Calling All Catholics, Our cardinals and bishops want your help (postcard campaign to Senators)

National Catholic Register ^ | 05.23.06

[Coleus]

Knights of Columbus Work with Bishops & Plan a National Postcard Campaign for a Marriage Amendment

[Zeppelin]

Catholic ping!

[Sun]

Just how serious are the coming conflicts over religious liberty stemming from gay marriage? Last month, Massachusetts told Catholic Charities of Boston that it could not maintain its license to perform adoption services unless it abided by the anti-discrimination laws of the state, which in Massachusetts means placing children with same-sex couples. This despite the fact that placing children with same-sex couples violates Catholic teaching and moral doctrine. The result is that Boston Catholic Charities is getting out of the adoption business.

Is this episode an aberration or a sign of things to come? If same-sex marriage is a civil right, then shouldn’t the state punish those who refuse to respect that right? The potential for religious entities that adhere to traditional sexual morality is enormous: radio broadcasting licenses, professional licenses, university accreditation, even tax exempt status of faith-based charities. Is this the legal path we have embarked on? If so, what is the fate of religious liberty?


http://www.heritage.org/press/events/ev052206b.cfm

[bpjam]

I think the Catholic church just burnt their last bridge to any elected Republicans with their militant demands on behalf of foreign citizens illegally being harbored in the U.S. Sorry, they can't have it both ways. If you want to get into the political debate, you need to choose sides. And they were on the wrong side last month and the bad taste in still in the mouths of too many in the GOP (and no, that wasn't a gay pedophile joke)

[TheCrusader]

"Is this episode an aberration or a sign of things to come?"

Neither. It is a sign of the way things are right now, the persecution is upon us.

[TheCrusader]

Do you know what you're talking about when you claim the Catholic Church supports illegal immigration? What does the Vatican say about it, I'd like to know?

[StJacques]

"Do you know what you're talking about when you claim the Catholic Church supports illegal immigration? What does the Vatican say about it, I'd like to know?"

bpjam does not know what he's talking about Crusader. The Catholic Church opposes the forced deportation of 12 million illegal aliens, but has no problem with efforts to strengthen border security.

This is one more instance of how the immigration debate is destroying civil discourse in this country. First; opponents of the current immigration bill in the Senate ignore the legal penalities affixed to aliens currently residing in the U.S. and call it "amnesty" instead, even though "amnesty" means a free pass without legal penalty. And they now are expanding their rhetoric to say that anyone who opposes the forced deportation of 12 million people -- which is real police state stuff if you think the logistics through -- is actually supporting illegal immigration.

The truth is that anyone who supports the immigration bill now in the Senate supports the levying of thousands of dollars of fines (and back taxes on top of those fines) for anyone here illegally who chooses to pursue a path to citizenship. There is nothing "free" about thousands of dollars of fines. We need civilized debate very badly right now.

[Antoninus]

I think the Catholic church just burnt their last bridge to any elected Republicans with their militant demands on behalf of foreign citizens illegally being harbored in the U.S.

You really do have no idea how the Catholic Church works, do you? The opinions and actions of a few bishops--particularly when they are against what's taught in the Catechism--do not in any way represent the entire Church.

That said, you shouldn't try to hijack this thread, which is about stoping homo-"marriage" dead in its tracks. It's an important issue and the bishops have shown themselves to be predominantly on the right side of it.

[Antoninus]

We received postcards in our parish this past Sunday. I was happy to see them. I filled a couple out myself, and took batches home for family and friends to fill out.

I don't know that it will have any effect at all on our atrocious senators Lautenberg and Menendez, but we can't just sit on our hands. Inaction is not an option on this issue.

[Antoninus]

Ping.

[Rocket1968]

Ping

[ElkGroveDan]

Good this should put an end to the "no politics" myth that gets thrown up whenever someone tries to mobilize the Knights for Life issues.

[B Knotts]

Please FReepmail me if you'd like to be added to or removed from the KofC ping list.

[mware]

We sent out letters in our Parish on Sunday regarding this. Our letters are going to Mendenez and Lautenberg. I don't think we got much chance with them, but it can't hurt.

[little jeremiah]

Yes!

[bpjam]

Dude, chill. Nobody is 'hijacking' the thread. Are we suddenly in some kind of dictatorship where all comments need to be pre-approved by the thread poster?

Actually I do have a fairly good idea of how the Catholic church works. And I also realize that these Bishops are using their influence as a couple of guys in funny robes in a single city - they are using their authority as leaders in an entire religious community in the US. If Dennis Hastert stands up and whines about something, he isn't doing it because he is from Illinois. He is doing it as a leader in the entire GOP.

I have no illusions about whether these bishops represent the actual membership. Hell, they don't even represent the leadership of the Church (which I do mostly always side with). I'm pointing out that their effort to do something good for families and this country has already been sabotaged by the actions of those tools who already spent the last two months on TV giving away our country to Mexico. (btw, I didn't see a single Catholic group or Bishop or Priest come out against the no-borders campaign. That didn't help matters).

Just like Bush showing up late on the immigration debate, there is a huge credibility loss and a negation of any moral authority which otherwise would have existed. Both Bush and the Bishops here in the U.S. are going to have to spend some time building up some good deeds before they get the support of anybody but foreign nationals, communist cells and democratic special interest groups. Many of the Cardinals already sent droves of worshippers into the wilderness in the last decade with the gay priest recycling program. And for non-Catholics, it all looks the same from the outside.

But with all that being said, I stand with all faithful Catholics who want to protect marriage in this country. People of faith are the only thing standing between forced gay marriage in our places of worship and forced abortion in all faith-based hospitals (see Massachusetts). Even if our leadership fails, we still must stand for what is right.

[bpjam]

Actually, I don't know that the Vatican has said anything. Apparently, being agnostic isn't heretical on this issue. But the Cardinals here in the US have pre-empted the Vatican on this issue. They ARE the ones making policy for the Holy Sea because nobody else is doing it.

None of these Bishops wants to move to Mexico and help the poor people there but they expect that Americans should want to do it here. I'd vote for sending Cardinal Mahoney to Mexico City or San Salvador where he can help the poor where they live instead of importing them to Los Angeles where taxpayers get to support them.

And if the Vatican does have some policy on this, I'd like to hear it myself. At this point, the actions ARE the policy in agreement with or absence of any guidance from Rome.

[Antoninus]

Dude, chill. Nobody is 'hijacking' the thread. Are we suddenly in some kind of dictatorship where all comments need to be pre-approved by the thread poster?

I'm with you on illegal immigration. However, you must realize you're defeating your purpose by coming on THIS thread and talking about it. There are probably a dozen active illegal immigration threads you could have posted on. I'm not a "thread dictator". I'm just advising you that people get irked if you do what you did--and tend to think less of your posts.

But with all that being said, I stand with all faithful Catholics who want to protect marriage in this country. People of faith are the only thing standing between forced gay marriage in our places of worship and forced abortion in all faith-based hospitals (see Massachusetts). Even if our leadership fails, we still must stand for what is right.

Glad to hear it! Now go on one of the illegal immigration threads and post that! ;-)

[Antoninus]

And if the Vatican does have some policy on this, I'd like to hear it myself. At this point, the actions ARE the policy in agreement with or absence of any guidance from Rome.

You want the Vatican's policy? Here it is:

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

Seems fairly clear to me. It's a shame some of our rogue bishops here in the US don't pay the Vatican much heed.