Editorial: Daschle and the Catholic Church

Wow. Talk about having a bad six months. First he was kicked out of his majority leader's seat by the American electorate. Now, Tom Daschle's all but been kicked out of the Catholic Church.

According to the Weekly Standard Web site, Daschle was sent a letter by Sioux Falls Bishop Robert Carlson, directing him to remove from his congressional biography and campaign documents all references to his standing as a member of the Catholic Church.

Getting semantically booted from an entire religion is kind of a big deal. I was kicked out of a bar in Sioux Falls once when I was 20, but other than that I don't think I've ever been banned from anything, much less a world-wide religion, which whole-heartedly accepts sinners of most any stripe.

Bishop Carlson and Daschle have had an adversarial relationship for a long time, probably highlighted by their spat in 1997 when Daschle resorted to his usual name-calling and even took to the Senate floor and denounced his own bishop for being "more identified with the radical right than with thoughtful religious leadership."

I guess I kind of expect Daschle to spit his partisan venom at people like John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney or President Bush, but gosh, attacking a person of Bishop Carlson's stature is pretty low, even in my book.

It sounds like the final straw that broke the Catholic's back was not just Daschle's support for abortion, but for taking an active role in raising funds for NARAL, the National Abortion Rights Action League. That's really flaunting your animous to the Church's belief.

Especially considering that during his 1978 House campaign, Daschle claimed to be pro-life. In a letter to constituents, he wrote: "I am opposed to abortion. I do not support it. I have never supported it. It is an abhorrent practice. As a citizen and as a lifelong member of the Catholic faith, I will do everything in my power to persuade others that abortion is wrong because I am firmly convinced that persuasion, not legal action, is the only proper, and the only truly effective way to limit abortion."

He continued: "I know there are some who disagree with my feelings against abortion and I respect their views. But I feel everyone, whether for or against my opinion, has the right to know how I stand."

Evidently, Daschle didn't hold that stand for long, as he's now raising blood-money for NARAL.

But at that time he even managed to persuade eight Presentation College Sisters to come to his defense, as some people thought Daschle's temporary pro-life stance was just a political ploy to get elected (which, as it turns out, they were correct).

The Sisters' letter to him, on his behalf, said: "Dear Tom: We have followed your career since you left us with growing admiration. Personal character and honesty matter. Humility before our Lord matters. We saw and continue seeing these things in you.

"Those who would tear you down, those who spread untruths about you, surely cannot know you. Their actions speak sadly about themselves, but not at all about you.

"We have heard your convictions against abortion, and seen them in the press. We know and we tell those with whom we speak of your abhorrence for abortion - and of your commitment to life. We see in your forthright campaign, and in your own life, a testament to fairness and honesty that speaks so much more loudly of a respect for human beings than the charges of your opponents.

"We hope you can forgive those whose words are spoken in ignorance against you and send our prayers for them, and a special prayer for you in the days ahead."

Well, you can fool some of the Catholics some of the time, but not all of the Catholics all of the time.

And Bishop Carlson is not the first Bishop in America to finally tell allegedly Catholic politicians to stop their hypocrisy. Sacramento Bishop William Weigand has told California Gov. Gray Davis to renounce his support of abortion or stop taking Holy Communion.

I've always respected people who stand for what they believe, whether I agree with them or not. But people have to know that standing by your principles often has consequences. So if it's more important to Daschle to be pro-abortion than to be a practicing Catholic, that's his prerogative. If you know the rules when you join a group, don't act surprised when they limit your involvement in it for flagrantly violating them. It's not like the Catholic Church recently changed their policy and became pro-life.

Even when I was a Lutheran, I greatly admired Bishop Carlson, and loved listening to him speak. He's a man of great intestinal fortitude and glory. He's one of my all-time favorite persons I've never actually talked to. I hope to get that chance someday.

Now, as a Catholic, I hope to soon have the opportunity to receive Holy Communion from him. I guess now the line will be one person shorter. I don't take any glee in that fact; I am actually saddened by it. But we all make our choices. In that respect, and in that respect only, we're all pro-choice.

The Tea & Harrisburg Champion is a weekly newspaper devoted to covering the news, opinions and schools of northern Lincoln County, SD.

Now neither side will acknowledge speaking to the magazine.

AP article below

Subject: Leading Pro-Abortion Catholic Senator Has Not Been
Disciplined

Source: Associated Press; April 17, 2003

Leading Pro-Abortion Catholic Senator Has Not Been Disciplined Sioux Falls, SD -- Despite reports from a conservative weekly magazine, Bishop Robert Carlson of the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese says he "would never break off dialogue or a pastoral relationship with anyone."

His statement, released Thursday afternoon, was in response to a column in the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard that implies Carlson broke off pastoral relations with Senate
Democratic Leader Tom Daschle over Daschle's position in favor of abortion.

