Cardinal George Addresses U.S. Bishops on the True Common Good

Catholic Online ^ | 11/11/08

[tcg]

"We are, perhaps, at a moment when, with the grace of God, all races are safely within the American consensus," the cardinal continued. "We are not at the point, however, when Catholics, especially in public life, can be considered full partners in the American experience unless they are willing to put aside some fundamental Catholic teachings on a just moral and political order."

[tcg]

The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed by choice

[mimaw]

Sorry Cardinal George you should remove Flager right away and forbid communion to pro abort politicians.

[ishmac]

I know that Catholics voted pretty solidly for Obama this time. There was, however, one positive thing that happened this time with Catholics: the bishops finally got their act together and promoted life as the overriding issue in voting. They didn't have much of an effect this time, but their efforts bode well for the future. There is still much work to do, but with God's help, they will begin to persuade many rank and file Catholics (as well as those who don't really practice their faith), that voting for an abortion extremist is not compatible with being Catholic. Alas, it takes years for these efforts to bear fruit and the bishops as a group have been remiss for decades now.

[fellowpatriot]

Alas, it takes years for these efforts to bear fruit and the bishops as a group have been remiss for decades now.

Unless they are willing to give up their 'tax exempt' status, things will never change.

[GerardKempf]

Well as a center-right, Catholic and pro-life voter, I find his speech a little hypocritical. See, Cardinal George wants Catholic politicians to tow the line on all that the Church (mind you the Catholic Church says/advocates). Now that all sounds fine and dandy. However, we must remember that our founding fathers (a mix of Catholics from Maryland, to Quakers, to Anglicans, etc) all advocated separation of Church and State in politics.

While we are a nation of believers, there is no one religion that is better than another. Hence the amendment on freedom to practice religion without persecution and discrimination.

Cardinal George talks about a Church of shepards but alas a political act of sorts revoked the right of priests to marry which in turn has left us with some (not many, but some) that have turned out to be pedophiles who have preyed on our youth and even some (like Cardinal George’s two good friends) who have been allowed to remain in the priesthood and surprisingly allowed to stay in the Chicago diocese in spite of his blatant reversal on this.

So Cardinal George is one who has a very well-known political agenda not just on pro-life matters, but those that will benefit the Catholic Church. While I am proud to be Catholic, I am also proud to question it’s position on meddling in politics. And George wonders why schools and parishes are closing like crazy, attendance is down, lawsuits are up and donations are down. Not just in Chicago but nationally.

[HighlyOpinionated]

"If we do not protect life, there is no reason to fight for any other cause."

[Salvation]

Not really. Only 48 percent. But more supported Bush. The numbers have been updated.

[Salvation]

Here are the bishops who urged Catholics to vote pro-life.

Over 100 Bishops Have Spoken Out on Priority of Life Issues
Posted on October 28, 2008, 11:59 AM | Deal W. Hudson

The list of U. S. bishops who have spoken out on the priority of the life issues in this election is now over 100. The list now contains 70 individual bishops and three joint statements.

I would like to continue updating this list until the day of the election. I have tried to incorporate all the comments thus far. If I dd not get them all, I apologize. (For a few of the suggestions, I could not find a suitable link.)

Please continue using the comments section to let us know what bishop is not on this list who should be. This would include any bishop who has individually, or jointly, published a statement about this election pointing out the primacy of the life issues.

Thank you for your help.

