Challenging the cardinal in Washington DC Updated with response from ADW

We have the Pope decrying the violence inflicted on Christians abroad as blood covers many lands on Christmas day and the cardinal of the most powerful Christian nation is talking about good manners and right conduct in the blogosphere. We have the administration circumventing the people’s will by regulations that curtail freedom and processes that introduce death panels; yet, Church leaders seem oblivious to these threats that they do not even prioritize them. The Liberals in Church are challenging Church teachings on life as “Catholic” hospitals provide abortion but we get a commentary on DADT instead. (If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/12/challenging-cardinal-in-washington-dc.html
 )



The Church in DC is of immense political influence that can mean the survival of the Christians in the banana republics. But we choose to stay out of the fire-storm. We don’t even try to meet with the Catholics in the House, Senate and the White House for a talk to see what can be done. It is as though we’re ostriches with our heads in the sand. And I, for the love of God, don’t understand why.


Updated with responses from Msgr. Pope

Msgr. Charles Pope says:
December 27, 2010 at 9:07 pm
*** Well again, you really ought to write to Chris Wallace on these matters. If you think the Cardinal’s “handlers” as you call them have input I can tell you they would LOVE to have the input you say they have. I have been on National Live Television (CNN, PBS, and local coverage of any number of events incluing TV and radio) and I can assure you that there are no advance copies of questions and negotiations on content. What the ADW staff do well is to prepare us for what MIGHT be asked but there is no certainty as to what WILL be asked. I remember one TV producer talking with me in the Green Room and he was the producer mind you, but he said to me: “Well here is what the anchor may ask you but we never know for sure if they will ask these sorts of things or something else. We only propose but they do the interview.” Thus, even the producers are often uncertain where the Anchor will go and what they will choose to emphasize.

You also are very flattering in your description of the “immense political influence” that the Church in DC has. Sadly this is no tthe case and I will tell you why: the Catholic Laity are divided politically. We do meet all the time with POLs. I have personally sat in the offices of some pretty powerful people at both Federal and District levels and had them say to me something like this: “Father, I hear your poistion on this. But I’m a politician and I know how to read polls. Your people aren’t with you on this, you don’t represent most of them on this, I do. Thanks for stopping Msgr. By the way how is your dear, sainted mother? Oh! She died?! I’m sorry I didn’t know that. Awful sorry Msgr., God bless you now, stop by any time.”

So Ricky I want to challenge you, as a lay person, to go out and start rallying the Catholic faithful and get them foursquare behind us on abortion, gay “marriage” issues. Politically organize them Ricky, call for a Rally that will overwhelm washington (do you know that if only 10% of Catholics showed up for the March for life there would be 7,700,000 people in DC?). And then I tell you the Pols would quake in their boots if any Catholic bishop knocked on the door. There are 77 million Catholics and it belongs to the laity to politically organize. I am asking you Ricky to lead the charge and unify this disparate group. If we were united on any issue the pols would be calling us. Please start the movement, we are sadly divided. Shepherding Catholics is often like herding cats. Help us.



Ricky Vines says:
December 28, 2010 at 6:58 am
Msgr. Pope: Help me help you. To consolidate the Church in DC, we must be faithful in administering Her first and foremost – without regard to the popularity of our decisions. If we try to please everyone to gain their support, we end up pleasing no one and compromising the Divine trust placed upon us. For instance, if we don’t discipline the faithless within our jurisdiction, then we scandalize the faithful. We lose both.

When Bishop Olmstead yanked the Catholic status of that hospital, he rallied the faithful and drew the line with the faithless. That is also what makes Archbishop Chaput edifying; he is not caught up in human politics. He strives to keep the purity of doctrine and defend the Church from the obfuscations of the Liberals.

Here, we seem to try to accommodate the Liberals, not alienate them but slowly wean them to the truth. However, after 60 million dead babies, I think it’s about time to change tactics. I am just a layman and I cannot excommunicate anyone who supports abortion for instance. And if others, see Church leaders being chummy with pro-abortion pols and dissenting intellectual elites, then they start thinking that abortion may be OK depending on the situation. So, unless you, ordained ministers , start swinging your staff to drive out the wolves then the Pelosis and Bidens will continue to rip apart the flock with their pop theology and the babies continue to be slaughtered. BTW, happy (?) feastday of the Holy Innocents. God bless.

