Pro-Abortion Catholic Group Accuses Nation’s Bishops of Playing Politics With Abortion

Life News ^ | 9/4/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-abortion group claiming to be Catholic is accusing the nation’s Catholic bishops of playing politics by virtue of their condemnation of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s misrepresenting Catholic teaching on abortion and the beginning of human life. Catholics for Choice says the bishops were wrong to release a factsheet correcting her.

Jon O'Brien, president of the pro-abortion group told LifeNews.com, that it is Catholic leaders who are wrong on abortion, not Pelosi.

He accused the Catholic bishops of a “desire to place themselves at the center of the political discussion on abortion” and not representing Catholic teachings or Catholics.

"It is simply not true that the Roman Catholic Church's position on abortion has remained unchanged for 2,000 years,” O’Brien said, pointing to subtle changes in wording from Catholic thinkers in centuries past in their condemnation of abortion.

O’Brien contends: “There is a big difference in 'rejecting abortion' or stating that it is 'gravely wrong,' as leaders in the early church did and the current situation where the bishops regard it as an 'intrinsically evil act that can never be morally right.'“

The Catholics for Choice leader claimed a majority of Catholic voters and parishioners do not fall in line with the Catholic bishops and the Church’s position against abortion.

He pointed to an internal poll the group conducted claiming about 70 percent of Catholics say that the views of Catholic bishops are unimportant to them in deciding for whom to vote and a similarly large proportion, 73 percent, saying they believe Catholic politicians are under no religious obligation to vote on issues the way the bishops recommend.

But Father Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, talked with LifeNews.com previously and said the poll doesn't distinguish between practicing Catholics and Catholics in name only.

"Previous research into Catholic voting patterns, such as that done by Deal Hudson and others, shows a predictably significant difference when one surveys those who actually practice their faith and attend Mass," Pavone said. "Such voters tend to vote pro-life, increasingly vote Republican, and do want the moral guidance that is offered by the bishops in such documents as Living the Gospel of Life."

On life and death decisions like abortion, Father Pavone said the Catholic pro-life teachings are absolute.

“But on matters that violate fundamental human rights (like abortion and terrorism), there can be no wiggle room, whether one is Catholic or not," he explains. “Common sense tells us to elect public servants who know the difference between serving the public and killing the public."

In the fact sheet, the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities showed the Church teaching through the years.

“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law,” it said.

“From earliest times, Christians sharply distinguished themselves from surrounding pagan cultures by rejecting abortion and infanticide,” it added.

Regarding the origins of human life, the Catholic bishops affirmed that “knowledge of human embryology was very limited until recent times.

”They said Catholic teaching never changed on the morality of abortion even though scientists didn’t confirm that human life begins at conception until 1827."

[wagglebee]

“From earliest times, Christians sharply distinguished themselves from surrounding pagan cultures by rejecting abortion and infanticide,” it added.

And what the left practices truly is paganism.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life/Catholic Ping

[wagglebee]

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[SumProVita]

STOP!!!!

There is no such thing as a pro-abortion CATHOLIC!

(Those who are pro-abortion are excommunicated.)

[Seruzawa]

Ummm. Afraid not. If you believe in legalized abortion then you aren’t a Catholic. You are something else. Go join one of those Churches. Same with women in the priesthood. If you believe in it you aren’t a Catholic.

Why is it that people demand that Churches change belief to accomodate individuals? Just join another Church. Millions of people do. It’s not hard.

[txzman]

HAHAHAHHHHAA. Too, too funny. Where do they buy THEIR bibles?

[Mr. Lucky]

That's fine in theory, but the long time parish priest of St. Anne's on Mackinac Island, Michigan, was the featured speaker at an Obama fundraiser last week, with his vocation prominently noted in the publicity mailers and news reports.

[bdeaner]

Lord, forgive them. They know not what they do.

[bdeaner]

Well, they need to stop taking communion, because they have excommunicated themselves by these actions. There is no ambiguity in the doctrine of the Church on this point. Taking a pro-abortion stance is unambiguously sinful and a very serious sin. To partake of communion in that state of sin is to bring upon one’s self even greater judgement. I hope God has mercy on them, and that, God willing, the Holy Spirit will guide them to the Truth.

[SumProVita]

If you are aware of this, YOU need to #1. contact your bishop. If this goes nowhere, #2. contact the CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH (VATICAN)... The congregation is now headed by Prefect Cardinal William Joseph Levada. Report clearly and respectfully. It may take some time, but something WILL be done.

;-)

[PGR88]

“pro abortion Catholic Group”

The words themselves seem familiar, yet when put together I can’t comprehend the meaning.....

[Scotswife]

It is the politicians who are playing politics with abortion and then pretending to be catholics.

The politicians will have to choose - keep their pro-death stance? Or reconcile with the Church.

Can’t have it both ways!

[Scotswife]

“You are something else. Go join one of those Churches.”

I hear the unification church is very “diverse”

[Lawgvr1955]

That's fine in theory, but the long time parish priest of St. Anne's on Mackinac Island, Michigan, was the featured speaker at an Obama fundraiser last week, with his vocation prominently noted in the publicity mailers and news reports.

Things like this really bother me as a Catholic. It sounds to me like his Bishop needs to start doing his job.

[Salvation]

Pro-Abortion Catholic group? That's an oxymoron in itself. No such theing. They are CINOs. Catholics In Name Only. They should also be denied Communion due to their defiance of Church teachings!

1:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches 1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

97%

2:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches 2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm

96%

3:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches 2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

96%

4:	CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

[Salvation]

Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC)

Promotes artificial contraceptive "rights," including abortion. Their focus is the "intersection of Catholic teaching and public policy." Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. They have been condemned by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).

[redgolum]

And no offense to WB, but that is why I say that there is a schism in the Roman Catholic Church in the US.

If the Vatican really means what it says, at least half the bishops are excommunicated from the Pope right now. And I think that BXVI does mean what he says, and is moving to that.

[Secret Agent Man]

Many do know exactly what they do, and many encourage others to do it too.

[Secret Agent Man]

Ever notice that the left seems to be THE AUTHORITY as to WHO gets to comment on what issues?

When a group comments on a largely religious issue, they say it’s a political issue and they should shut up and stay in their church.

When it’s an issue that has a lot of politic behind it, they want to make it a ‘personal issue’ or ‘religious issue’.

Always wanting to define who gets to talk about what. Fact is political issues have moral components to them, and thus deserve to be talked about from religious viewpoints as well.

And we all have the 1st Amendment protecting our speech, and we can all talk about ANYTHING we doggone well want to. Liberal nutjobs.

[chris_bdba]

“claiming to be Catholic”

I believe this would be the key phrase as opposed to really being a Catholic!