AmericanPapist Comments
People a few offices down from me are wondering what I'm cheering about.
Can't wait to spread the good news. I am so thankful that so many of our Bishops are confronting the culture with the loving exposition of truth... and calling a 'spade' a 'spade' to boot.
To borrow an expression:
Nancy Pelosi may turn out to be a useful idiot.
Her incredible statements have forced the issue to a point where all her ilk may be forced to at least rise to the level of basic honesty and say they are out of communion with the Church they professed to be members of.
Steel-spine among shepherds seems to be contagious. Pardon me, while I utter a prayer of thanksgiving.
I am tempted to walk out infront of this coffee shop and dance in the street.
Cdl Egan's roar sounds similar to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah... just like it should.
The silence from Camp Pelosi and the SF Chancery couldn't be louder.
I work two blocks from the Cathedral. I'm on my way over to kiss the Cardinal's ring!
Wow, I take back everything I said about the spinelessness of our cardinals. Pelosi is an idiot, useful or otherwise, and a FAKE Catholic. Do you think the newspaper of "record" the New York Slimes will print this?
WOW.
God's timing of course is perfect....with Biden as the VP pick his fake Catholicism has to come into play in PA, DE and other east coast states...
This issue also continues the earthquakes from Obama's Saddleback forum gaffes that are shaking the pro-life movement into action and back onto the front pages again.
It puts the lie to the claim that the Democrats somehow are "reaching out" to religious voters...their platform is more radical than ever before, more anti-thetical to faithful Christians than ever before.
It also puts all the left-wing, "progressives" of the Church on notice that it's not so easy to feel good about oneself being "for Obama" out of some calculation that the nearly won war in Iraq or any proposed policy to "help the poor" could make up for a vote for infanticide and transparent pro-abortion lies of their heroes.
This "poor" stuff is nonsense. The "poor" in the US would be considered middle-class or upper-middle class in most countries. That's what makes this malarky about being for abortion as somehow ok because we're for the poor just unadulterated bs. Tom
A simply incredible statement.
Well...I believe it. 8-)
Not to derail the topic regarding Pelosi, but the notion that poor people in this country do not exist is ridiculous. Any one who thinks that needs to volunteer at a soup kitchen sometime or talk to workers for Catholic Charities in order to discover that there are lots of people in our nation who are in desperate need. I couldn't agree more with the charge that many use social justice issues to shroud their support for abortion, but I also think it's equally true that many people use their opposition to abortion to shirk any responsibilities to those who are in need outside of the womb.
As Archbishop Chaput said in a speech last night, "Here in America . . . we need to remember two basic truths. Here's the first truth. Society has an obligation -- and Christians a Gospel duty -- to provide adequate and compassionate support for unwed and abandoned mothers; women facing unintended pregancies; and women struggling with the aftermath of an abortion. It's not enough to talk about 'prolife politics.' The label 'prolife' demands that we work to ensure social policies that will protect young women and families, and help them generously in their need. . . .
"Here's the second truth. Killing an unborn child is never the right answer to a woman's or society's problems. . . ."
With statements like these, it's a pity we're going to lose him soon.
But he is past the magic 75th birthday, so the appointment from the Apostolic Palace could come at any time.
Amen. As the Cardinal said, "How could anyone ,after seeing the smiling faces and waving arms of the babies in the womb, Not defend their right to be born and live if we claim we are a humane and civilised society." Clear, precise,understandable TRUTH...for a sane America... A kind and caring America..Let Freedom Ring!...for Everyone! For the least, to the greatest, this is America!
Imagine someone like Edward Egan, who aided and abeited child rapists, lecutring someone on morality. That man should be in prision for life.
WOW I thank the Cardinal for speaking truth.
I have tears of joy and I will say a Novena in thanksgiving.
Cafeteria Catholics take notice: the Catholic Church in American has turned a corner.
dave...truth is truth and the CARDINAL is speaking about TRUTH and the falsehood of Pelosi. Why don't you write about how important it is to defend the beautiful babies RIGHT to be born and to live. How about you speaking about that instead? Speak about how wrong Pelosi is!Babies are being murdered every minute in this country with abortion.Why not focus on that.
Fantastic statement!
And all I can keep thinking is: the Cardinal giving a sniff to the Pope's fingers, "I see you've been using Irish Spring, Your Holiness."