Reply
Msgr. Charles Pope says:
December 28, 2010 at 10:14 am
Ricky, are you aware that Bishop Olmstead was in a 7 year dialogue with the hospital over this issue? He didn’t exactly rush to the rescue.

Are you aware that Bishop Chaput supported the Dream Act. If you want Bishops to be involved in commenting on the validity of certain policies expect to have you conservative ox gored too. Catholicism. And when it is I wonder if you will be so serene about the Bishops interjecting themselves into politics when your ox is gored.

Now you as a layman are able and encouraged to get into politics, comment vigorously on policy, form and/or join political movements, seek to sway policy decisions etc. That is you role. I think that clergy however need to be very prudent and reticient to enter the policy debates – especially when reasonable men differ.,,, (DADT comments)...
Now as for you Ricky, you are more free. You are able to lead movements based on your opinion and gather those of like mind. You obviously think the Church is in need of reform and should be more conservative and less liberal (I am not sure if you mean this poilitically or theologically or both since repeal of DADT is largely an initiative of political liberals). But what ever the case, reform in the Church most often is from the grassroots. So get started Ricky. Don’t worry about the those “liberals,” just get started and overwhelm them. Unify the Church around your vision. I live for the day when the Catholic faithful are unitied on anything. If we were we would be a force to reckoned with. And remember when it comes to the temporal order YOU are the leader, not the clergy . Read your theology, it is the laity who are tasked with the renewal of the temporal order, not the clergy who are counselled and warned to stay aloof from politics and to prudently set forth Catholic teaching in a way that empowers the laity to their task of taking Catholic teaching into the political and social realm. By the authority invested in me by the Sacred Councils of the Church and the utterances of many recent Popes I hereby anoint you Ricky as leader in the movement to renew the temporal order. Don’t wait for the clergy to be perfect or more conservative, if so you’ll be waiting a long time for the perfect bishop or priest. No Ricky, you are hereby anointed to go out and organize the faith and take on this hell-bound sin-soaked and confused world.

Mass. hierarchy delivers reactionary message before elections

"As shifts in societal challenges are inevitable, it is also vital to determine from election to election which human rights face the greatest threat at the time of voting." 

(from Mass. Cath. Conf. statement)

Which human rights face the greatest threat?  Are you kidding me?  In the US since the 70s, there can be no greater human rights violations than those inflicted on these people.  ( Please be warned, the link shows graphic pictures of victims of violence.  Regardless, the reality is even worse as the Liberal bishops in Massachussets seem to think that certain human rights were threatened more sometime.)

Victims of human rights violations in the US since the 70s

H/T Cath. Cartoon Blog

Video: Vatican puts Card. O'Malley & Abp. Wuerl on notice for not disciplining pro-aborts

Vatican speaks: No communion or funeral Masses for pro-aborts. Liberal bishops e.g. Card. Sean O'Malley who presided on Kennedy's funeral and Abp. Wuerl who has not banned pro-aborts from communion in DC were practically put on notice by Apostolic Asignatura.  

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/video-vatican-puts-card-omalley-abp.html

Bishop Odchimar, contraception & coconuts: Card. O'Malley, abortion & peanuts.

In the Philippines, the bishops will excommunicate the president for pushing contraception.  It's all related.  The sexual immoralities of fornication that is promoted by contraception with divorce or abortion;  sometimes the contraception fails.

The Inquirer reports:  MANILA, Philippines—The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Wednesday reminded President Aquino III that providing contraceptives to poor couples who opt for artificial birth control face excommunication from the church.  Speaking on the Church-run Radio Veritas, Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, Surigao del Sur, the current CBCP president, said that even Mr. Aquino may be covered by excommunication. Mr. Aquino, a practicing Catholic, has stood by his position that Filipino couples who choose to use artificial contraceptives should be allowed to do so.

