“I knew that this might turn into a very ugly brawl designed to make me look like a raving lunatic seeking to coerce voters through spiritual blackmail rather than a shepherd warning his flock about the spiritual danger of supporting abortion, whether directly or indirectly,” he wrote. “And my suspicion proved well-founded.”
Knight Errant points out that probably half of the bishops voted for Obama, so no wonder this priest gets hammered. Now they will wring their hands concerning what to do about the Catholic hospitals and then when its too late make some meaningless compromise. Just wait.
A priest in the pulpit always risks being too nuanced or too general when it comes to correcting error. If you say its a mortal sin to vote for Obama, then people will accuse you of holding everyone who voted for him in bad faith. If you say that in my opinion it is so, or that my conscience would not allow me to vote for him, then listeners will conclude that there is no objective evil in voting for Obama.
It may be that this or that person is in good faith and concludes that under the circumstances his choice is justified and thus that person may not be guilty of formal sin, but this can be resolved between penitent and priest in the confessional. It is still the responsibility of the priest to speak clearly about the objective nature of the act and not mince words.
The mealy-mouthed response from the diocese only reflects the support of Obama by those who should be protecting the lives of those whom their new messiah will destroy. Implicit apostasy.
Update:
Here is an excerpt from the statement of Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, responding to Father Newman’s clear moral teaching on voting pro-abortion:
Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith. Therefore, if a person has formed his or her conscience well, he or she should not be denied Communion, nor be told to go to confession before receiving Communion.
The pulpit is reserved for the Word of God. Sometimes God’s truth, as is the Church’s teaching on abortion, is unpopular. All Catholics must be aware of and follow the teachings of the Church.
We should all come together to support the President-elect and all elected officials with a view to influencing policy in favor of the protection of the unborn child. Let us pray for them and ask God to guide them as they take the mantle of leadership on January 20, 2009.
According to this “if a person has formed his or her conscience well,” no matter what conclusion he or she has come to, then the Church bestows her blessing upon that person’s choice. “Yes, one must accept the Church’s teaching on abortion, but that does not mean you can’t support a pro-abortion candidate if you think its alright.” This kind of thinking is precisely why we find ourselves in this mess.
Just as I said: wait for the crowd of church leaders to use this logic to sell what’s left of our public institutions, especially our hospitals, to Satan himself. It will be no surprise.
Doug Kmiec and his crowd have used this logic to argue that Obama is really pro-life. It is like a cancer on the body politic. This is exactly why this good priest chose not to dilly-dally with the spiritual welfare of his flock. God bless him.
Mary Victrix 
Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith.
You know, if this is the kind of spiritual direction that we are to expect from our bishops, then what do we need them for? I learned this level of morality from watching Pinnochio when I was 6.
– Jiminy Cricket
The annual Bishops appeal can go fly a kite. I’ll use that money to save for something useful – like a trip to Disney World.
I think I’m going to swear off reading the news & current events anymore and just read Chesterton instead.
Unfortunately, by attacking the AAA, it does no good. I don’t know if you’re just *venting* without really planning on carrying this threat out. But, in case you’re serious, each parish is told a ‘goal’ … it’s not really a goal. It’s an expectation and if your local parish does not meet the expectation, it much pull it from the general funds so you’re really hurting your own parish who will have to come up with the difference. When the scandals first hit a few years ago and people realized that bishops had swept much of it under the rugs, they refused to give to the Annual Appeal. If you recall, the annual appeals still made their goals! Many of the people that they support are trying to run decent businesses so that’s the other problem with not supporting the Appeal. You hurt innocent businesses.
We’re between a rock and a hard place and God forgive the bishops who have placed us here.
I liked the analogy to Pinocchio. It’s the pathetic truth …it’s also protestantism. sigh.
I wasn’t aware that the goal was a parish requirement. That is a dilemma.
