This video was originally published in 2008 in response to the rabid responses that came from self-proclaimed theological police, the New Catholic Taliban. These faux-theologians cry heresy at the drop of a hat and align themselves with the hard Christian Right of the Republican Party.  Most recently, the wing nuts of the Catholic right have participated in the anti-health care reform rallies with the so-called, Tea Baggers.  Watch for these same folks in upcoming debates on immigration reform. NB, the association of Nazi’s to Democrats seems to have its origins in the wing nut community of the New Catholic Taliban.

I’m also including the post, Obama and Notre Dame from my old website. The blog was originally published May 24, 2008

BLOG: OBAMA AND NOTRE DAME

The kernel of the article below originally appeared in the context of the homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.  I have expanded and edited what  I originally had written and reworked the material for the purposes of creating a commentary. This is NOT a homily and it would be inappropriate for it to be used in a liturgical setting.

On May 16th President Obama spoke at one of the most powerful Catholic institutions in the United States, the University of Notre Dame.  His appearance was not without tension.  Being both an “All American” institution and a Catholic university, the conservative voices in the self-identified orthodox Catholic blogosphere, print and televised media cried out, “Blasphemy!” at Obama’s appearance.   These Catholic Taliban extremists were absolutely certain of the veracity of their convictions. (From this point on, I refer to these critics as “absolutists.”)    These absolutists had no trouble in denouncing not only Obama, they also turned their sites to the Catholic institution that hosted and awarded him an honorary degree as well as fellow Catholics who didn’t share their point of view.

Let’s break down the architecture of the absolutist attack.  Absolutist criticisms are filled with moral certitude.  For them, there is no other way to look at the question of abortion other than to make abortion illegal.  These conservative absolutist voices cloak their certitude in a self-defining orthodoxy that calls for the excommunication of any voice of dissent.  Douglas Kmeic, a leading Catholic legal scholar and advisor to past presidential administrations, said that American Catholics, “…have been sold the untenable proposition that the only way to honor life in the Catholic tradition is by reversing Roe…”   The detractors, according to E. J. Dionne, helped President Obama rather than hurt him.

The extreme anti-abortion rhetoric handed the President an opportunity to revive an alternative approach offered by the late Cardinal Bernadin: Common Ground. The Common Ground approach avoids the rhetorical quicksand of both “politics of choice” and “anti-abortion wedge politics”. Common Ground does two things: first it affirms that there are two irreconcilable points of view.  Secondly, it affirms that the concept that no one sees abortion as a desirable thing.  Common Ground makes us think about the circumstances that surround those caught up in the tragedy of abortion.  The Common Ground does not politicize the Eucharist by engaging in the threats of excommunication or trivialize the pain by bizarre street theater.  (Here I refer to the bizarre tactics of extremists led by Alan Keyes, Terry Randall and others who pushed baby strollers with dolls covered in blood through the Notre Dame Campus.)  The absolutist wing within the Catholic Church encourages the tactic of excommunicating politicians who favor the on-going legal access to abortion. In the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, certain bishops used this tactic.

Absolutism ultimately paints the Church into a corner.  For example, a few months ago in Brazil, a nine year-old girl was raped by her step father and the girl became pregnant. The person’s mother took her in for an abortion because the girl’s life was in danger: she was only 80 lbs and was carrying twins.  The local bishop of the diocese promptly excommunicated the mother and the doctors who performed the abortion.  The step-father who committed the rape did not receive excommunication.  Initially the Vatican supported the bishop’s decision, but within a few days of the excommunication, local clergy and even some officials in the Vatican critiqued the excommunication decision as being imprudent.  Absolutist tactics are nothing short of theological terrorism that seeks to purify and divide the Church within itself.

The Notre Dame episode showed the struggle of Catholic identity currently playing out within the Catholic Church in the US.  The absolutist activist forces the Church to respond to the question: Who, then, is a real Catholic? The recent Washington Post article by David Gibson, shows just how deep this question runs within not only America, but throughout the entire Catholic world.  President Obama managed to address absolutist politics in his speech.  I found it quite amazing that he was able to articulate and nuance the issue because the President isn’t a Catholic!

