Posted on 01/26/2009 12:33:19 AM PST by baa39
Dear fellow Catholics, by now you probably know that the USCCB spent a good deal of planning and money to organize a "postcard campaign" to Congress opposing FOCA (the ultra-radical pro-abortion 'Freedom of Choice Act' Obama wants to pass).
Every bishop agreed to direct every single parish pastor in every single diocese in this country to devote the next few weeks to this. However, I'm getting feedback from friends across the country that this isn't happening and would love a Freeper Catholic response so we can all get a broad view of how powerful (or weak) the Catholic message to the current pro-death Administration might be.
Excellently written bulletin inserts and fliers and pre-printed postcards were mailed directly from the USCCB to parishes nationwide, with coordination supposedly coming from all the chanceries with letters from bishops to priests and coordination by diocesan Respect Life (or in some cases Peace & Justice) offices.
In my parish, which some might call orthodox or conservative, the priest has been on this since day one. Bulletin, announcements, sermons, etc. Today before Mass he read the bishops' statement and told everyone to sign the cards. The ushers passed them out. When a few reluctant folks were obviously not participating, the priest bellowed "I want to see every pen moving! The lives of innocent babies are not going to be on my or your consciences as long as I am in this pulpit." To make it easier, ushers then collected the signed cards, and the parish will pay the postage and volunteers will stamp and mail. In a nutshell, total compliance with our bishop and beyond (the bishop's letter was actually quite weak).
Imagine my dismay at this scenario described by a relative in the Diocese of Oakland:
First the words "abortion" and "pro-life" are NEVER mentioned in her parish, from the pulpit, or the bulletin, or the prayer group. However, when I told her this event was coming and mandated by the bishops, she was hoping. For the past few weeks she's diligently looked for something, and finally asked the pastor, who muttered a gruff, incomprehensible response and walked away.
So she waited until today thinking the postcards would at least be made available in the vestibule. Hearing no mention at Mass and seeing nothing around, she approached the visiting priest (since the regular pastor took this week off, hmmm). This priest said, "I'm not responsible for anything in this parish, ask him," and jerked a thumb at the parish deacon a few yards away. My relative then approached the deacon, who refused to meet her eyes, and said he knew nothing about it. In desperation, knowing the Knights of Columbus usually are active in pro-life things, she went up to their table at coffee & donuts and politely asked if they knew the bishops had organized a write-in campaign to oppose FOCA and some materials were made available to the parishes. These Knights seemed honestly confused and said they knew nothing either.
So, the obvious bottom line question: how many parishes really are participating? And if not, is it due to obfuscation by the priest, or because the bishop did not give the mandate?
The glaring difference between my parish and my relative's shows the great divide in the US Catholic Church today.
I finally figured out how to post a “vanity”...hope it’s not too long.
This may be of interest and get some worthwhile feedback from your Catholic “ping” lists. Thanks!
The Church needs to team up with the Protestants on this one—I wish every preacher, pastor, reverend etc. had your priest’s attitude—”I want to see every pen moving!” I love it!! I’ve seen reports that America is 75-80% Christian to varying degrees—can you imagine if Congress received that many postcards CONDEMNING FOCA and HolyO and laying down the lay re: next elections concerning members of Congress who support this bill straight from Hell?????
Praying that FOCA never sees the light of day!!! May God protect the unborn so they too can someday enjoy LIFE! LIBERTY! AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!!!!
Did you folks happen to see what the Pelosi RAT said about contraceptives?
Our parish had Postcard Sunday yesterday. All those cards will be in the mail this week.
We went to a different church yesterday as I had to be at the ballet in New York City, was meeting a girlfriend to go, and my regular church is in the opposite direction of my travel.
The Church I attended had a priest who spoke on the gospel selections and said that they were all about “change!” Yes.
He went on to extol the beauty of the inauguration with all the “diversity” that went with it.
I approached him after mass and said, “Father, the biggest change we are about to see is in the increase in abortions owing to Obama’s policies.”
So, he said: “I know, I know.” And seem to be upset about it, as I walked away, and then he said, “I can understand that.” Now did he mean I can understand that this new policy is upsetting?
I don’t know. But I shot back, “I can’t.”
I do remember going to confession there once, too, and he seemed aggravated by the whole process.
Father John Hardin suggested you could get a grasp of a priest’s whole approach to theology by his fidelity to and embrace of the sacrament of penance. I guess good Father John Hardin knew what he was talking about.
I won’t darken the door of that church again. V’s wife.
Our parish had them inserted into the bulletin and the priest made emphatic mention of them right before dismissal at Mass. I’ll be sending mine out today.
Our parish priest is vehemently pro-life and speaks of the sanctity of life in his homily most weeks. We filled out the FOCA postcards last week. Unfortunately, not everyone filled them out at the pews, but I did see a large group of people at the table in the narthex. Maybe there weren’t enough pens.
My parish has run out of post cards and is requesting more from the Bishop, and we received more than 3,000 FOCA cards!
Our Parish (and my parents’ too) in South Central PA announced it in the bulletin and at Mass and had the postcards available after Mass yesterday. My son, who is a Squire, helped run the table with the Knights of Columbus and it had a huge response. I was happy to see this, because people had to go to the social hall to get the postcards.
Anyone hear what Nancy Pelosi said on This Week about “family planning” services helping the economy? Has she been excommunicated yet? Where is the outrage?
Gary diocese in NW IN is doing the postcards next Sunday. There was a flyer in the bulleton yesterday.
**The ushers passed them out. When a few reluctant folks were obviously not participating, the priest bellowed “I want to see every pen moving! The lives of innocent babies are not going to be on my or your consciences as long as I am in this pulpit.” **
What a pastor. You must love this guy!
I like the way your priest had everyone sign them while in church and the ushers pick them up so that they could be mailed by the church. When they go home in bulletins, no one can be sure if they don’t end up in the circular disposal at their feet.
Just sent this to the church secretary with a copy to my pastor.
Thanks.
We were told for the past 2 weeks.
Deacon read the bishops letter from the pulpit.
The signed cards were taken with the gifts to the altar.
When the ushers picked up the signed cards, I noticed a wad of checks to cover postage too, including mine.
Yes they were passed out. No idea what the response was/is.
Nice touch to present the cards with the gifts, asking God’s blessing on the efforts, and showing this is an offering to HIM, not simply a political matter.
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