Moran Again

The Washington Times ^ | 5/14/03 | John McCaslin

[chambley1]

Moran again

The president of the American Life League is praising the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Bishop Paul Loverde and his "faithful priests" for standing up to an outspoken U.S. representative who thinks "it's possible to be pro-abortion and remain in good standing with the Catholic Church."

The praise from Judie Brown referred to an incident involving Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat, who, according to eyewitness accounts, got into a shouting match May 4 with a priest at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria after a homily touched on pro-life topics.

Here's what we know: Two days before Election Day in Alexandria, Mr. Moran, who is Catholic, took Virginia's visiting Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, and Alexandria city councilman and Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Euille (who is not Catholic and won the election) to Mass with him "to shake a few hands," says our source close to Mr. Euille.

In fact, Roll Call newspaper reported that Mr. Moran asked that Mr. Euille be recognized during the Mass, a request that the parish rebuffed.

With the three politicians seated before him, the Rev. Bryan Belli delivered the sermon, part of which touched on pro-life issues and Catholic politicians who ignore church teachings. Mr. Moran's spokesman, Dan Drummond, was quoted in Roll Call as saying that it is unethical and possibly illegal for Father Belli to attack the Democratic Party from the pulpit.

After the 9 a.m. Mass, according to the newspaper, a "red-faced" Mr. Moran exchanged heated words with the Rev. Michael Dobbins, with Mr. Moran "screaming and pointing his finger at him."

"How can you reconcile yourself as a Catholic with your views on abortion?" the priest is reported to have asked Mr. Moran, who is said to have shot back, "You priests don't know anything about abortion."

"Congressman, put away the talking points. Talk to me as your priest," Father Dobbins told his parishioner. Mr. Moran is reported to have replied that there was "not enough time" and walked off but not before hearing the priest say: "Congressman, one day you will need me, and I will be here."

"That's what these pro-abortion 'Catholics' seem to forget," Mrs. Brown said yesterday. "The pastor is not interested in the politician's voting record but his soul. It is a credit to Bishop Loverde's leadership that his priests are confident enough to boldly proclaim the Gospel, even in the face of elected leaders who claim to have a mandate from the people for their immoral positions on abortion."

Mr. Moran declined to be interviewed by Inside the Beltway yesterday. But Mr. Drummond, his spokesman, denied Blessed Sacrament parishioner accounts that the congressman's "nostrils were flaring."

"There was no verbal shouting match between the congressman and Father Dobbins as some unnamed sources were quoted as saying," Mr. Drummond says, describing his boss as "calm, cool and collected."

If that's really the case, it might be a first for Mr. Moran, whose hot temper has repeatedly gotten him into trouble, and even a fistfight or two, from his Northern Virginia district to the floor of the U.S. Capitol.

[Gerish]

Will he be shaking his finger at our Lord on judgement day? Why does it seem these pro-abortion politicians get so angry when someone calls them on their views? Guilt maybe????

[Paul Atreides]

Mr. Moran's spokesman, Dan Drummond, was quoted in Roll Call as saying that it is unethical and possibly illegal for Father Belli to attack the Democratic Party from the pulpit.

Oh, really?

[wideawake]

It's very instructive, isn't it?

[wideawake]

What other ridiculousness did Moran participate in, again?

[wideawake]

Oh wait, he's the anti-Semite, right?

[Hegemony Cricket]

Moran can SAY he's a Catholic all he wants, but it's obvious by his reaction here, that politics is his real religion.

[justanotherfreeper]

I'm in the Arlington diocese, and the Sunday before every major election they preach from the pulpit that you can't support someone for office who advocates killing babies, and then explain why the Catholic church believes abortion is wrong. I have seen people walk out of those sermons, (though after one sermon the church errupted in applause!) I've attended Blessed Sacrament in the past, and the parish there is very conservative.

What I don't understand is that it is America, if you don't like what the Catholic church teaches, join another church. Plenty of liberal protestant churches in the area that would be thrilled to have Moran join them. "God" is not an elected position, you don't get to take a vote and overrule His laws.

[martin_fierro]

El Pingacito.

[montag813]

"Congressman, put away the talking points. Talk to me as your priest," Father Dobbins told his parishioner. Mr. Moran is reported to have replied that there was "not enough time" and walked off but not before hearing the priest say: "Congressman, one day you will need me, and I will be here."

Oh, I like this guy!

[bmwcyle]

Separation of Conservatives from Government. That is the DEMS cry.

[Tall_Texan]

MORAN = MORON

[Flora McDonald]

Hmmmm...I see he was accompanied by Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine. I wonder how he took the sermon? From what I understand he, also, is catholic and pro-choice. Bishop Sullivan has had him speak to the young people of the Richmond Diocese and brings up his name from time to time in the Catholic Virginian, always favorably.

[hillsborofox]

For what it's worth (or not worth), the councilman attending Mass with Moran, Bill Euille, is black, gay and pro-choice.

[VaFederalist]

Walter Sullivan is a flake and needs to be sent off to the retirement home. Hopefully the Holy Father will replace him with an orthodox man of the Faith.

Tim Kaine is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with the Richmond diocese.

[MudPuppy]

God Bless Arlington Diocese...
pray to keep our priests strong and faithful.

[steve-b]

an incident involving Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat, who, according to eyewitness accounts, got into a shouting match

If you're a reporter in Northern Virginia, here's a timesaving tip: Program one of the function keys on your computer to produce the above phrase with a single keystroke.

[steve-b]

Yeah, and also the guy who took a sweetheart loan from a company with a direct interest in the bankruptcy legislation he was sponsoring.

My favorite Moran moment was his explanation of his personal finances: He admitted that he'd had troubles in the past, but matters had improved since he left his wife in charge of the household books. Where he will turn for guidance on both personal and national budget issues now that his wife had decided to leave him and his violent temper behind remains to be seen.

[wideawake]

So Moran was deliberately trying to provoke the pastor by trying to get him to announce that an abortionist sodomite had infiltrated a Mass?