New Jersey Catholics Urged to Elect Moral Politicans-Ambassador Ray Flynn, June 29th, 2004

e-mail | 06.29.04

[Coleus]

Come see Ambassador Ray Flynn (the only pro-life appointee of Bill Clinton who voted his conscience for pro-life George Bush) tonight, June 29, 2004 at 6:30 pm at Saint Veronica's Parish Family - Howell, NJ  other speakers will be Bishop John M. Smith  and Sujo John, survivor of 9/11, Rosary starts at 6:30pm, speakers at 7:15pm, sponsored by the:

Catholic Tent Revival, of the Good News Ministries, Howell, NJ

Statement by Raymond L. Flynn:
National President of Catholic Citizenship
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican (1993-1997),
Mayor of Boston (1984-1993)

To the Good News International Conference
Howell, New Jersey
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
(732) 364-6158 or
(617) 269-0909

"An important battle ground state, Catholics in New Jersey have the ability to decide the outcome of the 2004 Presidential Election" 

Bishop Smith and leaders of the Catholic community in New Jersey. 

The Catholic Church in America is under attack from both outside and within.

The Catholic voice and vote in the United States is fragmented and divided and even many faithful Catholics are dispirited.

Catholics have sat on the sidelines for so long they almost forgot how to fight back. We are allowing other people to make decisions about our values and our beliefs. Even Catholic politicians have sensed this and have decided it’s to their political advantage to take the hierarchy of the Church on publicly by siding with the cultural elite. A hostile media is constantly driving their frustration and pain. Additionally, the main objective of much of the secular elite has always been a weak and vulnerable Church!

Enemies of the Catholic faith are no longer burning down convents, desecrating churches or posting "No Catholics need apply" employment signs in downtown Boston store windows. They have learned that the best way to destroy the Church is to diminish its leaders in the media. And the best way of doing that is to divide lay Catholics against the clergy, including the overwhelming number of good and faithful priests. 

Lay Catholics must understand that the present division in the Catholic Church cannot by resolved by the Vatican or the bishops alone, but they should encourage lay Catholics to become politically involved. I don’t think the Catholic hierarchy should be more involved in politics, but the laity should be more involved in civic affairs. Complaining will also not solve anything either. Many Catholic politicians like it this way. Nobody telling them how to vote. The media certainly loves the controversy in the Catholic Church, but worst of all, the enemies of the Church enjoy the embarrassment that the Church has been experiencing. They dislike the Church’s moral message, so any time they can expose contradiction or hypocrisy, they’re only too happy to highlight and exploit it. 

Here’s my suggestion to Catholics in New Jersey. Promise yourself that you will get active and involved in the civic life of your community and country. Help register members of your family and neighbors to vote. Vow not to support either political party or candidate if they do not support your principles. You must not allow the enemies of the Church to turn you against your Catholic faith. Send them a message. Write them a letter, call them, and let them know how you feel. Contact the media and tell them you are tired of all the Catholic bashing taking place in the media. Organize political activity in your neighborhood and parish. Invite everyone to join. Let this Independence Day be a rebirth of freedom for Catholics against religious discrimination in American politics.

Turning things around will not be easy. Even many Catholics themselves do not feel that Church leaders should be trying to tell Catholic politicians how they should vote on issues like life, family and the needs of the poor. It shows you how this country has changed over the years, when even religious officials are criticized for speaking out on moral issues.

With your support, we can encourage the politicians and the media to help restore respect in the traditional values of our nation once again..

If we really love Christ, we must turn this tragic situation into an opportunity to help build a stronger Church and a more principled America. New Jersey can move from a battle ground state to the state that helped restore decency and values in American politics once again. 

Catholic Citizenship is a lay Catholic political and educational movement, whose objective is to encourage lay Catholics to become more informed and involved in the civic life of their community and country.

Ray Flynn is associated with Your Catholic Voice and Catholic Vote

Archbishop Seán P. O’Malley (left) speaks with former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn at a rally to support traditional marriage Feb. 8 on the Boston Common as Flynn’s wife Kathy looks on.  Flynn has offered to again help the Church in the public policy arena through a non-partisan education campaign for Catholics throughout the state. Pilot photo by Gregory

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