Back in the USA, we will never forget how a certain cardinal allowed the late Ted Kennedy to receive Holy Communion despite his marital condition and total support for abortion laws while living.  When the late senator died, the cardinal graced his funeral Mass.

And coconuts are indigenous to the Philippines just as peanuts are here.

Coconut

 

 

 

 

Peanut

Archbishop calls for civil disobedience to protest abortion; Manhattan Declaration?

(From Fr. Z)  CNA Reports: " Archbishop Francisco Gil Hellin warned this week there is no right to kill an innocent human being and therefore no obligation to obey to the new law on abortion. Rather, “direct opposition without distinction” must be mounted, he said.

“Let’s be clear: this law is not a law, although it is presented as such by some politicians and lawmakers. It is no law because nobody has the right to take the life of an innocent human being. For this reason it is not obligatory. Moreover, it demands direct opposition without distinction,” the archbishop said in a letter.

He underscored that reason cannot recognize abortion as a right because it constitutes the killing “of a person who is not guilty.” “The right of a person to exist who has already been conceived, although not yet born, is not a belief stemming from any religion. One does not need to be a believer to hold that an innocent person has the right to be defended and respected in his or her integrity. Common sense dictates that one cannot take a human life in order to solve another problem or to “get money or votes,” he said. ... "

But this was in Burgos, Spain.  Today, the Obama administration approves the use of tax monies to fund abortions under Obamacare - contrary to the president's signed commitment.  I've read that the signers of the Manhattan Declaration were ready to engage in civil disobedience too to protest the use of their tax payments for abortion.  But I haven't heard any activities towards this end.  Also, the USCCB has not issued any calls to do the same.

Courage comes from the word cour that means heart - a symbol of love.  Could it be that this Spanish bishop loves the unborn and God more than anyone in the USCCB?  Fortitude comes from fortis meaning strength.  Perhaps, this Spaniard works out in the spiritual gym more or maybe the bishops here need to eat more chili and watch matadors face off with the toros.  Or maybe they just need to pray more, just as I need to pray for them.

Abp. McElroy favors political correctness over faithful discipline in SF

I doubt if the newly appointed auxialiary bishop of San Fran will deny Holy Communion from  Nancy Pelosi  anytime soon.  From his earlier commetns, this Harvard & Stanford grad deems it more damaging to impose its discipline on pro-abort politicians than just to let it go.  The perception that the church is using it as a weapon and being a tool of the GOP will make others question the objectiveness and truthfulness of her proclamation.  IMHO - if the Church censors herself by word or action, then she already ceases to be an objective voice of truth.  She may not appear to be a tool of the GOP but she unwitting became a supporter of  the Democrats because silence is consent.  In making pastoral decisions, I think the worldly considerations should take a back seat to the proclamation of God's Word - in and out of season, be it popular or not.  And if discipline is required as Pope Benedict directed, the bishop must come out swinging his staff to keep the wolves from tearing apart the flock.  Abp. McElroy must not have read that directive yet or think himself to know better.  I may be wrong and I certain hope I am.

=========================================================================

SAN FRANCISCO, July 6, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The newly-appointed auxiliary bishop of San Francisco has in the past criticized Catholic Church policy disallowing politicians who promote abortion from receiving Holy Communion, saying that such a move makes the Church appear too "partisan," "Republican" and "coercive."


In his column, McElroy began by noting that "the theological starting point for those who advocate eucharistic sanctions is a sound one," inasmuch as the support of Catholic leaders for "abortion rights" represents a scandal and "a major failure in church life."...  Citing the Church's traditionally prudential handling of scandal, the monsignor claimed that the benefits of denying Communion are "heavily outweighed" by other considerations, such as that the move would be "perceived by Americans ... as coercive" and make abortion appear to be a "sectarian Catholic issue."  "The imposition of eucharistic sanctions solely on candidates who support abortion legislation will inevitably transform the church in the United States, in the minds of many, into a partisan, Republican-oriented institution," he wrote. 

