Posted on 01/27/2007 6:29:58 AM PST by NYer
bookmark for later letter to CINO.
Let us remember that primary responsibility of a Pope, bishop, priest and deacon is to save souls. The church believes those in the hierarchy will be judged more severely. Right now I would put my money on the deacon to escape harsh judgment for his act.
Total agreement. Last Saturday there were 20,000, mostly youth, walking for life in San Francisco. 200,000, mostly youth, marched in Washington on Monday.
Surprising but the media never mentioned attendance. San Francisco had a couple of hundred protesters as Washington did.
Unbelievable. The deacon should have been reprimanded for not taking the pro-abortion Congressman to the woodshed for a good whuppin'.
The deacon had every right to say what he said:
"Any Catholic politician who casts a vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion, commits a mortal sin.
When such a vote indicates that the Catholic politician believes that abortion is not always gravely immoral, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canons 751 and 1364, because of heresy.
When such a vote is intended to have the effect of making abortion legal, or more easily obtainable, or more widely available, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canon 1398, as someone who is attempting to provide substantial or essential means for women to obtain abortions. Catholic politicians who pass laws which legalize, protect, or widen access to abortion, are providing essential assistance to women who want to have an abortion"
Priest and bishops should be careful:
"Apostasy, heresy, and schism are all offences which incur a sentence of excommunication automatically. Heresy is the obstinate denial of any truth of the Catholic faith, on a matter of faith or morals, which has been definitively taught by the Magisterium. The Magisterium has repeatedly and definitively taught that abortion is always gravely immoral. (CCC 2270 to 2275)"
Diocesan Priests, aka Secular Priests, do not take vows. Diocesan Priests promise to lead a celibate life; to respect and obey their diocesan bishop; and to live a simple lifestyle.
It is said that Hitler, in his youth, was an altar boy. I would not want him to be frequenting Catholic Churches, much less receiving the Holy Eucharist either. Likewise, Stalin who was a Russian Orthodox seminarian in his youth.
If Babybutcher Higgins' feelings are hurt by the truth of his eager participation in the murder of innocent babies, that will just have to be, well, tooooooo baaaadddddd! If he publicly repents and reforms his record in the future, he can expect to be welcomed but not until.
Rev. Art Smith and Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, aka spineless cowards.
Another weak PC Bishop, part of the reason why I no longer care when Catholic Schools are closing. You like pro-abortion democrats, you got em. Now you have anti, school-choice democrat politicians who will help control the people population by voting pro-abortion. Wait until the immigration influx will force many Catholic hospitals to close.
Link to NARAL endorsement rating of Brian Higgins:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/states/endorsed-candidates.html
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=004524M
Rep. Higgins’ voting record can be found here:
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNY77435&type=category&category=Abortion%20Issues
http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/bio/keyvotes/?id=3723
Messages to Deacon McDonnell may be sent to
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish:
450 Abbott Road
Buffalo, New York 14220
Ph: (716) 822-1250
Fax (716) 822-2594
staquinasparish@juno.com
To contact Bishop Kmiec:
Diocese of Buffalo
795 Main Street
Buffalo NY 14203
Ph: (716) 847-5500
Fax: (716) 847-5557
Email: dob@buffalodiocese.org
To contact Brian Higgins:
Washington, DC Office
431 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3306
Fax: 202-226-0347
http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/mail/?id=3723&type=CO&lvl=C&state=NY
http://www.higginsforcongress.com/
Erie County Office
Larkin at Exchange
726 Exchange Street
Suite 601
Buffalo, NY 14210
Phone: 716-852-3501
Fax: 716-852-3929
Don't forget to write the other wimp, the pastor, Father Art Smith staquinasparish@juno.com
Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis who would certainly punish Higgins and his pastor, ummmm, with gusto!
I read the initial report, and it seems to me that the Deacon made a pretty low key point of it.
It was the politician who walked out, refused to let the priest visit him for an apology, and publicized the whole business.
