Posted on 09/08/2008 1:42:40 PM PDT by NYer
The last two paragraphs sum-up Archbishop Chaput's position:Denver bishops release letter to faithful, stress importance of accurate moral reasoning by public servants
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. and Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley have released a new letter to the Catholics of northern Colorado, titled “Public Servants and Moral Reasoning.” In the letter, they reaffirm the importance of informed moral reasoning when discerning public action, especially in regard to Catholics who serve their country on the national stage. Click here to read the full letter (PDF file)
Bishops who have responded to Biden so far: 3.In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.
If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us - from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews - fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.
yes, teddy takes communion and the spineless American bishops allow it.
Obama complained that pro-life advocates wanted children born alive in botched "live birth" abortions treated the same as if they were a "nine-month-old" child. Well, they are. That's common sense not some obscure theological mystery which people can have different opinions about.
It certainly is not mysterious question of faith or belief that a child born alive in a "live birth" botched abortion is a living and breathing human being, a person, with rights. It's a fact. Biden has a duty as a Catholic to explain this to Obama and to do EVERYTHING within his power to persuade others to understand and oppose this evil. It is not just a personal, subjective opinion, enshrouded in mysteries of faith and belief, that Biden is prevented from "imposing" by some imaginary constitutional principle about the separation of belief and public policy. That abortion takes a human life unlawfully and immorally is within the scope of reason and common sense observation of facts. It is a rational judgement concerning application of natural law and human rights.
because Biden and Peloski both have gone on Meet the Press and spouted incorrect Catholic doctrine.
NOPE!
Nancy & Joe made the mistake of pretending to speak for the Catholic Church.
That makes it an issue for the Church to respond to WITHOUT FEAR OF ANY “SEPARATION” ISSUES!!
his bishop probably doesn’t want to lose his donations$$$$
Show her the dem platform, and ask her if she agrees with it.
Many old-time dems don’t have a clue what their party has been pushing on the national level for the past 40 years.
They just listen to the lies of their local party leaders.
I really do think these Bishops are at a crossroads in the faith doctrine. They are either going to rise up and stand up to these folks, or remain silent.
It doesn't bode well if they do remain quiet.
I am glad that we now have Archbishop Burke at the Vatican. I see him as a driving force behind a stronger stance against these CINO politicians.
When was this? I don’t always get the Georgia Bulletin because the street numbers in our neighborhood are so similar so the mail gets mis-delivered.
I was unaware of Archbishop Gregory’s politics. Can you fill me in?
I’ll keep you posted.
I have a couple of articles to mail to her.....about the pelosi/biden Catholic church broohaha......I will have to find a concise list to add to that.....she is as smug as biden that his will not tarnish her with the Lord.....
Archbishop Chaput rocks! After this abortion thing gets straightened out, maybe someone can take a broom to that mess going on inside the church in San Francisco.
The new Pope and the Americans can get this sorted in no time.
I really like it. LOL
Can't be said forcefully enough.
IMO—the only thing left is to excommunicate. Biden Pelosi and the whole pile of them won't change with polite talk.
They need to be condemned, frequently and loudly. Palin wants to shake up DC. The Shepherds are 40+ years delinquent in their shake up. Now is a great time. Perhaps Archbishop Burke can be more persuasive in his new office.
Monday, Sept. 8, 2008
To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:
When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn't intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants.
On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show's nationwide audience, while defending her "pro-choice" abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.
Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn't excuse poor logic or bad facts. Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, "it's a personal and private issue." But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human "personhood" begins - though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions - but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.
Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It's certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible - but not at the expense of a developing child's right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, "I'm prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception," then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.
As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit, he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false "right" to abortion it enshrines, can't be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the "right to choose" an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.
In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.
If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us - from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews - fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
+James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
Better understand that the Church is divided, with many priests and one must suppose bishops, and of course many laymen not committed, at least more than intellectually, to the doctrines of the Church. An unknown number are merely nominal in their faith. Others are not believers. It is a situation not unlike that of 18th Century France before the Revolution. It took that catastrophe to separate the sheep from the goats, the faithful from the unfaithful. Sometimes I think we are on the brink.
But is this more than the usual suspects? Chaput's always been a little more outspoken. I think a few bishops have been pushed to say something because, thanks to the internet, Catholic faithful have much more opportunity to voice publicly their dissatisfaction with wimpy bishops.
When the archbishop of Boston announces no priest may publicly celebrate a Catholic funeral for Ted Kennedy or knowingly administer communion to John Kerry or any other pro-abort pol, I'll believe the pope has a hand in the recent outspokenness. Until then, I'll believe it's the laity shining the light of Christ in our Church and the hierarchy are by and large nothing more than a bunch of political hacks.
One final thought. Even the bishops who say something, are they leaving wiggle room? I ask because they usually do. It's rare to see a firm unequivical statement, a la Bruskewitz and the Catholics for a Free Choice.
It said he was personally committed to "a principled and respectful dialogue and engagement with all public officials." He also encouraged all Catholics to engage in such dialogues with people in public office, and to pray for them. Delaware bishops have been low-key with Biden's church involvementWhile politicians and prelates "dialogue", the slaughter of the helpless goes on.
Just out of curiosity, how many defiant/deviant Roman Catholics has Archbishop Chaput excommunicated since assuming power in Denver? How many has he addressed publically? Surely there must be some prominent pro-aborts in Denver that need his attention.
But, hey, if their immoral souls are not in danger, what's the big deal?
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