Posted on 10/26/2002 9:59:44 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
The Democratic National Committee's refusal to remove a link on their website to a viciously anti-Catholic organization - the badly misnamed Catholics For a Free Choice - despite demands from the head of the National Council of Catholic Bishops that they do so reflects the trend of Democrat Catholic bashing now becoming increasingly obvious.
The latest example of this trend was the refusal of Democrat Florida gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride to respond to a questionnaire from the state's official Catholic newspaper and two statewide Catholic organizations.
The Florida Catholic, along with the Florida Catholic Conference and the Florida Council of Catholic Women invited both Governor Jeb Bush and his opponent, trial lawyer Bill McBride to respond to their questionnaire.
Governor Bush, a devout Roman Catholic, promptly responded, answering a series of questions contained in the poll. McBride simply ignored the request.
"Despite repeated efforts to gain responses from the Bill McBride camp, the challenging candidate did not respond to the poll," the Florida Catholic reported.
Maybe the reportedly pro-abortion McBride (his website says he has "no stance" on the issue), doesn't care if Catholics vote for him.
What would be great would be for locals to list Catholics seeking office.
Now, the Party openly insults both the traditional South and traditional Catholics. If the Republican Party would only get rid of Karl Rove, who prefers to chase the votes of illegal immigrants, there is golden opportunity in this latest insult to Catholic Democrats.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
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Thanks for that quote! The Democrats are losing, losing, losing, the dimocrats are losing ----tra la la la la.
Ohhhhhh! I like it -- esoteric AND insulting.
Tell them to stick that in their gravitas.
Good for you ... now if ALL Catholic FReepers will take the time to distribute literature to their fellow parishoners, if all Catholic FReepers would take responsibility for their parish GOTV, we can make a huge difference.
The pro-abortion crowd is the most extreme group in the liberal tent. After getting abortion legalized, they have managed under BJ Clinton/algore to get them govt-funded. Now, they want to require Catholic hospitals to provide abortion services against their consciences? What's next? I suppose they'll want the Pope to perform the abortion procedures?
Sure wish our Archbishop here in St. Louis had the guts to write a column like that before the election... But I'm not holding my breath.
A bump for garnering more of the Hispanic vote.
We must question integrity of pro-choice Catholic politicians
10/04/2002 Archbishop John Vlazny
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At the Nuremberg Trials, after World War II, Nazis who had managed a program of coerced abortion were convicted of having committed a crime against humanity. In 1995 the United Nations World Conference on Women issued a condemnation of forced sterilization and forced abortion as acts of violence against women. But the United Nations Population Fund continues to support coercive population programs in the year 2000. Fortunately, our own national government earlier this year has chosen to withhold $34 million in U.S. funding from that UN fund. The struggle to promote respect for all life, human life in particular, goes on. This tragic situation inevitably draws the attention of pollsters, candidates and voters at election time, as we are presently experiencing. Abortion on demand has been legalized in our state and our nation. Because it has been legal for so long, there are many people who presume it is therefore a right. But we all know from experience that not all laws are good laws. Some need to be changed. As a nation, we vigorously seek the overthrow of unjust policies in other territories, particularly when they threaten our own well-being. Why is it wrong for a politician to speak out against the injustice of abortion and other related life issues? Unfortunately, when he or she does, the pro-abortion camp is responding this year with unparalleled hostility. For years the pro-abortion constituency has cleverly disguised itself as pro-choice, a self-description reinforced by the media. Some Catholic politicians and their supporters seem to take comfort in aligning themselves with this pro-choice posturing, but please do not be fooled. Now that they are becoming more outspoken in their efforts to demean candidates for office who are admittedly pro-life and willing, if elected, to protect life, the integrity of such pro-choice Catholics must be challenged. Respect for life and the individual dignity of the human person are at the core of our Catholic values system. Catholic politicians cant have it both ways. Actions always speak louder than words. It is in this context that the Catholic community of the United States this month marks the 30th anniversary of our Respect Life Program. Hence the theme of this years observance is Celebrating Life 19722002. We again take the opportunity during the month of October to educate ourselves about current and emerging threats to human life and dignity. During our liturgical celebrations this month, we give special praise to God for His creative and redeeming love of each and every one of us. We are becoming accustomed here in the Archdiocese of Portland to describe ourselves as Christs disciples in mission. Part of that mission requires us to do everything we can to safeguard all human life. We all know that abortion in this land was legalized on Jan. 22, 1973. Since then, more than 41,624,000 babies have been killed by abortion. We shall never know how many saints, scholars, artists, leaders and healers were never given the opportunity to share their God-given gifts with out human family. Once abortion was permitted, the whole range of other anti-life activities seemed to prosper. I am thinking of such things as human cloning and genetic tinkering, global trafficking among women and children for prostitution or sweatshop labor, the abortion lobbys campaign to force Catholic health facilities and providers to perform morally objectional procedures. It goes on and on. If only people had listened to Pope John Paul when, in his encyclical, The Gospel of Life, he wrote, To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom. Last fall we American bishops renewed our call to all Catholic people for a joint and unparalleled effort in protection of human life. Over the years, we have come to recognize how much a society that destroys human life by abortion under the mantle of law inevitably winds up undermining respect for life in all other situations. A tragic paradox marks our nations public policy which proudly proclaims the importance of human rights for people the world over and yet denies or undermines the most basic of all human rights, namely, the right to life itself. Last Saturday our neighbors in the Diocese of Baker gathered in Bend for a conference to launch a new pro-life initiative. Bishop Vasa has urged all 34 parishes there to appoint a pro-life coordinator and to form a pro-life committee to advance the pro-life cause. I am hopeful that we too here in the Archdiocese of Portland can be similarly energized in our advocacy for life. I encourage the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and every parish pastoral council to keep celebrating life on their agendas. An active pro-life subcommittee of each body would be a good start. What could these folks do? First of all, as I have already requested, they could see to it that each parish includes in the petitions of every Mass a prayer that our nation will respect and protect all human life. They could also keep people in the parish up-to-date about what is happening when important public policy life issues arise at the federal, state or local level. Letter-writing initiatives to legislatures and local newspapers can sometimes make a difference. They could also develop a network of parishioners who would stay in contact with our representatives and Congress at the national and state level. Children too can be involved through various educational activities in our schools and religious education programs. An adult education-discussion series on the Gospel of Life or any one particular life issue is also recommended. The archdiocesan Department of Pastoral Services will be promoting the pastoral plan for pro-life activities here in the archdiocese. Education, pastoral care, public policy and prayer are all critical components if the program is to be successful. I am grateful to all those who have never lost sight of the urgency of our Churchs witness that life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception until the moment of death. I encourage everyone this month to give witness to the Gospel of Life in response to our call to be disciples in mission. |
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