Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer

BALTIMORE — The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration.

In an impassioned discussion on Catholics in public life, several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy. Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates.

And several prelates promised to call out Catholic policy makers on their failures to follow church teaching. Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., singled out Vice President-elect Biden, a Catholic, Scranton native who supports abortion rights.

"I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church," Martino said. The Obama-Biden press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas said politicians "can't check your principles at the door of the legislature."

Naumann has said repeatedly that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic Democrat who supports abortion rights, should stop taking Holy Communion until she changes her stance.

"They cannot call themselves Catholic when they violate such a core belief as the dignity of the unborn," Naumann said Tuesday.

The discussion occurred on the same day the bishops approved a new "Blessing of a Child in the Womb." The prayer seeks a healthy pregnancy for the mother and makes a plea that "our civic rulers" perform their duties "while respecting the gift of human life."

Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is preparing a statement during the bishops' fall meeting that will press Obama on abortion.

The bishops suggested that the final document include the message that "aggressively pro-abortion policies" would be viewed "as an attack on the church."

Along with their theological opposition to the procedure, church leaders say they worry that any expansion in abortion rights could require Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or lose federal funding. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago said the hospitals would close rather than comply.

During the campaign, many prelates had spoken out on abortion more boldly than they had in 2004, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back.

Yet, according to exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. The new bishops' statement is meant to drive home the point in a way that cannot be misconstrued.

"We have a very important thing to say. I think we should say it clearly and with a punch," said New York Cardinal Edward Egan.

But some bishops said church leaders should take care with the tone of the statement.

Bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from central church beliefs. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese.

"We must act and be perceived as acting as caring pastors and faithful teachers," said Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, S.D.

Dr. Patrick Whelan, a pediatrician and president of Catholic Democrats, said angry statements from church leaders were counterproductive and would only alienate Catholics.

"We're calling on the bishops to move away from the more vicious language," Whelan said. He said the church needs to act "in a more creative, constructive way," to end abortion.

Catholics United was among the groups that argued in direct mail and TV ads during the campaign that taking the "pro-life" position means more than opposing abortion rights.

Chris Korzen, the group's executive director, said, "we honestly want to move past the deadlock" on abortion. He said church leaders were making that task harder.

"What are the bishops going to do now?" Korzen said. "`They have burned a lot of bridges with the Democrats and the new administration."


These are the same people who allowed their counterparts to molest young boys and did their best to cover it up,yet they are dead set against abortion.

I guess if your a catholic,molesting young boys is ok and abortion is an abomination?

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

Does one even have to get past the first sentence to see the insanity?

"The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration."

So they are afraid their FREEDOM to take away women's rights is in jeopardy.

What morons.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

I thought you were orthadox catholic engfant??? What about the baby's right to choose??? No one gives a thought to those babies and what their rights should be. Why is it that the person who is in charge of making the decision to have sex or not, or have it protected or not is the one who gets to kill the other person and not the other way around? Why is it that the baby's life is ended but the mother can't be bothered to change her lifestyle? I just don't understand this logic. There is no freedom of choice here, except for one of the parties. The baby has no choice. Unless all parties have a choice in the matter then it is not truly free choice.

History has shown that societies that put so little value on human life, especially their children, are doomed. God cares about these babies and at some point He will have had enough and this country will pay the price. Millions upon millions of babies have died in this battle for so called freedom. Freedom for whom I ask? And for what?

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

So you would prefer in the case of a pregnancy that endangers the life of a mother, for the baby to kill the mother rather than an abortion?



So your God is a vengeful god that will make countries that allow abortions to "pay the price"????? Do you have the specifics of what he has planned? Since other countries allow abortions - what is the pecking order? Is it the country that does the MOST goes first? Or most per capita? Or started it first? Or is the least 'torn' about the choice?

Just wonderin' since you've got the inside skinny!

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

I need to get a drink but will absolutely respond to this cause it came up while I was studying with the father for my cremation I MEAN chrismation.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

I don't hold this against the Catholic Church.

They believe a fetus is a 'human life', and that abortion is murder. They see it as state-approved genocide. Believing that, of course they should speak up, just as you would if the state wanted to exterminate a racial group.

They believe it is the murder of a child. You can disagree with that, but IF you believed it, you would understand their vehemance.

By the way, they are against capital punishment too, so they are very consistent on their approach to 'life'.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

According to the church yes abortion in it's generic definition it is a sin to kill. BUT it's about doing what's right for the situation at hand. If the mother's life is in danger to neglect her right to live would also be justified killing.

Also, american Christianity doesn't understand that when the original spreaders of the word of god were going from land to land they always obeyed the laws of the land. Remember, back then you had your head cut off at the drop of a hat. The crusades anyone? Not a good idea to be running your mouth when you are trying to sell people the idea that their idea of God is incorrect and that they should convert to their version.

This is why we have so many versions of Christianity. Compromise or die.

Take compromise.

Just like with abortion. God says do not kill BUT it also applied within the laws of the land. The judgment of god is always separate from the laws of the land.

Also works the other way which is why we have suicide bombers so this is why we are best to not push our ideas on others and let the laws of the land and of god be separate but equal based on the situation at hand.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

But they appear to have no problem allowing "men of the cloth" to perform disrespectful acts with children of God .In fear of public outcry and humiliation they decided it would be best to cover in up.

I guess your right,their approach to life is consistent,but their view of morality is definitely inconsistent.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

Why is it that whenever this comes up abortion proponants bring up the minimal number of them done because the mothers life is at stake and not the 99% of them done for the convenience of the mother. Just because her irresponsible act might just upset her plans for her life doesn't make it right.

I can understand those few (very few) cases done because the mothers life is at stake. To me that is a completely different thing. But honestly guys those are very few and far between.

BTW - I am not catholic, just a Christian girl.

Re: Catholic Bishops battle Obama
 

Yea, like those slut victims of rape and incest too!

Mmm-kay