In a statement of his own, Daschle said his relationship with the bishop will continue. Carlson said he has seen the article in question and agrees he and Daschle have had a number of discussions about abortion. He said he has spoken out on many issues over the years and has encouraged Daschle to reconsider his position on abortion and his support for the extreme pro-abortion views of the National Abortion Rights Action League. "However, other than inviting people to pray for the senator's conversion, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to discuss my pastoral relationship with the senator or anyone else,"Carlson said in his statement.

A spokesman for the diocese said Thursday afternoon that Carlson was busy preparing for Holy Week services and would not say anything more than what was contained in the statement. Daschle's Washington office issued a statement late Thursday afternoon that said he will not discuss his private conversations with Carlson in the media.

"I have been a Catholic all my life, and I will remain one," Daschle said. "I have had the benefit of Bishop Carlson's guidance on many public and private issues, and that relationship will continue," the senator said. The Weekly Standard column, "Tom Daschle's Duty to be Morally Coherent," was written by Joseph Bottum, the publication's books and arts editor. He is a native of South Dakota and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston College, according to the magazine's Web site.

Bottum's article says sources told the magazine that Daschle was sent a letter by the Sioux Falls Diocese telling him to remove all references to his standing as a Catholic from his congressional biography and campaign documents. Carlson's purported directive is "a declaration that Tom Daschle's religious identification constitutes, in technical Catholic vocabulary, a grave public scandal," Bottum wrote.

Asked whether Daschle received such a letter, a spokesman said the senator's statement speaks for itself. Six years ago, Carlson criticized Daschle for trying to craft a compromise on a proposal to ban partial-birth abortions, calling it a "smoke screen to provide cover for pro-abortion senators and President Clinton," who wanted to avoid a veto confrontation. Daschle's bill would have been worded in a way that all partial-birth abortions would have remained legal and it was strongly opposed by the pro-life community.

In the end, Daschle voted for a pro-life measure to ban partial birth abortions, though he has cast numerous pro-abortion votes on other legislative matters. "In 1997 our discussion was very public and was reported in the press at that time," Carlson said Thursday. During the 1997 controversy, Daschle took the rare step of criticizing unnamed church officials in South Dakota. "My greatest disappointment is reserved for officials in the Catholic Church, especially in my state, for whom I have the greatest respect and from whom I was given initial encouragement for my efforts," he had said in a reference to his failed compromise. "Their harsh rhetoric and vitriolic characterization is usually more identified with the radical right than with thoughtful religious leadership." In response, Carlson had said he made several attempts to work with Daschle on his compromise bill but never was given a chance to be a part of a meeting.

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Fridayarticle2.shtml

http://www.pressanddakotan.com/stories/041803/new_20030418036.shtml

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20030417-97807.htm

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2240&dept_id=455427&newsid=7752033&PAG=461&rfi=9

http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/coyne/souper.html

http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/picturejokes/9121.jpg

While Daschle is a disgrace, it's not up to the Catholic church to pick and chose it's claimed members. Biblically speaking the Bible says

1 Timothy 5
20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-18:
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[1] you received from us.

14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Members are removed from the Church for obstinate disobedience to God's moral law, and for false teaching which denies the Word of God. This is confirmed in the texts of the New Testament, in the example of the Apostles, and in the practice of the Church from the first ages to the present. In the New Testament admonition is given (1) in private, (2) in the presence of two or three witnesses, or (3) in the presence of the Church. St. John excommunicated persons who were guilty of false teaching. "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting." (II John 1:10) St. Paul excommunicated regularly the incestuous Corinthians. "You are to deliver this man to Satin for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (I Corinthians 5:5) He removed heretics for false teaching. "As for a man who is factious (a heretic), after warning him once and once again, have nothing more to do with him." (Titus 3:10) "Let him who has done this be removed from among you". (I Corinthians 5:2) "If anyone refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." (II Thessalonians 3:14) We should note that Paul, in this instance, considers excommunication to be remedial. Paul believes that an unrepentant sinner should not receive Communion, and that to do so would bring God's judgment upon him. "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (I Corinthians 11:27-29)

From the article:

One of the Sisters, Sister Sr. Elaine Garry, PBVM, assistant professor of religious studies at Presentation College, recently led members of the Asbury United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls along with Pastor Dar Berkenpas in a Lenten Prayer Retreat at Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin. (This is a direct quote from the Presentation College Web site -- http://www.presentation.edu/new/pressreleases/srelaine.html)

The fact she is working with the Methodists who STRONGLY ENDORSE abortion and killing babies should be a RED FLAG to the folks of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

Sad that these Nuns are so far to the left and so misguided.

From the article:

The fact she is working with the Methodists who STRONGLY ENDORSE abortion and killing babies should be a RED FLAG to the folks of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

Sad that these Nuns are so far to the left and so misguided.

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