Catholic Schwarzenegger to terminate religious 'interference'

Cath News ^ | June 1, 2007

[NYer]

Describing himself as a "very dedicated Catholic", California Governor Arnold Schhwarzenegger is backing stem cell research initiatives, saying that religion should not interfere with government policy.

The Star reports that Governor Schwarzenegger is attempting to stare down anti-abortion opponents of stem-cell research with a warning to leave religion out of politics and health.

Schwarzenegger, in Toronto to sign accords with Premier Dalton McGuinty on collaborating with Ontario to fight cancer and curb climate change, said saving lives is paramount.

"I always said that you should not have your religion interfere with government policies or with the policies of the people," the former action film superstar turned politician told hundreds of people at the MaRS Discovery District research centre.

"I am a Catholic and a very dedicated Catholic, but that does not interfere with my decision-making because I know that stem cell research, the way we are doing it in California ... is the right way to go and will save, very quickly down the line, lives and cure a lot of these illnesses," he said.

After signing a deal with McGuinty for a new joint research initiative between California and Ontario scientists, Schwarzenegger recounted his personal interest in the subject.

"I have a father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, who has Alzheimer's," he said of the 91-year-old husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of late US president John F Kennedy.

"Now, Sargent Shriver, I'll tell you was one of the most brilliant minds in the world. He was working under the Johnson administration, the Kennedy administration, started the Peace Corps, the Jobs Corps, like I said, brilliant, brilliant," the governor said.

"Today, he does not even recognise his wife," he said. "Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and this is why I am so very passionate about supporting (research)."

Abortion foes are against stem-cell research because microscopic embryos, usually donated by fertility clinics, are destroyed in the process.

McGuinty, a fellow Catholic praised by Schwarzenegger for his "fantastic" support for the research, said he understood those with religious or ethical concerns.

"I would argue ... there's one moral imperative that transcends all faiths, all culture and all traditions, it would be this fundamental desire to relieve pain and suffering and death where we find it," said the premier, who announced $30 million from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research will be earmarked for the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium of researchers here and in California.

"I'm confident we can strike the right balance between respecting people's sensitivities and ... we have some laws in the books here in Canada that ensure that."


SOURCE
Terminator gunning to save lives (The Star, 31/5/07)

[hunter112]

...am I off base here or is this odd?

It's not the first clumsy thing he's said because English is not his first language...

[wideawake]

Whenever someone describes himself as a "very dedicated Catholic" (like Schwarzenegger) or a "devout Catholic" like Nancy Pelosi or a "good Catholic" like Patrick Leahy, it should automatically trip the listener's bulls*** meter.

No actually devout Catholic ever describes himself that way.

[Maeve]

Excommunicate these faithless political thugs!!!!!

[wideawake]

"I would argue ... there's one moral imperative that transcends all faiths, all culture and all traditions, it would be this fundamental desire to relieve pain and suffering and death where we find it," said the premier

Apparently he wasn't looking in any abortuaries.

Here's a hint, McGuinty: you can't "relieve" death.

There is only One who can - and you are deliberately turning your back on Him.

Don't think He isn't listening to you.

[mdefranc]

“Describing himself as a ‘very dedicated Catholic’....” - article

Yeah, sure. Anyone who’s read any Arnie biography can tell you what a dedicated Catholic he is; let’s just say he truly belongs in the Kennedy family.

[siunevada]

religion should not interfere with government policy.

Okey-dokey.

I see the DNA in the embryo's cells.
It's not Mommy's DNA.
It's not Daddy's DNA.
Does the DNA belong to a person?

Then there's the whole thing of embryonic stem cell research not actually having produced much of anything. Is that a total waste of our money? Or just mostly a waste? Aren't umbilical and adult stem cells actually more promising and a better use of a large, but limited, pot of money?

[SaltyJoe]

Where have the pirates gone? Remember that we have piracy in the high seas at it's highest AND most violent levels in human history. Was it just a matter of coincidence that a tsunami wiped out a good deal of Malacca Straits pirate villages (basically fishermen stealing from slow boats or military and cops moonlighting with their hardware).

Is this a coincidence too?

St. Andreas is also important as the patron saint of marriage and fertility for girls.

November 30 is dedicated in the evangelical, catholic and orthodox church to the Saint Andreas the Apostle, the brother of Saint Peter. He was one of 12 Apostles accompanying Jesus. He was a witness of the Ascension Day. He was martyred under the Emperor Nero and is remembered on November 30, traditionally considered the date of his martyrdom in 60 A.D. He is said to have died on a diagonally transversed cross which the Romans sometimes used for executions and which, therefore, came to be called St. Andreas' cross.