"Vell, if it vas good enough for St. Patrick..."
hee hee
Nathan, yes, I remember the "poor" featured in the Chicago Tribune with a big screen television, VCR, etc, in the background. The soup kitchen people whom you speak of, regrettably, are not poor, but generally suffer from mental illness. A good friend of mine, a Catholic nun and an absolutely wonderful woman, told me her favorite customer at the soup kitchen she ran in Pittsburgh had a Ph.d from Carnegie Mellon in Engineering and could have had a job making huge money, except that he was nuts. Although she did not refuse him, she began to notice that many of her customers were not the downtrodden
portrayed as such in the left-wing loon media, but were folks with the ability to support themselves but for their mental illness. Those folks used to be in institutions before the meddlars (do-gooders) decided they would be "better off" on the outside rather than the inside.
I would point out that Republicans, on the whole, believe charity is a matter of individual concern, whereas Dems (who LOVE abortion) believe government should supplant private charity. That's why Al Gore when
he was running for Prez was found to have given less than a $1000 to charity annually, in contrast to "evil" George Bush who gave thousands upon thousands to charity annually.
Tom
Tom, regarding the issue of private charity being better than government aid, I generally agree. Nevertheless, the government, in promoting the common good as it should, has a role to play. President Bush certainly thinks so. All you have to do is look at his faith-based initiatives and examine how much public money a group like Catholic Charities receives, which is not an insubstantial amount. Should the government totally withdraw from helping the less fortunate and leave it solely to private entities?
We'll have to agree to disagree on the matter of poor people in this country. I suppose "poor" is a relative term. My friend has an aunt who lived in Boca Raton, Florida, and she was telling him that the poor people there drive Porsches. I'm genuinely curious how the people cited by the Chicago Tribune qualified as "poor." When I think of poor people, I think of those who aren't making enough money to have basic needs met. According to the Census Bureau in 2007*, an estimated 37.7 million Americans, or 12.9% of the population, were under the poverty level. Now I suppose that there are instances such as that in the Tribune where families are spending their money on extravagant purchases such as big screen TVs, and I also know of an example where a street beggar goes home and goes to a job the next morning, but I think prudence would say that those instances are clear exceptions to the general rule that most people below the poverty line are struggling to get by.
As for those with mental illness, it's difficult for them to gain employment and they deserve a hot meal just like any one else. I've even seen well-to-do individuals who are completely sane that show up to kitchens not because they can't afford a meal, but because they're lonely and simply want to interact with others. No one can be unsympathetic to that. Regardless of why these people come and dine in soup kitchens, it's apparent that they're having some need fulfilled, and that's part of our Gospel mission that Christ gives to us.
Like you, I believe private charity is to be commended. If I'm not mistaken, and I apologize for not having a source to provide, no country in the world has a population so willing to donate its time and money to non-profits. I guess my question is that if there are no legitimately poor people, why was President Bush and so many others donating so much money to charity?
To conclude, the right to life is a foundational issue for all Catholics. I fully believe that. As Archbishop Chaput states, however, it is also extremely important to work to reduce the socioeconomic causes of abortion and promote human dignity. As a fellow Catholic of goodwill, I struggle to believe that you would disagree with that, even if we do disagree on the means used to accomplish that end.
*http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?
_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-
qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S1701&-
ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-_lang=en&-
redoLog=false
jcd, Nancy Polosi has not had an abortion and has not performed an abortion. She can not make abortion illegal. Look a couple years back the republicans had control of all 3 branches of government and yet abortion is still legal. What are we to make of that? Now, Egan, and those other bishops did in fact cover up sexual assaults on children in order to protect the rapists. If they had done the right and decnet thing they would have saved a child from a sexual assault! Thank about that! What power does Pelosi have to precent an abortion? Egan is a criminal because his actions and lack of actions allowed phedophiles to attack children. Abortion is WRONG and sexual assault on a child WRONG and aiding and abeiting rapists is WRONG!
Whoah. What "other bishops" are you talking about who "in fact cover up sexual assaults on children in order to protect the rapists"? I can't speak about Cardinal Egan, Cardinal Rigali, or Bishop Lori, but I can state with confidence that Archbishop Wuerl was one of the first bishops to act on the issue. If I recall correctly, he saw to it that guilty priests were removed from ministry in the early 1990s (I believe at least one was laicized), and he was one of the first bishops who implemented a zero-tolerance policy for his diocese. As for Archbishop Chaput, I think you're somehow confusing his defense of the Church from leeching lawyers as a way to cover up the actions of guilty priests. By the way, of the lawsuits that were recently settled by the Archdiocese of Denver, all were the result of heinous crimes committed during a span that ended SEVEN YEARS before Chaput was ordained a bishop in 1988. And I shouldn't even need to say that Bishop Conley is free from such a profound charge as he's only been ordained for not quite three months.
