I have to admit, I am feeling pretty guilty right now. During the primaries, I added the Election 2008 section to my sidebar. I wanted a place to have resources for Catholic voters. On this blog, I do my best to be faithful to the Pope and to the Magesterium of the Church. As part of the Election section, I added a link to the "Faithful Citizenship" document by the USCCB on how Catholics should vote. What a mistake that was. It has recently come to my attention how this document has been distorted and "interpreted" to tell Catholics that it is ok for them to support a pro-abort; in this case, Obama is the most radical pro-abort to ever run for President; yes, he even tops Hillary on that issue. Although it is certainly good that more Bishops have been speaking out on abortion during this election, this document should have been much more clear on Church teaching. If it had been, there would have been no room for the distortion. So, let me clarify:
CATHOLICS CANNOT BE PRO-ABORT!
CATHOLICS CANNOT VOTE FOR PRO-ABORTS!
TO DO SO IS A GRAVE SIN!
If Obama wins on November 4 with the help of Catholic voters, the biggest factor in his favor will be the bishops' own document and Web site, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship."
I never thought it likely that Catholic voters could be persuaded to support a candidate with both the most extreme record on abortion and who favors gay marriage. Yet, barring a miracle, that paradox is only a week away: The New York Times is reporting Obama 22 points ahead among Catholic voters.
As I have watched the campaign unfold, especially Obama's outreach to Catholic voters, the USCCB document has played a decisive role. "Faithful Citizenship" provided Obama's Catholic supporters the escape clauses needed to convince Catholics they could vote for a pro-abortion candidate in "good conscience."
I never thought it likely that Catholic voters could be persuaded to support a candidate with both the most extreme record on abortion and who favors gay marriage. Yet, barring a miracle, that paradox is only a week away: The New York Times is reporting Obama 22 points ahead among Catholic voters.
As I have watched the campaign unfold, especially Obama's outreach to Catholic voters, the USCCB document has played a decisive role. "Faithful Citizenship" provided Obama's Catholic supporters the escape clauses needed to convince Catholics they could vote for a pro-abortion candidate in "good conscience."
From the Catechism:
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
PLEASE take a couple of minutes to watch this, BEFORE you vote:
2 comments:
In addition to voting for John McCain for President, it is vitally important for all pro-life voters to vote ONLY for Republican candidates for House and Senate, especially the absolutely CRITICAL Senate seats.
If Obama takes power, Republican members of the Senate, with the power to filibuster, will be the ONLY defense against the devastating Democratic economic and moral agenda.
If you care about the future of this country and you care about the unborn, VOTE REPUBLICAN!
The thing about dissenters is that it does not matter what a document actually say.
Even if the bishops had produced a document as concise as the Catholic Answers one they would still find wiggle room and distort it. Look what they have done with the actual documents of Vatican II.
Yeah the bishop's document is too wordy and obviously written by committee, but it is very strong and certainly does not put abortion as one of many subjects. Dissenters are liars - plain and simple.
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