A GOOD SHEPHERD

Obama spoke in one of the most Catholic of Catholic institutions. It was nothing short of genius that he proposed that the nation engage in public dialog around the issues that surround abortion.  Hearts and minds are changed because dialog is respectful, nuanced and intellectually persuasive.  When anti-abortion critics like Alan Keyes or Randall Terry and the 60 bishops who boycotted Notre Dame, refused to enter into dialog, they looked petty.  They came across as out of touch with reality, as unfeeling and unreasonable.  Who would follow those voices? What kind of flock would they gather?

Could the bishops take a lesson from the President – who is the “civic shepherd” of our nation? Yes!  First off, I want to say that the President does not substitute the unique role of the shepherds of the Church. Religious shepherds teach and sanctify and at times the shepherd may use his office to apply moral pressure for the sake of advancing the common good.  There in fact have been good examples of the Church promoting Pro-Life concerns: issues of reproduction, war, poverty, immigration, etc., within an American context.  See the document, “Faithful Citizenship.” (2009 edition).  The problem; however, is that some Catholic shepherds have engaged publicly in shaming elected officials and intimidating well known Catholic figures who favor legalized abortion and stem cell research with excommunication. One might ponder whether shepherds who beat their flock with croziers, are no longer “good” shepherds.  Shepherds who politicize the Eucharist are nothing but bullies dressed up in jewelry, gold silk and stockings.

A COMMUNITY OF LOVE

A good shepherd brings unity through love, not through fear.  The 6th Sunday of Easter provided us with three points about love. The second reading, 1 John 4:1-10, addressed the grounding principle of love: that love has its grounding in God

…Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

1 John in its broader context is a primer in love and community and offers a the logic of love and community:  

Love is of God and God is Love. 

We are born of God and therefore, we are born of Love. 

Since we are born of Love, we must Love one another. 

From Love, the Christian community is born. 

It really isn’t any more complicated than that.

LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR…

The Christian community – ideally – is a community of relationships rooted in mutual love of each other and of God. When we choose to connect with others, our motivation, therefore, cannot be rooted in self-interest or self-preservation. In other words, reaching out to others must be motivated solely by the desire to connect with the others.  Motivations of self-interest or self-preservation are not motivated by the desire to connect with another, but rather, FEAR.

FEAR is born out of doubt: a doubt that says, “Be prepared to be rejected,” as you reach out to another person.  Or, “Be prepared to defend what you have,” as you are approached by another.  A society (or religion) that practices shunning and excommunication tills the soil for increasingly violent practices of expulsion that inevitably result in pogroms and inquisitions and in extreme cases, genocide.

FEAR dooms us to failure. The only way that a society can move beyond FEAR is to reach out to the OTHER.  Contemporary philosophies such as Martin Buber’s, “I and Thou,” affirm that the ancient Christian approach of love as written by the author/s of the Gospel of John and the Letters to John, is not a something unique to the Christian tradition. There is a truth that transcends creed and even historical context that speaks to the experience of being human and being in relationship to others.  Our capacity to set aside fear and open ourselves to love leads us to the next facet of a healthy community: diversity.

DIVERSITY

In fact, look at the first reading. Here Peter preaches that God can be found in many cultures and traditions.

"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

When we reach out to the Other, the community becomes DIVERSE.  Diversity, then is the validation of an authentic, loving, community in which all persons see themselves as belonging.  No one in the community is a “guest” invited to someone else’s home, but rather, a person who brings something to the Table.  In terms of Christian community – or dare I say, PARISH, the community is a community of the OTHER.  The parish then, must have as its central tenant: All are Welcome. 

