church teaching on the subject. If they have been educated, and choose to ignore it, it is their choice. It then falls to the faithful Catholics and Church leaders to encourage better understanding of the faith. This is the re-evangelization that JPII talked about throughout his papacy. I don’t think we’ll see a mass exodus from Catholic churches, but Catholics must become stronger in their faith, and reach out to their brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am just glad that I don’t belong to the Catholic fraternity. I’d much rather belong to the Christian Church. I don’t need a dude in a foreign country to tell me what to think.

I’m sorry you have such a negative view of the Church. Just keep in mind that the laws of God are permanent, immutable, unchangeable. Man cannot change those rules, not even if we think we know better. Gods laws are not mans’ laws. Not event the Pope can change them.

The Catholic Church needs a radical cleansing and now is as good a time as any to start bringing that about.

TheMightyQuinn on November 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM

I couldn’t agree more. This is the perfect time to remind the followers that ROMAN Catholic means following ROME.

And Pope Benedict XVI is the perfect man for the job.

It sure is interesting to read all the looney takes on Catholic theology by the commenters. Ernesto and JimM particularly; and the whacky excommunication bit.

Considering there are more Catholics on the planet than any other denomination, 1.6 billion or so, you would think the scholars reading Hot Air could be bothered to actually look up their issues in the Catechism before they spew out nonsense.

Now, Praise for Excellence,

God is pretty clear on the matter of killing the innocent and letting the guilty live.

“And will you profane Me among My people…
killing people who should not die,
and keeping people alive who should not live…?”
Ezek. 13:19

TheMightyQuinn

Lord have mercy, that is one great reference. Quinn, I am in your debt.

The verse continues; “…lying to my people who willingly hear lies.” The perfect profile of a pro-choice Catholic.

worlok on November 3, 2008 at 4:14 PM

And the point of watching us is what?