Posted on 10/22/2004 9:24:32 PM PDT by 1stFreedom
Distorted Citizenship
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
We seem to have a major problem in the Church in the area of reading comprehension. The problem is most obvious when the reading material asserts the primacy of abortion among issues that voters have to consider in elections.
Statements of the Pope, various Vatican officials, committees and officials of the USCCB, and the entire body of US bishops, all point to abortion as the fundamental human rights issue of our day. Even Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who during his life was a key spokesperson for the "consistent ethic of life," pointed out repeatedly that the fundamental right is the right to life.
To illustrate how profound the reading comprehension problem is, just take a look at the list of quotes I have added at the end of these remarks. Then determine for yourself whether they are clear or not.
Meanwhile, we have people in various positions within the Church saying that all the issues are equal. Excuse me, but not only does that violate Catholic teaching, it violates common sense. Ask any parent whether, among their daily activities caring for their children, all issues are of equal importance. In fact, you can ask the children themselves. They seem to know the answer better than some Church officials do.
I’ve been acquiring a whole file of letters sent out, often from offices of "social ministry" in various dioceses, which state that voters have to consider a wide range of issues. So far, so good. But then these letters say that no issue is more important than another. And that’s where the lack of reading comprehension reveals itself. Either they have never seen the quotes below, or they are deliberately ignoring them.
And neither is appropriate for a person who has the responsibility to convey Church teaching.
Two explanations can be offered for why some would distort the teaching.
The first is simply loyalty to the Democratic party. The problem has to be faced honestly that the loyalty of some Church ministers to the Democratic Party is deeper than their loyalty to Catholic teaching.
There is nothing wrong with belonging to a political party and being loyal to it. But when that party promotes the widespread, daily, legal killing of children, the voice of protest must be heard. Silence is not an option, neither for Democrats, Republicans, or anyone else - most certainly Catholics.
The second explanation for the reading comprehension problem is a legal concern. Unfortunately, the Church has been fed for decades with legal advice which is far more restrictive of the Church’s freedom than the IRS or the FEC has ever been. And this is wrong. Not only are the IRS/FEC restrictions on the Church minimal, but the enforcement policy is even looser.
No Church has ever lost its tax exemption by teaching about abortion, or the primacy of the right to life, or the duty of public officials and voters to advance the Culture of Life by voting. No Church has ever lost its tax exemption for doing what it exists to do, namely, convey the teachings of the Church.
No Church has ever lost its tax exemption for distributing materials that did not cover a wide-enough range of issues; in fact, no Church has lost its tax exemption for distributing voter guides, period.
Despite all this, various Church officials will go into all kinds of contortions to protect their assets from legal problems that they think will arise if the Church says that the right to life is primary among all the issues. Of course, the problem here is that this kind of legal advice, if it were accurate, would prove too much. Statements of the US Bishops themselves, like "Living the Gospel of Life" (1998), would constitute illegal activity under such an erroneous framework. The best way to describe the current problem with some of our attorneys is the bumpersticker that says "I Brake for Hallucinations."
The solution to all of this is for all of us, clergy and laity alike, to bear faithful witness to the teachings of the Church, no matter what the political implications may be. Bear witness to the consistent ethic of life, and to that which makes it consistent - the right to life. Proclaim that there are many rights, and proclaim the foundational right.
And be sure to keep your reading skills in top shape!
To read the quotes from the Church, Pope, and Bishops, visit this link:
Abortion: The Primary Issue According to Statements from the Pope and Bishops
PING!!
E-mail this to your Catholic friends.... And send it to social ministries which are teaching not to vote "single issue"
I'm not Catholic, but I sure am glad he's speaking out on this issue.
Catholics should be made aware that if they vote for John Kerry, they are voting for killing babies in the womb.
(Actually all voters need to know this, if they don't already.)
Shout it loud and clear!!
ooops... bad link. here is the correct link:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/abone.htm
Preach it!
Kerry: “everything is a gift from the Almighty.”
Is everything a gift from God? Genesis begins with the story of how everything was made and given to man and beast. But, Kerry is as mistaken about this as he is about us all being children of God.(Romans 9:8) Murder is not a gift from God! He would have known this had he read the Bible.
What greater gift from God could there be than that of the conception of life made manifest by love? No Christian can deny the truth of the Bible.
Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee,
and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Psalm 139:13
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 :I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 :My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 :Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,…
Isaiah 49:1 :
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Deuteronomy 30:19
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and
death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."
Proverbs 6:16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with inherent and inalienable rights;
that among these are life..."
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia, 1782.
Ping!!
"Fr. Pavone calls Catholic social ministries to the carpet!"
Yes, the Word of God speaks clearly on this.
And also the pictures of unborn babies in the womb show too...this is a baby, not a blob of tissue!
For those who have never seen the effects of an abortion, click on this link: (pictures of aborted babies at this site---to see and know the horrible truth of what is actually legal right now in this country)
http://www.blackgenocide.com/Aborted_Baby_Pictures_Abortion_Photos/
New Bumper sticker : 1 kerry vote = 1 murdered child
Our horrid, liberal Amchurch bishop said its OK to vote for a baby killer candidate, knowing full well that he will ensure the killing of more babies, as long as you don't agree with him on that point.
"Here, kid, take this gun and kill that other kid over there, but keep in mind that I don't agree with killing."
(Then, at a later time.. when it's too late) "But, but, but, Jesus, I said I don't agree with the killing I supported! Doesn't that matter?"
"(Then, at a later time.. when it's too late) "But, but, but, Jesus, I said I don't agree with the killing I supported! Doesn't that matter?"
As believers, too many forget that Christ is our only justification...
Which means what? Are you saying that repentence is not necessary? Are you saying that voting for baby-killers is just fine with Jesus?
That "Anything goes 'cause I'm saved!" crap does not fly with me.
You're making some rather broad assumptions based on inadequate data, aren't you?
I can't get either link to work. Do you have a better one?
(the one in your post or the link in the body of the article).
Be sure to watch the rerun on EWTN of 2 Bishops saying that the Voter Guide for Serious Catholics is much better. I saw the program last night (Friday Oct.22)
The Priests for Life website has disappeared entirely this morning (Saturday the 23rd). I wonder if somebody has been hacking it.
The hosting company seems to be down (Catholic Online)... Seems like they are having some kind of system problem.
The killing of babies cannot be find with Jesus --- you can't possibly think abortion candidates should be supported by Catholics or any Christians.
Do you people have a brain in your heads? How can you possibly reach such conclusions?
He said only believe. He didn't say to stop thinking.
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