"It does not matter that eucharistic sanctions would be fully within the legitimate moral and civil rights of the church to adopt, and that those who have attacked them as a violation of the separation of church and state are totally in error in their understanding of the constitutional tradition of the United States," wrote McElroy. "What does matter enormously is that Americans will in general recoil from the use of the Eucharist as a political weapon, and will reassess their overall opinion of the church’s role in the political order."

News source: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jul/10070606.html

Hard directive from Rome. Does your bishop comply?

"Your rod and your staff – they comfort me": the shepherd needs the rod as protection against savage beasts ready to pounce on the flock; against robbers looking for prey. Along with the rod there is the staff which gives support and helps to make difficult crossings. Both of these are likewise part of the Church’s ministry, of the priest’s ministry. The Church too must use the shepherd’s rod, the rod with which he protects the faith against those who falsify it, against currents which lead the flock astray. The use of the rod can actually be a service of love. Today we can see that it has nothing to do with love when conduct unworthy of the priestly life is tolerated. Nor does it have to do with love if heresy is allowed to spread and the faith twisted and chipped away, as if it were something that we ourselves had invented. As if it were no longer God’s gift, the precious pearl which we cannot let be taken from us. Even so, the rod must always become once again the shepherd’s staff – a staff which helps men and women to tread difficult paths and to follow the Lord.

Benedict XVI

Homily for the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Closing Mass of the Year for Priests

Video: Morally Bankrupt Bishops Defend and Promote Liberal Agenda

Watch as they attempt to silence Conservative elements as the elections come.

If video fails, go to http://www.gloria.tv/?media=83139

Fr. James Martin & Fr. Thomas Doyle smears Bishop Olmstead for Excommunicated Pro-Abort

False or rebellious Catholics from the National Catholic Reporter and the Jesuit website America launches a smear campaigns against Bishop Olmstead.  Fr. Doyle twists facts and ignores crux of problem while  Fr. James Martin perverts the truth about the abortion.  Watch more for details and support the faithful bishop against these traitors and deceivers.  If video fails, go to http://en.gloria.tv/?media=83158

Sr. Margaret McBride, who was the head of the ethics committee for St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, personally authorized the abortion of an 11-week pre-term baby. This act incurred automatic excommunication, but the response from dissident "Catholic" media outlets was to attack the innocent instead of the guilty.

Sign the petition at http://www.supportolmsted.com

'Pastoral' - not where men are men and the sheep are nervous.

There's a state where men are men and the sheep are nervous.  But we'll leave that to show that anyone with a staff can be a shepherd.  To lead people, one needs to be a good shepherd like Jesus who would search for the lost sheep then carry it on his shoulders when it's too tired to walk back.

Tax collectors and whores were like lost sheep and Jesus went after them. He drank with Matthew and allowed Mary to touch him by letting her wipe his feet with her hair. But after that, he asked them to change, “Follow me.  Sin no more.”  He didn't stop at the drinking and touching.  This is his way of shepherding  – his pastoral method. And while the first part is easy, popular and politically savvy, the follow through is the one that saves.

Some church leaders today get stuck in the first step – seeing, hearing and doing no evil.  But they conveniently justify their inaction as being pastoral to the detriment of the sinner and those affected by his actions. Consider the 60 million children in the US who were brutally slaughtered in their mothers' wombs because, the supporters and legislators of abortion laws are permitted by their pastors to receive Holy Communion.
If these pols are ignorant about their responsibilities to defend life, how pastoral is it to tacitly look the other way?  If these pols knew the errors of their ways, how pastoral is it to simply let them be?  Either way is to grease the slippery slope to eternal perdition. And with the condemned will be their pastors who were too distracted to notice, too preoccupied to understand,  too lazy to correct, too timid to confront or too scared to discipline.

The pastoral way of the Incarnate God is loving because it is real; and to be real is to be truthful. It does not call evil - good and good - evil.  To be loving without upholding the truth is to be like a dotting parent who spoils the child into a brat. Yet, it proclaims the truth in love.  To uphold the truth without love is to forget that the law was for man and not man for the law.