I don't think the politician should be welcomed back into that parish church until he has made his peace with the pastor, whom he gratuitously insulted. As for the pastor, he's evidently a wimp. And we already knew that the bishop of Bufallo is a loser.
Sounds a little like a veiled threat to me.
Gee, it's really touching that the priest and bishop are so concerned about a pro-abort politician's feelings. Would that they would show similar concern for the millions of innocents slaughtered by the procedure so supported and advanced by that same politician.
Fr. Smith told local news that he regretted that Brian Higgins was not given the same warm welcome as that shown to Senator Clinton by Buffalo’s previous bishop, Henry J. Mansell during a prior visit at a Catholic venue in 2001.
Yep, too bad that he was not accorded such honor and laud. In fact, every public figure he opposes such a fundamental teaching of the church should be accorded such honor. I mean, these are political leaders, to heck with the Holy See.
Brian Higgins told the press that messages to his office were running 4 to 1 in his favour.
No doubt. Caligula, Hiltler, Stalin, et al., were also very popular in their time. After all, Hitler made the trains run on time, didn't he?
Looks like Fr. Smith doesn't think John the Baptist was a fair man. Voting to prevent parents from finding out about their children's plans to abort a child, and to force those who object to playing with embryos to pay for that activity, is act of the most evil kind. This wasn't about politics, it was about morality, life, murder, honor thy parents, ect. All in God's house, and Congressman Higgin's pretended to belong there.
His presence was pure imagery. He loved to be seen in public, and recieve the praise and blessings from his kind. God's Church is mearly his prop. Deacon McDonnell was right to call him on it. The Bishop and Pastor, should be sent to their rooms to reflect on the matter and decide who it is they serve, God, or the pretenders. They need to decide whether John was right, or whether he was wrong, and John was out of line by calling out King Herod.
Good email from you! There's a place for "tact", but a Church is the place for TRUTH.
“'The lesson here is that the Catholic Church has enough problems and should take greater care before allowing nonpriests [sic] to use the church as a forum to advance what clearly was a political agenda,' Higgins said."
Here's how this works: If you aren't perfect, you cannot criticize me. If you are, you can't possibly understand.
"He complained that the homily was a 'cheap shot'”
And his remarks about the Church's problems weren't?
And much grayer (or is it greyer?) :-)
A most astute observation! Though Roman Catholic, I practice my faith in a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church. Last week, our pastor was away on retreat but made arrangements for a RC priest to celebrate the NO Mass at our small parish. Physically, the RC priest was quite aged (white hair) and walked with double canes. It was a physical struggle for him to mount the one step in the Sanctuary and he was challenged on how to accept the offerings. He conveyed the impression of one who is quite 'feeble'. When it came time to deliver the homily, he leaned heavily on the lectern. He began by noting that this was 'Defend Life Sunday' and the Church had asked its pastors to deliver a talk on the topic of life. Father Crandall, God bless his holy soul, systematically and methodically spelled out the teachings of the Catholic Church on the gift of life. He progressed through the homily with 'supporting documentation' that he obtained from the Right to Life Party. He expounded on the need for all Catholics to educate themselves about the positions held by politicians, before going to the polls. He even went so far to suggest that a Catholic who votes for pro choice politician, is complicit in the destruction of human life that results from their election.
Our pastor delivers solid Catholic catechetical homilies each week and has been taken to task by those in the parish whose consciences are bothered by his homiletics. Needless to say, it came as quite a surprise to all of them to see and hear this "feeble, white haired, old" priest teeter forward with his two canes and deliver such an outspoken defense on behalf of the defenseless. Someone seated behind me apparently timed his homily and when it was finished, she commented to her husband - "30 minutes".
It was an absolute honor afterwards, to assist Father Crandall to a seat in the rear of the Church, to enjoy some coffee and refreshments. Several of us complimented him on his excellent homily. He was so pleased that anyone had paid attention.
The good priests are still out there and more than willing to 'teach and instruct' in the Catholic faith. Many of them are aging. Fortunately, there are others, like my young pastor, who are already filling their shoes. May God bless them all!
Excellent rebuttal!
Amen sister! :-)
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