So don't lump together those bishops who never, to the best of my knowledge, covered anything up with those members of the hierarchy who, unfortunately, have. It's absolutely disingenuous, and when you use the term "fact" in making a charge, you better have at least one on your side. Now if you or anyone else present some compelling information regarding the two bishops whom I've defended that refute my statements, I'm not afraid to admit that I'm wrong. (It still won't change the fact that they're right on the matter at hand.) But you'll have to dig deep, because let's be real: with the vetting process done by the nuncio in the aftermath of the scandal, Wuerl never would have been promoted to D.C. and there wouldn't even be a whiff of Chaput getting promoted to cardinalatial see if either of them had the faintest taint of cover-up on them. Thus, at least in regard to these three bishops, try a different tactic when trying to discredit what they're saying.
I have 2 brothers who are 'poor' and a nephew also. Between mental problems, multiple addictions and disability, neither can get a job or hold it. Keith eeks it out by selling garbage from the street, as far as I know. (I hope he hasn't started selling drugs.) He refuses all government assistance and he refuses to have anything to do with his family. He refused to come to my mother's funeral. The one with the physical disability is willing to accept food stamps and VA benefits and help from a Christian guardian and is very grateful. He also runs his own homeless shelter out of his home where his nephew, newly released from prison has just taken up residence again.
I don't see how some additional program is going to help them, especially with the one who is so antisocial. Drug addiction is a key cause of poverty and that is best addressed by individual Christian mentoring and charity.
Another brother is a sex addict and does work, but most of his money goes to prostitutes who are drug addicts.
So folks, if you want to stop poverty, stop the porn and the drug access. Prison is apparently the best place for drug addicts. My nephew, Scott, is free of them everytime he is in prison. He had a job while in prison and he even 'found the Lord' and went to Bible studies there. Now he is back out with no way to find a job. (After all he is weak and easily tempted to steal.) He stole many times before. So what employer in his right mind is going to hire him? Scott needs a 24 hour watch which is why prison is good for him. He doesn't get it anywhere else.
"" I would point out that Republicans, on the whole, believe charity is a matter of individual concern, whereas Dems (who LOVE abortion) believe government should supplant private charity"
Doesn't scripture say love your brother and neighbor; did Jesus say love the whole town or country? Government would do well to imitate the Church, rather than the Church imitate the government. How free is the Church after accepting government money? Catholic Charities is a good example of the state cramping their mission. And we have begun to see how open we will be to speak the Truth after watching our neighbor Canada deal with free speech. The government was set up for citizens who had a moral compass and were willing to show dignity and worth to all. This is what overcame slavery. How far down the slope we have come; just watch a talk show in the day time or a standup comic to see the void that abortion has given this great land. To quote someone from A Shepherds Blog: “The corruption of reason is one of the logical consequences of legalized abortion”. No one is worth anything unless “I” say so and then their worth is only equal to the quality of comfort they can add to MY life. Heaven forbid we should have to worry about THEIR eternity.
Nathan, thankyou for your thoughtful response. I used to be a proponent of government "helping" people, but I've learned through experience that the people who really get the "help"
are the derivative beneficiaries, government workers and politicians.
Also, the "poor" cited in the Chicago Tribune article had an income below the poverty level, but nonetheless, had many luxury items. By the way, I suspect the author of the article may have blanched when he saw the picture which appeared to undercut his storyline.
Tom
Tom, the pleasure was all mine. There's little I enjoy more than a good, civil debate. I appreciate your thoughts, as well.
Elm, if Catholic Charities or any other group is restricted in their freedom to serve the needy because of the acceptance of government money, the problem is simply solved by declining to receive such funds. Yet year after year, non-profits continue to accept such funds, so I would need evidence that demonstrates public money for private charities limits their ability to serve their mission.
I just finished writing a number of press releases for various pro-life shelters and homes and one common theme is that although many of the women were in poverty it was not the poverty per se that was leading them to consider abortion. It was not a question of "oh, I'm poor I better have an abortion." Rather it was because they were poor they didn't know all the resources that were available to help them or how to find them. I would say that is consistent with my experience on being on the board for a inner-city crisis pregnancy center. Many of the women are homeless because family has kicked them out for refusing to have the abortion. This is especially common among certain ethnic groups who feel the daughter/sister has disgraced the family.
BTW, the Life is Worth Living episode titled Social Problems by Archbishop Sheen is one of the best on the topic of the difference between government social work agencies and religious and individual charitable work. It can be downloaded from Keep the Faith.
dave,
Pelosi does and will continue to support and defend abortion. If it came down to her, as she presently is inclined, she would protect it. This is a public scandal (yes, like the abuse scandal) and must be answered publicly. I would think that you would be glad that Cardinal Egan is doing the job which you have charged with failing.
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