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver

2. Bishop James Conley, auxiliary of Denver

3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

4. Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities

5. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine

6. Edward Cardinal Egan of New York

7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh

9. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs

10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio

11. Bishop Oscar Cantu, auxiliary of San Antonio

12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre

13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa

14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas

15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin

16. Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston

17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando

18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis

19. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, President of the USCCB

20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker

21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse

22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland

23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City

24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco

25. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA

26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn

27. Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton

28. Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

30. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte

31. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh

32. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS

33. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO

34. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WS
35. Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, KS
36. Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, KS
37. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita
38. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach
39. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth

40. Bishop Rene H. Gracida, retired, of Corpus Christi

41. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Houston

42. Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington

43. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond

44. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center

45. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester

46. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Patterson

47. Bishop Robert Herrmann of St. Louis

48. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore

49. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix

50. Bishop Thomas D. Doran of Rockford

51. Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Camden

52. Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham

53. Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle

54. Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet

55. Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton

56. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing

57. Bishop Leonard R. Blair of Toledo

58. Bishop Frances J. Dewane of Venice

59. Bishop W. Frances Malooly of Wilmington

60. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison

61. Bishop John Yanta , retired, of Amarillo

62. Bishop James V. Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

63. Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland

64. Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City

65. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg

66. Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinatti

67. Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu

68. Bishop Paul Swain of Sioux Falls

69. Bishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe

70. Bishop Eusebius Beltran of Oklahoma City

71. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Harrisburg

72-94. Joint Statement by the bishops of New York State (22 bishops)

95-111. Joint Statement by the bishops of Pennsylvania (16 bishops)

112-116. Joint Statement by the bishops of Kansas (4 bishops)

117-126. Joint Statement by the bishops of Florida (9 bishops)

Added by me

 

127. Bishop Tobin -- http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30333 ^

 

128. Archbishop Wilton Gregory  georgiabulletin.org ...

 

129. Archbishop Dolan http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/32482989.html.

 

130. Archbishop Elden Curtiss Omaha http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2123119/posts?page=1

 

131. Bishop Carlson's of Michigan pastoral letter in full, go to:
http://www.saginaw.org/images/election-statement_carlson_102...

 

[Salvation]

Catholics did NOT vote for Obama.

CINOs voted for Obama. (Catholics in Name Only) And in so doing they excommunicated themselves from the Catholic Church. Many just do not realize what they have wrought upon themselves.

[ishmac]

Not really. Only 48 percent. But more supported Bush.

Glad to hear that it was as high as 48%. Although didn't Bush receive a slight majority in '04?

When the bishops speak out, their words have an effect. In the 2002 govenor's election, Granholm had a double digit lead for much of the fall. Cdl Maida, however, started criticizing her stand on abortion and gradually her numbers fell. Hard to believe it now, but she only won that election by 4% (51-47, if memory serves). It came out later that Granny's support among Catholic women plummeted in the final weeks. If the bishops can get their act together and preach what is important, republicans will make inroads among women, Latinos, and blue-collar folks.

The O-man's stand on abortion alone should have disqualified him as a candidate. The muddle-headedness of the average Catholic voter (and I suppose, the electorate generally) is a frightening thing.

[Tucson]

There is a cause and effect with the ‘tax exempt” issue. First, churches should not be taxed. It is counter to “the free exercise thereof” and they are not a business enterprise. Their primary purpose is to spread the Gospel and to do good for mankind. All churches provide more aid and comfort to the poor then government and always have. Force them to pay taxes and those services will have to be reduced. And to what end? What “good” would you expect to come from the government using the churches’ money? Exactly. Further, if the church cannot speak out on matters of faith and morality because they happen to overlap into politics, they cannot function. Finally, in the spirit of the so called separation “doctrine”, taxing churches inextricably intertwines government and religion; thus having the effect of respecting the establishment of religion and violating that separation mentality.

[fellowpatriot]

Finally, in the spirit of the so called separation “doctrine”, taxing churches inextricably intertwines government and religion; thus having the effect of respecting the establishment of religion and violating that separation mentality.

However, the government has threatened to remove the church's exemption over the pro-life issue which is why the bishop's have been remiss.

[Tucson]

I understand your point but it could be a worthwhile pursuit; a lawsuit that is. It could be something different for the ACLU. If the left truly wants “separation of church and state”, that separation needs to be total. That means churches are exempt from government mechanisms including taxes.