Posted on 11/13/2008 5:11:04 AM PST by steadfastconservative
BALTIMORE (AP) - The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration. In an impassioned discussion on Catholics in public life, several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy. Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates. And several prelates promised to call out Catholic policy makers on their failures to follow church teaching. Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., singled out Vice President-elect Biden, a Catholic, Scranton native who supports abortion rights. "I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church," Martino said. The Obama-Biden press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(AP) Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic... Full Image Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas said politicians "can't check your principles at the door of the legislature."
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
If someone already posted this story, I apologize.
At any rate, I'm glad to see that the bishops are ready to take on the Obama Administration on this issue because it is, in fact, quite possible, that the Obama Administration would force Catholic hospitals and doctors to perform abortions.
Although Obama's election is not a good thing for this country perhaps some good will come from it if it means that the Catholic bishops take a more aggressive stance on abortion and if conservatives can seize the reins of the Republican Party.
What exactly does it mean by federal funding? What type of funding do the Catholic hospitals get? Is it just talking about aid programs? Couldn't the hospitals exist without it, similar to what Hillsdale College does? On another note, I wish that more Catholics had realized what exactly they were voting for. The Church could definitely be severely curtailed under Obama, just like in Canada...or worse.
Oh, the hugh manatee! Not lose federal funding!
If Obama is able to put through the policies he's said he wants, it will be the moment of truth for the heirarchy. Please, guys, prove that you haven't sold your souls for Federal funding and an occasional pat on the head from the atheist press.
It’s great to see that in these elections that Catholic Bishops have stood up to be counted - this is the sort of leadership the flock needs. People need to be lead by example. Well done to all the Bishops and may they continue to fight!
Mel
Yes they will, but they will kiss his backside on all of the other socialist schemes he come up with since his proposals agree with their definition of "social justice" as defined on their website (click on social justice on the left hand side)
How many divisions does the Pope have?
The damage is done.
Due to the many years of inaction, the Bishops have lost their moral authority of this subject. There may be some bishops who speak out aggressively on this issue but there are many more who keep their mouths shut.
Where is CARDINAL MAHONY? HAS ANYBODY HEARD FROM THIS CARDINAL ON ABARTION?
I’ll believe this when the photos I see of bishops is of them being led away in cuffs during civil disobedience rather than at “ecumenical prayer breakfasts” with pro-death industry politicians like Pelosi, Reid, Collins, Kennedy et al.
Not ony this, but it's hard set a moral example when they go along with 99% of the liberal agenda such as gun control and the forced transfer of wealth and the suddenly find moral objections to one plank in the platform. It's kind of like swallowing a camel and gagging on a gnat. They don't have much credibility with conservatives because at their core their philosophy is socialistic.
Another problem is that abortion is not an important issue to most people. There are a few who are single issue on this, but most have a number of issues that they care about and are willing to compromise. I don't see conservatism getting much traction on this.
go to the link in post #5 and read the “social justice” part of the website. Reads like the communist manifesto or at least the democratic party platform. So apparently the american conference of catholic bishops doesn’t pay much attention to the pope.
In the article yesterday, the Bishops mentioned that if Obama’s policies FORCED Catholic Hospitals to perform abortions, that the hospitals would close. That would be one-third of all hospitals in the USofA.
Now, will the really? Only with a backbone and encouragement from Pope Benedict XVI.
But the threat is serious.
Catholic Hospitals accept Medicaid and Medicare and probably Hill-Burton Funds as well from the Federal Government. I don’t think they could survive as Private Hospitals.
There are a few brave bishops, where are the rest? I will believe their actions when I see it. The church also contributed to Acorn, which gave us....., need I say more?/Just Asking - seoul62.......
TC, let me explain something.
"Lose federal funding" means Medicare and Medicaid won't pay a dime.
However, hospitals are still required by federal law to treat anyone who shows up at the ER and asks for it.
In other words, this amounts to "commit abortions or go bankrupt in weeks ... your choice".
The "Campaign for Human Development" of the USCCB did that, and the bishops are apparently not very pleased. They'll try to reign in the Marxists at CHD, but they should just shut it down.
The CHD is supported by a special collection taken up one Sunday a year. Catholics should not give a dime to that.
Oh, that does make a difference. Thanks.
Sad but True!
I certainly agree on the past footdragging of the bishops.I would like to see alist of the Bishops that were silent on abortion during the 2008 election.None of them deserve a promotion.I will certainly raise this point when it comes to replacing Cardinal Egan in NY.We need another strong pro-life Cardinal like the great Cardinal O’Connor.
If the choice is "commit abortion or close," they'll close.
This sort of thing was threatened in NY a few years back. Cardinal Egan threatened to close the hospitals and the state backed down.
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