Posted on 11/04/2013 8:42:30 AM PST by topher
Here are some links about the battle between LifeSiteNews.com and Canadian Priest Father Raymond Gravel:
Update on Fr. Gravel Lawsuit against LifeSiteNews
John-Henry Westen letter to National Post re: Gravel lawsuit article
Fr. Raymond Gravel diagnosed with terminal cancer: launched lawsuit against LifeSiteNews
LifeSiteNews is being sued for $500,000 - this could shut us down!
A key argument in this lawsuit is the following:
[From the link above, quote from LifeSiteNews] Even though LifeSiteNews reports have overwhelmingly reported on what Fr. Gravel himself has publicly said, he is suing us for libel. Among other things, he argues that he isn’t pro-abortion, but he has said in the past that he is “pro-choice.”
With this said, why should Raymond Cardinal Burke of the Vatican be involved? You have a Catholic priest attacking an organization that supports the views of the Roman Catholic Church that abortion is wrong.
Father Raymond Gravel is claiming that it is a significant that is just Pro-Choice versus Pro-Abortion.
This is exactly why Raymond Cardinal Burke should become involved: what is the difference from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church if a person is pro-choice versus pro-abortion. It might argued that both say it is okay to have an abortion, which is against the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is also confusing for Catholics to hear of a priest to sue an organization that strongly defends the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is clear, from this author's perspective, that the Roman Catholic Church should have the last say in this matter between a Roman Catholic priest and an organization that strongly defends the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the difference if a priest saying that he is pro-choice versus pro-abortion? I think that Raymond Cardinal Burke could answer this question best and have the lawsuit thrown by forcing Father Raymond Gravel to be obedient to the Church and the teachings of the Church.
Though is mostly a Catholic matter, the priest in question was a member of Canadian Parliament but was forced out by the reporting of LifeSiteNews that Father Raymond Gravel opposed the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
Fr. Gravel is dying of lung cancer and only has months to live. He has a Higher Court to answer to soon.
The Catholic Church does not teach using political labels, which is what “pro-abortion” and “pro-choice” are.
The Catholic Church teaches that the State has the same obligation to prevent and punish the commission of procured abortion as it has to prevent and punish the murder of any born person. The Catholic Church teaches that treating abortion as other than homicide is unjust discrimination.
If Fr. Gravel holds that the State should distinguish between unborn people and born people when it comes to the protection of the law, then he is not a practicing Catholic. He is pro-abortion—i.e., he is in favor of “legal” abortion. He is a bigot, promoting unjust discrimination.
Pro-abortion people call themselves “pro-choice” as a pretense that they are offering a “compromise.” If you don’t like abortion, don’t have one. But being in favor of legal abortion IS pro-abortion.
Beware the man who offers you HIS position as a compromise between his position and your position.
That is my point. And maybe the Vatican needs to get involved in this situation. This lawsuit could destroy LifeSiteNews.com (which many good Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals support -- including Raymond Cardinal Burke).
I am sure if you were to ask the opinion of Archbishop Charles J Chaput on this, he would consider the priest to have serious flaws in his position that is opposed to what the Church teaches.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput is familiar with the work of LifeSiteNews.com, and would consider this situation a tragedy.
I agree with everything you’ve said on this thread. And I would welcome Cardinal Burke’s intervention. But someone as far off the barque as this priest is not likely going to change his behavior or drop his suit based on anything Cardinal Burke could say to him privately or bring against him canonically.
His activity is doing damage to the Catholic Church (in my opinion) because LifeSiteNews.com is a champion of the principles of the Catholic Church/True Christian beliefs.
I ad the True Christian beliefs because some Christian churches consider abortion okay and Gay marriage okay.
A Roman Catholic priest should not be doing the work of Satan, but in my opinion, that is what this priest is doing
The distinction between “pro-abortion” and “pro-choice” is phony.
The teaching of the Catholic Church is that the State has the duty to treat abortion like other homicides.
This priest is pro-abortion, and is not a practicing Catholic.
He should have been laicized and excommunicated long ago. Ultimately, his bishop is to blame for this travesty.
Hopefully my posting are not goofy
Your posts did not seem goofy until you went BLUE.
I hope you have a successful and uncomplicated recovery.
I am off it.
Three days after surgery, and I really don't have any pain.
I feel okay, but doctors orders are limited activity
At least I can still type fast!!!
That’s great! Glad to hear things are going well.
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