Another excommunication implemented

I welcome the honest and consistent implementation of Church discipline by the bishop in Chicago. What I notice with the recent excommunications or recognition thereof is that they’re done on small fishes. I have not heard of disciplinary actions taken against the rich and powerful.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but pro-abortion politicians are not allowed to receive Holy Communion.  How is it that I don't see that restriction applied to Catholics in Congress?  And the late Ted Kennedy who supported abortion all his life, still had a Requiem Mass with Card. Sean O’Malley himself when he died.  And during his life, he was allowed to receive communion prior to the annulment of his marriage in addition to his pro-abortion legislative activities?

Additional comments can be found at the link H/T to Fr. Z 

Excerpt of news report from  http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=42053

A woman who challenged a Catholic ordination ban has died. The Catholic church will not allow her to be buried at a Catholic parish.  Janine Denomme was ordained a priest in April by a group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests. She had been battling cancer and yesterday she died in her Edgewater home.

The Catholic church never recognized Denomme's ordination. The Archdiocese of Chicago says Denomme automatically separated herself from the Church when she participated in "the simulation of the sacrament of Holy Orders." The diocese says she knowingly and willingly participated in the simulation and brought excommunication upon herself. And because of that Denomme is denied a Catholic funeral. The Archdiocese says Denomme would only be allowed a Church burial if she gave "some sign of repentance before death."

Mental Reservation of Sr. Carol Keehan. It's like a lie.

Sr. Carol Keehan declares, "We were in complete accord with our bishops and our church that abortion is a grave evil. There is no justification for abortion, and we would not ever have supported this bill if we thought it funded abortion." at a gathering of Catholics supporting Obama.

This comment is a gross misrepresentation of her support for the Health Care Bill or a very carefully worded message to state her decision to disobey the bishops on this matter.  Despite the bishops' admonition, she relied on her "thoughts" and deemed the bishops wrong.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann's published response to Sister Keehan's denial of abortion funding in the bill: "I find this statement by Sister Keehan either incredibly naïve or disingenuous. Either the bill permits previously prohibited government funding of abortion or not. This is not a technicality."

To show who is right, read http://www.detnews.com/article/20100427/OPINION03/4270348/1022/Health-law--economy-shape-family-planning#ixzz0mPd6OAoH

Excerpt:  "An early sign of health care reform's impact is Planned Parenthood's decision to open a new Oakland County clinic within the next 18 months, adding to 15 locations, including Detroit, Warren and Livonia. Unlike other Detroit area centers, the new location is likely to include abortion services.


[Planned Parenthood President Cecile] Richards and Lori Lamerand, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan, are ramping up for a boom in birth control and other reproductive services -- what Lamerand calls "an onslaught" of women poised to gain new access to reproductive health care."

We can speculate on the nun's motives with her false statement.  Is it to give the impression that Catholics can support Obama and the Democrats?  Probably.  But whatever it is, there was no confusion about the direction given by the bishops back then.  And she chose to ignore their guidance to the peril and death of many more unborn children. 

2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

Sources:
http://www.americanprinciplesproject.org/topics/life-issues/879-what-the-pro-life-movement-can-learn-from-planned-parenthood.html


http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8106&Itemid=48

As foretold at Akita, "Schönborn attacks Sodano"

Schönborn attacks Sodano and urges reform

Christa Pongratz-Lippitt8 May 2010

Card. Sodana

Card.Schönborn


Excerpt

The head of the Austrian Church has launched an attack of one of the most senior cardinals in the Vatican, saying that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, “deeply wronged” the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy when he dismissed media reports of the scandal. In a meeting with editors of the main Austrian daily newspapers last week, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, also said the Roman Curia was “urgently in need of reform”, and that lasting gay relationships deserved respect. He reiterated his view that the Church needs to reconsider its position on re-married divorcees.

More at http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/14678

Our Lady of Akita: '...bishops against other bishops...'

By Matt C. Abbott

from said book; it features the true-life, Church-approved Marian apparition of Our Lady of Akita, interwoven with Mr. Kelly's storyline.