Something else was named after St Andreas. If Christmas day didn't exonerate the sinful on one side of the world...

[AHerald]

Jesus to Arnold: “I’ll be back.”

[massgopguy]

Sure it does. It has an 80% success rate of causing malignant carcinomas in the test animals. Think what it can do for people?It can also reduce the surplus population by leaving millions of women infertile from the egg harvesting that would need to be done. Of course many of these women will develop Lupus so they need these "miracle" cures that have been promised.

[Rutles4Ever]

Rule of thumb: If you have to tell someone you’re devout...

[Secret Agent Man]

That’s the problem with republicans like Schwartzenegger (I am only typing that last name once!). They want to state there are certain issues and areas you can’t object to if you’re basing it on a religious (short hop from ‘moral’) argument to your position.

What other areas will they start to a) include under politics and health to make them ‘off limits’ and 2) exclude from religious objections?

“You object to the state doing (fill in the blank), citizen 21-d3?”

“My name is Fred, but yes.”

“Are you a religious person. citizen 21-d3?”

“I am.”

“And is your objection based in any part because of the teachings of your religion or your own personal morals?”

“Yes, but there are also other....”

“Citizen 21-d3, you are not allowed by law to object to (fill in the blank) when your objection is based in any part on your religious beliefs, as that would be you attempting to force your religious views upon the rest of us. Report to religious objector re-education camp 12 in two days for a refresher course.”

“You are also required to pay a small fine of $1000 for wasting this committee’s time with an invalid and illegal motion.”

Coming soon near you.

[Campion]

I have a father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, who has Alzheimer's," he said of the 91-year-old husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of late US president John F Kennedy. "Now, Sargent Shriver, I'll tell you was one of the most brilliant minds in the world. He was working under the Johnson administration, the Kennedy administration, started the Peace Corps, the Jobs Corps, like I said, brilliant, brilliant," the governor said.

"Today, he does not even recognise his wife," he said. "Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and this is why I am so very passionate about supporting (research)."

The sad irony is that Sargent Shriver really is a faithful Catholic, is pro-life, and would not agree with Arnold at all on this.

[PEACE ENFORCER]

Ever notice how these articles regarding “Stem Cell” research are missing the word “embryonic” ? They try to link responsible “Adult Stem Cell Research” with voodoo “Embryonic Stem Cell Research”

[RobbyS]

By whom the Cardinal of Los Angeles? The Archbishop of San Francisco? If only Arnie were the problem.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"I am a Catholic and a very dedicated Catholic, but that does not interfere with my decision-making..."

What an idiot.

[Vigilanteman]

I don't run the Catholic Church and cannot speak either to its heiarchy or procedure. All I am saying is that politicians like Arnold should have the decency to exit the Catholic Church if they can't go along with basic moral teachings which are shared by a much wider brands of Christianity than Catholicism alone.

And yet, he is by no means the only Catholic politician whom this shoe fits. Now that I have sort of answered your question can you tell me if there is any other purpose to funding embryonic stem cell research than to rub the noses of the pro-life people in the dirt?

[Cinnamon Girl]

I know that stem cell research, the way we are doing it in California ... is the right way to go and will save, very quickly down the line, lives and cure a lot of these illnesses," he said.

So now he knows that embryonic stem cell research will save lives, even though it hasn't shown to, thus far. It's amazing how comfortable Arnold feels with having the last word on things. He also declared that the debate was over on global warming and that humans are causing the earth to heat up. Amazing.

[colorado tanker]

I guess the politicians figure they’ll be out of office when all these people who’ve been promised miracle cures wonder why it didn’t happen.

[metmom]

Schwarzenegger, in Toronto to sign accords with Premier Dalton McGuinty on collaborating with Ontario to fight cancer and curb climate change, said saving lives is paramount.

It sure is. We can start with the babies.

[NYer]

I guess the politicians figure they’ll be out of office when all these people who’ve been promised miracle cures wonder why it didn’t happen.

It's all about the $$$$$$. That is the bottom line. Politicians want votes and will promise whatever it takes to big business to grow their state. Just look at the cost of running an election! There was a time in this country when qualified candidates were flushed out from their paid jobs to 'serve the public' for one or two terms. Once over, they returned to those jobs. Now politics is a job.