I haven’t looked into details of the appeal recently, but in years past it has given to the United Way. I understand how the United Way claims to be able to separate donations into the desired categories of the giver, but giving to an organization that financially supports Planned Parenthood is problematic at best, imo. Another dilemma, especially considering the parish “requirement”.
I do not give to the Bishop’s appeal and haven’t for some years. I will put the “extra money” into the parish collection and if they are “coerced” to supply from there it will make it up.
Be careful about United Way. My old boss from a few years ago was the most senior member running this in eastern CT. Although you “earmark” your donation appropriately, they have expected “goals” for giving to everything including PP. If you don’t give according to this, they pull extra from someone who did not provide direction. So it really doesn’t matter how you direct your giving – it is effectively pooled and your directives do not really work.
You can always “earmark” your donation, not that this helps with the broader perspective on the moral issues…
If enough parishioners stood up and said that their money would not help fund such gobbledy gook then the Bishops would take notice. I for one have not funded the ABA since the Bishops in CT endorsed the morning after pill in Catholic Hospitals. I too, was not aware that this would directly effect my Parish. My husband and I went through each charitable organization instead, and donated directly to that organization so as not to be affiliated with the Bishop’s pledge drive. I did react out of anger in this situation, but have yet to hear any of our Bishops in CT show remorse for their actions. If the Catholic layity does not stand for morality when abortions will be performed in Catholic hospitals throughout the state, and we know from previous experience that our Bishops will not, then what then? If enough Catholics stand up, and proclaim they’ve had enough, then something will change, or at least we’ll get the Vatican’s attention?
We’re seeing the Church torn down right now, and we need to rebuild it in a coherent way to more Catholics. They need to see Faith and Reason in action, that there is no teaching of the Catholic Church that is devoid of Truth and right reason, simply. The gift of human life, and the sanctification of society, can only be secured through the gift of human sexuality, the preservation of the family, the sanctification of the sacrament of matrimony, etc. We need to show through the writings of our Church Fathers, and through the Scriptures that the building of the Church is the physical manifestion of the writings and tenets of the Faith. They build upon the foundation of Truth and Wisdom and never contradict. In order for a building to stand, it must be built upon a firm foundation. In order for the salvation of souls, people must become more aware of the beauty of the True nature of the Church: the Splendor of the Truth if you will. It’s not subjective – hence the reason it can be wondered at by all. It’s objectively beautiful, sacredly guarded, and painstakingly taught. That’s the only way the Church in America will be saved!
obama is a good person for the job at hand, but i hope all the diverse ethnic groups are equally represented in the house of representatives and the white house.
change will be evident if this happens because that means all the votes truly reflect the united states of america.
i hope all the diverse ethnic groups are equally represented
Yes. I hope they start by representing the unborn.
“obama is a good person for the job at hand, but i hope all the diverse ethnic groups are equally represented in the house of representatives and the white house.
change will be evident if this happens because that means all the votes truly reflect the united states of america.”
Could you expand on this, please? What do you mean by “the job at hand?” And, is there an ethnic group that is not currently represented?
Wow, I am really depressed at how naive I am. I really was encouraged that some of the bishops are finally coming out strongly for life and had great hope that they would actually stand strong and close the hospitals rather than succumb to the government and provide immoral services. I am going to have to force myself to remember (several times a day) that I can’t give way to despair, and that life (God) will be victorious in the end, even if we don’t live to see it. This is scary.
My two cents on the ABA, we don’t give to our ABA anymore – we give directly to Catholic Charities, which is also funded by the ABA. That way we know our money is going where we want it to. We gave to the Christ Child Appeal (or some similar title) last December which was specifically to raise money for the women they help who have chosen life for their babies.
You may all make donations to the:
Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
199 Colonel Brown Rd.
Griswold, CT 06351
We are in need and you have our 100% guarantee (but not your money back) that your donation will be used exclusively for the interests of the Immaculate.
Ave Maria!
Great idea! There can be no better charity sponsor than The Immaculate!