The apparitions, which occurred in the early 1970s, are chillingly prophetic. In one message, the Blessed Virgin Mary said: "The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres ... churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord...."

More at http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/090902

Video: Sex Abuse in Church Handled by Local Bishops Not Vatican in 2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sptchxo4ato&feature=player_embedded

FR. LOMBARDI ON LETTER OF CARDINAL CASTRILLON HOYOS

VATICAN CITY, 16 APR 2010 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., made the following declaration concerning the letter of 8 September 2001, written by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos,  at the time prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, to then bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux, France, Fr. Pierre Pican, regarding a case of sexual abuse in the diocese.

  "This document," affirmed the director of the Holy See Press Office, "is proof of the timeliness of the unification of the treatment of cases of the sexual abuse of minors on the part of members of the clergy under the competency of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, to guarantee rigorous and coherent action, as effectively occurred with the documents approved by the Pope in 2001."

OP/                                VIS 20100416 (130)

Archdiocese ends partnership with DC rather than compromise faith

In Washington, D.C., the same-sex marriage bill is expected to become law within a couple of weeks.  Because of this, the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. through Catholic Charities will be forced to recognize those unions if it will remain in partnership with the city.  Rather than compromise the Church's teaching on marriage, the archdiocese ended its foster care program.

WaPo Report Reference:  click here or go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/16/AR2010021604899.html 
 
Commentary:  Thank you Abp. Wuerl for standing fast to keep the integrity of the faith.

Bishop Robert Vasa Strips Hospital of Catholic Title because it could not meet the Catholic standard.

"It is my responsibility to ensure the hospital is following Catholic principles both in name and in fact," Bishop Vasa said. "It would be misleading for me to allow St. Charles Bend to be acknowledged as Catholic in name while I am certain that some important tenets of the Ethical and Religious Directives are no longer being observed."  So, the Catholic Diocese of Baker announced that the Catholic Church will no longer sponsor St. Charles Medical Center-Bend.  In particular, it is because of sterilization procedures performed at the hospital that goes against the Church's teachings.  Bishop's notice found here http://www.sentinel.org/node/10753

Commentary:  Thank you Bishop Vasa for defending the faith.

Pelosi's bishop corrects her ideas about freedom and choice

No matter what Pelosi misunderstood in the past about freedom and choice, her bishop clearly points out her mistake and error.  So, she cannot fall back on that excuse anymore.  Going forward though, what if she persists in her ways and continues to support or promote pro-abortion legislation and policies?  Will her bishop discipline her with excommunication as required by Church law?  If not, why?  Read more about the teaching here or use this link http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pelosis_archbishop_slams_her_rationale_for_supporting_abortion/?url=pelosis_archbishop_slams_her_rationale_for_supporting_abortion/

Addressing those who advocate for “reproductive choice” while claiming to be Catholic, Archbishop Niederauer emphasized, “it is entirely incompatible with Catholic teaching to conclude that our freedom of will justifies choices that are radically contrary to the Gospel—racism, infidelity, abortion, theft. Freedom of will is the capacity to act with moral responsibility; it is not the ability to determine arbitrarily what constitutes moral right.”

HuffPost Kirk Writes "Ted Kennedy Having a Merry Christmas In Heaven"

"He's having a merry Christmas in heaven," said an emotional Sen. Paul Kirk, D-Mass., who was appointed to fill the seat after Kennedy succumbed to brain cancer in August. Kirk said it was an honor to essentially cast Kennedy's vote as Democrats passed the Senate's version of a bill that would extend insurance to 30 million Americans."  
Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/24/ted-kennedy-senate-libera_n_402925.html

I tried to put my 2 cents in by somehow my comments get censored out so, I'll do them here.  First, Ted Kennedy is not likely to be in heaven because he supported abortion laws that led to the massacre of 50 million unborn children despite the admonitions of his Church.  He persisted without any remorse until the day he died writing a letter to the Pope about his other accomplishments.

