Abp. Hebda Discourages Priests From Voting in Presidential Primary

Church Militant ^ | March 2, 2020 | Bradley Eli

[ebb tide]

Abp. Hebda Discourages Priests From Voting in Presidential Primary

Theologian: Should tell priests to oppose 'Party of Death'

MINNEAPOLIS (ChurchMilitant.com) - The head of the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese is requesting that his clerics refrain from voting in the presidential primary on Tuesday.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda is urging priests and deacons of the archdiocese not to vote in Minnesota's "closed" primary on Super Tuesday, stating privacy concerns.

"Minnesota's presidential primary is a 'closed' party nominating primary, meaning it is open only to people who align with the party," said Hebda in a e-mail to his clerics. "One has to attest that one agrees with a party's principles to vote in the party primary."

In the e-mail, the archbishop warned that the public may find out which party his priests support.

"That information (though not one's voting choice) is given to the head of each of the major political parties (four total), and though it is considered private data by the state, nothing prevents party affiliation from being made public," noted Hebda.

Hebda should be advising all his priests to not vote Democrat ... because the Democratic party's entire platform runs against the Faith and Church teaching.Tweet

Local media were informed that the archbishop was only requesting — not mandating — that his priests and deacons abstain from voting.

Church Militant reached out to a theologian and former seminary professor to get his take on Hebda's request. The priest, who wished to remain anonymous, said the archbishop should be far more concerned about the morality of clerics supporting pro-abortion Democrats rather than privacy issues.

Abp. Bernard Hebda

"Hebda should be advising all his priests to not vote Democrat in the March primary, because the Democratic party's entire platform runs against the Faith and Church teaching, and not because if a priest should do so, he will be caught for supporting with his vote the Party of Death and socialism," he said.

The archbishop made it clear, however, that clergy weren't barred from voting in elections based on the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church.

"To be clear, there is no tax prohibition on clergy voting in primaries, as clergy can endorse candidates in their individual capacities," Hebda affirmed. "But the possibility that the data may become public should discourage clergy from participating."

Considering that the Democrats were in lockstep on the issue of abortion, the theologian took exception to the fact that Hebda was advising his priests to "take a knee" at this upcoming primary.

"This upcoming fall election is working up to be one of the most contentious and critical ever for us as a nation and yet you are advising your priests to bow out entirely," he remarked. "You should advise all your priests to vote Republican and to vote for Trump."

Minnesota's Democratic-controlled House of Representatives took immediate action to remedy the privacy concern. House Democrats on Wednesday passed a measure that would restrict the public from gaining access to data detailing the party each voter had registered with.

House Democrats passed a measure that would restrict the public from gaining access to data detailing the party each voter had registered with.Tweet

"We have heard from Minnesotans that they're a little concerned about going to vote in a primary where it will be recorded which ballot they pick up," said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. "So we have moved very quickly to get a measure to the House floor to protect voter privacy."

But it seems the Republican-controlled Senate may not follow suit and change the law until after this voting cycle is concluded. The head of the Minnesota Republican Party, Jennifer Carnahan, has stated that she is opposed to making any changes to the rule now that voting has begun.

[ebb tide]

"Hebda should be advising all his priests to not vote Democrat in the March primary, because the Democratic party's entire platform runs against the Faith and Church teaching, and not because if a priest should do so, he will be caught for supporting with his vote the Party of Death and socialism," he said.

.............................

Considering that the Democrats were in lockstep on the issue of abortion, the theologian took exception to the fact that Hebda was advising his priests to "take a knee" at this upcoming primary.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[NFHale]

“..requesting that his clerics refrain from voting in the presidential primary on Tuesday....”

Either stand the f*** up like MEN and vote - PROVE - what you say you believe in, or get the F*** out of the way. Tell the “Abp” to GFhimself.

I was schooled by Priests that had been WWII Chaplains. They had ZERO problem standing up to be counted as Americans and as Catholics.

But yeah, that was a different time. Men were still MEN back then, regardless of wearing the collar.

[Bigg Red]

::”Hebda should be advising all his priests to not vote Democrat in the March primary, because the Democratic party’s entire platform runs against the Faith and Church teaching, and not because if a priest should do so, he will be caught for supporting with his vote the Party of Death and socialism,” he said.::

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless that anonymous priest. I hope there are many, many more like him.

[mosesdapoet]

As expected the media “spiked” this WH message;

Presidential Message on Ash Wednesday, 2020
whitehouse.gov ^ | February 26, 2020 | President Donald Trump Posted on 2/26/2020, 2:02:11 PM by ransomnote

Melania and I wish everyone observing Ash Wednesday a peaceful and prayerful day.

For Catholics and many other Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that concludes with the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday. Today, millions of Christians will be marked on their foreheads with the sign of the cross. The imposition of ashes is an invitation to spend time during Lent fasting, praying, and engaging in acts of charity. This powerful and sacred tradition reminds us of our shared mortality, Christ’s saving love, and the need to repent and accept the Gospel more fully.

We join in prayer with everyone observing this holy day and wish you a prayerful Lenten journey. May you grow closer to God in your faith during this blessed season.

[jmacusa]

Whatever happened to ‘’Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and render unto God that which is Gods?

[Marchmain]

That’s disenfranchisement by coercion and intimidation. Illegal and unconstitutional.

I thought these bishops had crews of lawyers to keep them from stupid things like this?

[NFHale]

Apparently it got lost somewhere in the Marxist Liberation Theory of Frankie the Red Pope...