The Catholic Bishops' Letter To All Virginians

[Candybar]

The Catholic Bishops of Virginia issued a letter to all Catholics of their dioceses regarding "Voting With a Well-Formed Conscience". They said the question they hear most often is: "What if I reject a candidate's (Obama) stance in favor of legalized abortion, but wish to vote for that candidate (Obama) for other reasons (words in paren added)?

Here is the essence of their reply:

"We first observe that such reasons would certainly need to be not only MORALLY GRAVE but also PROPORTIONATELY GRAVE - that is, EQUALLY SERIOUS or even MORE SERIOUS than abortion (emphasis added).

That means we must appreciate the difference in moral gravity between policies which are intrinsically unjust (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, and the deliberate destruction of human embryos) and policies involving prudential judgments about which people of good will may disagree concerning various means of promoting economic justice, public safety, and fair opportunities for every person. The moral obligation to oppose intrinsically evil acts HAS A SPECIAL CLAIM on our consciences and our actions (emphasis added). We must confront the almost incomprehensible fact that abortions extinguish the lives of well over 1,000,000 children per year in the United States".

Well, there you have it! Are actions related to economic justice, public safety and fair opportunities proportionately grave, that is, EQUALLY SERIOUS or even MORE SERIOUS than abortion?

When more than 1,000,000 lives of children are extinguished in our country each year, how, in God's name, can any reasonable person say that there is anything more serious than abortion?

Catholics of Virginia, search your minds and hearts.

When you vote, how can you vote for Obama who would snuff out the lives of more millions of Americnan children?

[freebilly]

The Catholic Bishops' Letter To All Virgians

Are there any left...?

[Charles Henrickson]

The Catholic Bishops' Letter To All Virgians

"Remain Virgians!"

(Carpenters' rule: Measure twice, cut once.)

[silverleaf]

http://www.catholicvote.com/

please check out this video and pass it along
It is very powerful

Would be great if it was shown in every parish before November 4

[don-o]

http://vacatholic.org/documents/BishopsElectionStatement-2008_000.pdf

There is the actual statement

[Ulysse]

Great video!
Very emotional and/because TRUE

But this is not only about catholics but all kind of christians,jews,and people of good will....

[olezip]

The Catholic Bishops of Virginia issued a letter to all Catholics of their dioceses regarding "Voting With a Well-Formed Conscience".

I hope that this initiative by the Catholic Bishops is effective. I have been using that argument for many years now on my relatives in southwestern Pennsylvania, to no avail. Note that this is the congressional district of John Murtha; the greed of the people are the reason Murtha keeps getting re-elected. They overlook his thuggery, sedition, because he brings a lot of money into the district.

While many Catholics disagree with the Democratic platform in connection with the murder of babies, they are too angry with the policies of the current administration to vote for anyone else, plus they like the idea of more government goodies--free health care, higher minimum wages, lower income taxes. Therefore, I believe, as in the past, they will tolerate the disagreeable aspect of the candidate.

The arguments supporting pro-choice to abort unwanted babies has a rationale, many women believe that they have the right to decide what to do with their body. These women cannot deal with the truth or reality, IMO. Many Catholics have been voting a Democratic ticket for many years, and are unable or unwilling to change.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Our parish showed that video at a "Faithful Citizenship" meeting the other night. While they never told us who to vote for, the implication was clear by the materials presented. Unfortunately, only 40 people were present. I wish they'd show the video after mass on Sunday.

The presenter also brought along the book Can a Catholic Be a Democrat? and encouraged people to read it.

I was pleasantly surprised about the strong and vocal position the Church is presenting on this issue.

[SweetCaroline]

*

[redgirlinabluestate]

Certainly, the life of a child has to trump government goodies--free health care, higher minimum wages, lower income taxes etc.

At our faithful citizenship meeting a representative from the diocese framed it this way: "What is proportionately more important than preventing an innocent child from being aborted/killed such that we could explain it to the aborted child when we meet him/her face to face in Heaven?"

You could hear a pin drop. Nobody had an answer or a compelling proportionate reason to justify looking the other way on this issue.

[silverleaf]

I too am gratwful for the moral unambiguity the Catholic church takes on life and family issues and their speaking out now at election time

Perhaps the arrogance of CINO’s like Nancy Pelosi -taking it upon themselves to lecture on disregarding church doctrine in favor of self - has rung a bell.

However, I fear for the reprisals the Church will face if Obama is elected

[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[bert]

east Tennessee is where the economic refugees from South west Virginia come to work and trade.

Today at lowes I saw a car covered with bumper stickers. The one in the middle and most prominent was...

I am Christian.

I love my guns

I am a Democrat

[narses]

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

Obama Doesn’t Want His Daughters Punished with a Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg

CNN on Obama’s Infant Born Alive Act Rejection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY

Jill Stanek on Obama and Born Alive Infant Protection Act (MUST SEE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

Obama Cover-up Revealed On Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill

http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/ObamaCoverup.html

Explosive Audio Found Obama arguing against BAIPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypDwNpgIUQc

Babies left to die!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

[wmfights]

"We first observe that such reasons would certainly need to be not only MORALLY GRAVE but also PROPORTIONATELY GRAVE - that is, EQUALLY SERIOUS or even MORE SERIOUS than abortion (emphasis added).

God Bless them. I hope the members of this church listen.

[DarthVader]

“IMO. Many Catholics have been voting a Democratic ticket for many years, and are unable or unwilling to change. “

Many will learn a horrible lesson when it is too late to change.

[jmaroneps37]

THIS is the BIG difference between this cycle and past presidential elections as far as Catholics go. We have never seen such plain language attacking the idea of voting for an abortion supporting candidate. This will help with Catholics who will be about 25% of voters.
In 2000 gore beat Bush with Catholics 50/47. In 2004 Catholics swung away from Kerry, who is a Catholic 52/ 46.
That was without any help from the Catholic bishops who remained largely silent. Beating Kerry with Catholics was a grassroots effort. This will build on McCain’s commanding 56/37 lead with Catholics and that HAS to help.

[Salvation]

This is good. Adding it to my list.

Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi

Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver was the first American bishop to respond
2. ... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC responded twice, first in a press release and second in a statement to The Hill. He has also appeared on Fox News, I am told.
4. Cardinal Justin Regali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued this statement through the USCCB website...
5. ... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
6. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York publised a strongly worded statement of his own
7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo issued a letter correcting Pelosi's claims
8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
9. ... Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs have chimed-in
10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, CNA reports has added his voice ...
11. ... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville has published an extensive letter
13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa has a detailed response
14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has joined the USCCB's efforts
15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin is on-board
16. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston mentions the USCCB on his blog
17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando has written at length
18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis challenges Pelosi's statement
19. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops, has weighed-in
20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, OR publishes in the Catholic Sentinel
21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, WI responds in a word document
22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH will comment in his September 5th column (PDF)
23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City, IA has one of the very best responses I've read
24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco has invited Pelosi to a "conversation"
25. Bishop Glen Provost, LA: "Catholic Church clear on when human life begins"
26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: "Judging the Candidates"

{Last updated on September 10th.}

Notes:

• Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
• Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
• #26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th

[Salvation]

Catholics are not Catholic if they vote for Obama. They excommunicate themselves.

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]

Life comes first.

We must always vote for life first, otherwise we do not have liberty and the pursuit of happines.

Let alone any freedoms!