This leads to the second point i.e. the other accomplishments of service to the poor which Ted might have encouraged does not dispense from following all the tenets of his faith.  One does not pick and choose which commands of Almighty God to obey and which to discard.  If something needs to be discarded, it would have been the latter because the right to life trumps over the right to liberty or the pursuit of happiness.

As far as the health care bill is concerned, one needs to consult the teachers of the faith for what the people of God believes.

Videos: Sex for abortion & death panel support in "healthcare reform"

Bishops still oppose it because of abortion provisions.
While the U.S. Senate appears poised to finally pass a health care reform bill before Christmas, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops remains opposed to the Senate version on the ground that its limits on abortion funding do not go far enough. According to statements issued last Friday and Saturday by the Bishops, the Manager's Amendment (full text) to H.R. 3590 "does not seem to allow purchasers who exercise freedom of choice or of conscience to 'opt out' of abortion coverage in federally subsidized health plans that include such coverage. Instead it will require purchasers of such plans to pay a distinct fee or surcharge which is extracted solely to help pay for other people's abortions." The Bishops stressed that their criteria for acceptable health care reform includes three moral criteria: "respect for life and conscience; affordability for the poor; and access to much-needed basic health care for immigrants."  Details at:  Religion Clause: Bishops Continue To Oppose Senate Health Care Bill-- Looking At Why

Others oppose it because the Senate Democrats declare a super-majority of senators will be needed to overrule any regulation imposed by the Death Panels.   Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) pointed out some rather astounding language in the Senate health care bill during floor remarks tonight. First, he noted that there are a number of changes to Senate rules in the bill--and it's supposed to take a 2/3 vote to change the rules. And then he pointed out that the Reid bill declares on page 1020 that the Independent Medicare Advisory Board cannot be repealed by future Congresses:  More at: http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/12/21/we-are-no-longer-a-nation-of-laws-senate-sets-up-requirement-for-super-majority-to-ever-repeal-obamacare/


In other words: the issue Jim DeMint raised on the floor of the Senate last night. Why did the authors of the legislation want to specially protect the Independent Medicare Advisory Board by making it difficult for future Congresses to legislate in that area? Because the heart of the bill is the attempt to get control of our health care permanently in the hands of federal bureaucrats, who would allegedly know better than doctors and patients what’s good for them, and who would cut access to care and the quality of care so there’s more money left over for various big government liberal social programs.    More at: http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/kristol_it_could_still_go_down.asp


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnmvVo_itT0

But if you just go along and support the so-called health care bill, then they might sleep with you. It's a new fallacy: argumentum ad fornicatum.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNfG8gwamKM

Blog: A battle won; time to execute the traitors

A pro-life amendment to the healthcare reform bill passes thanks to the grassroots efforts of ordinary citizens who pressured their representatives.  While we watch intently to ensure that no slight of hand tricks happen at the last minute in the combined version, we remember what happened just a week ago.

The USCCB has requested every diocese to explain how the proposed bill contained provisions that fund abortion from federal funds and even prepared a handout to be distributed with the bulletin.  From the polls later, it appears that only a few churches collaborated.  The question is why?

Some say it was rushed.  But how did the other communities manage?  Everyone got the notice at the same time.

Others think that it will be meddling in partisan politics and that can jeopardize the tax exemption of the Church.  Ka-ching! That's 30 pieces of silver for the unborn.

Then there are those in liberal communities who will not welcome such an opposition.  Places like the archdiocese of Washington, D.C. filled with feminists, Democrats, and liberals make it daunting to speak about the sin of abortion.  So, the bishop tucks tail and run.  Like St. Peter, he denies the Lord over and over again.  I just hope he will repent soon or just step down because he cannot protect God's unborn.

Still others are quiet dissenters from the Church's teaching against abortion.  Those need to be identified and reported to the Vatican.  Just think that only 30% of the bishops protested Notre Dame's awarding of an honorary degree in law to a man who has consistently denied the weakest their most fundamental and inalienable right to life.

So, if your bishop did not have the notice read in his diocese you may want to ask.  Needless to say that what is worse than a wolf in sheep's clothing  is a wolf in the shepherd's garb.