Catholic extraordinary minister pushes pro-choice position as Congressional candidate (IL-16)

Various | 10-11-10 | Various

[Mr. Silverback]

Congressional candidate George Gaulrapp has been selling himself as a "conservative Democrat" ever since he declared support for Barack Obama in the summer of 2007. The problem is that like so many operating under that label, he wants to do the "I'm pro-life personally but..." tap dance.

At a recent Tea Party panel in Huntley, Gaulrapp performed this tap dance, but then added something...well, if you'll forgive the term, "extraordinary." Gaulrapp mentions that he is an extraordinary minister, which means he is able to deliver communion to fellow Catholics who are unable to attend mass. To hear his explanation, go to Heartland Radio and listen for yourself, and consider the radio host's commentary. The clip is on the August 29th broadcast (scroll down) and is the first topic in the show.

Heartland Radio broke this story, but my attention was brought to it by the fine folks at Prolife Corner.

[DarthVader]

George resign your ministry if you cannot fulfill it truthfully. You will hear the Lord say to you one day “Depart from me you worker of iniquity I never knew you.”

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[Mr. Silverback]

Illinois Ping!

[Mr. Silverback]

Illinois Ping!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Mr. Silverback]

Glad to!

[eastsider]

George Gaulrapp is from the Diocese of Rockford, the Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, bishop. (Contact information can be found at the link.)

[Dr. Sivana]

Thanks for the information. That’s my diocese and Blackelk’s as well. Don Manzullo, the Republican incumbent is pretty solid and is a safe re-election. I actually heard Gaulrapp do some retail politicking in the Cherry Valley Burger King... not impressed.

[CondorFlight]

I thought cannon law prohibited clergy from holding secular political office?

[Mr. Silverback]

A look at the opensecrets profile for this race shows that George is toasty-toast-toast.

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IL16&cycle=2010

Less than $65,000 raised in a congressional race, compared to over $700,000 for Don. To contrast, in 2008 the Dem (Abboud) raised over $500,000.

[Mr. Silverback]

Wouldn’t he be a layman?

[Dr. Sivana]

I thought cannon law prohibited clergy from holding secular political office?

"Extraordinary Minister" is not clergy. Clerical states are only Deacon, Priest, Bishop.

The reason that the term "extraordinary" is used, is not because possessors of the title are exemplars, but because a priest, bishop or deacon is the "ordinary" minister. The Extraordinary Minister should be used only in circumstances where a priest is unable to fill the role (e.g. a remote area where there is one priest but 10,000 people at Mass). In the U.S. they are added in many churches for no good canonical reason, often to make communion last six minutes instead of ten, or to have reception from the chalice as an option. I am surprised that Bishop Doran hasn't weighed in on his being a pro-abort pol.

[bayouranger]

Does he work for the Black Pope?

[Gay State Conservative]

Another Unitarian/Universalist masquerading as a Catholic.Sadly,there's a lot of that going around these days.

[Liz]

Catholic extraordinary minister Congressional candidate George Gaulrapp (IL-16) has been selling himself as a "conservative Democrat" ever since he declared support for Barack Obama in the summer of 2007. The problem is that like so many operating under that label, he wants to do the "I'm pro-life personally but........" (tap dance).

[SunkenCiv]

...he wants to do the "I'm pro-life personally but..." tap dance.

He can probably resign and go to a better paying job at Notre Dame. Thanks Mr. Silverback.

[Cicero]

This is not good. He should quietly resign from that role in his parish church. If he refuses, then the bishop should speak to his pastor.

Alternatively, if he is no longer in politics because he is an obvious loser, he could confess his sins, repent, and amend his life. But I think some sort of public declaration should be made, since he has now caused a public scandal.

[Mr. Silverback]

Jesuit? Don’t think so.

[Coleus]

I hope he loses. My pro-abort congressman is a member of the K of C, and a few pro-abort state senators are also in the k of c...