PARTICIPATION

Gestures of hospitality are the first indicators of welcome; however, warms smiles, cordial “hello’s,” and registering people in the parish for stewardship envelopes are not indicators of whether or not a parish is welcoming.  Welcome in its fullest sense is participation.  In the Gospel reading Jesus says that he tells his disciples everything.  Nothing is held back, that in fact he tells everything that he himself has heard from the Father.  Participation requires transparency.  There can be no secrets or hierarchy of who has access to information.  In other words, the community of love must be a community of mutual trust that invites all members to share in the direction and governance of the Church.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LACK PARTICIPATION?

Church communities, unfortunately, are one of the least transparent social environments.  Secrecy runs rampant in many communities and secrecy manifests itself as silence.  In Catholic community, the Church is infamous for its silence. In the face of injustice or abuse, silence is appalling. Can you think of specific instances in which churches – whether at the parochial, synod or diocesan level, have hidden malfeasances (large or small) from its own members?  Recent scandals here and abroad, for example, eroded the trust between bishops and priests and between priests and the laity. Fr. Roman Paur of St. John’s University says in the executive summary of the study, the Humanity of Belief Systems: Twelve Critical Issues, that internal policies of secrecy within church have contributed to the occasion of abuse.  

IS THERE HOPE FOR CHANGE?

Recently the Catholic Church in the US has attempted to restructure its pastoral practices so that children and vulnerable adults would be safe.  The 2002 Dallas Charter established new protocols that help prevent future abuse. The changes instituted by the Charter do not address the broader concerns outlined by Fr. Paur; the Charter merely looks to secure safety for children and vulnerable adults. Critics, such as Bishop Geoffrey Robinson of Australia, feel that the Church must do more.  Secrecy, the lack of transparency, and autocratic decision-making are so embedded within the culture of the institution, that any real change is nearly impossible. Robinson’s commentary (and his presence) are unfortunately not necessarily welcome.  Archbishop Mahoney, for instance, had banned Robinson from speaking in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles last year. 

TOWARD A NEW BIRTH (OF LOVE)

As we move through Ascension and onward to Pentecost, we who are the Church, are the ones precisely who must take responsibility for the direction of ecclesial rebirth.  Moving forward requires us to be precise in our language.  Rebirth is not the same as revitalization.  We cannot confuse these terms.  Rebirth is grounded in Christ and manifests itself in the love of neighbor whereas revitalization is rooted in a nostalgic memory of an ecclesial monarchy and replete with presumptions of moral certainty.  Revitalization manifests its self in a turn toward hyper-orthodoxy and authoritarianism.  Authentic ecclesial rebirth is initiated by the community and not by those whose careers are dependent on the power structure of the institution.   The Church reborn reflects the diversity of humanity: old, young, rich, poor, gay, straight, people of all cultures and nations.  The Church reborn is a community unafraid of spiritual and intellectual challenges and is willing to engage in dialog rather than diatribe. The Church reborn is Spirit-filled and in this Church, all find a home.

 THIS ENDS THE ACTUAL BLOG. BELOW ARE THE COMMENT SECTION COPIED FROM THE OLD BLOG.  NB, THE ULTRA REACTIONARY WEBSITE, CATHOLICULTURE.ORG CARRIED LINKS TO THE OLD WEBSITE AND THUS INCREASED TRAFFIC TO THE OLD WEBSITE CREATING A FLURRY OF ANGRY RESPONSES.

ORIGINAL PRE-NOVEMBER 25 COMMENTS

Sunday, May 24, 2009

23 Comments

Safesler

Very insightful entry. I hope there's more to come.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 02:28 AM

Stan, ersatz hippie :-)

How important is this rebirth? I think of so many friends who have left the church. These are important voices who would bring much to the community. Almost to a person, what drove them away is what you have described as the hyper-orthodoxy of the absolutists. If they were welcomed and fed by the community, perhaps they could learn to live with church. For that to happen the rebirth you speak of needs to happen. Keep speaking your prophetic words. We need it more than ever.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 11:53 AM

Anonymous

Thank you for your comments. You always present some great topics for us to think about and comment on with others. Thanks much.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 12:11 PM

Kathy in Chicago.

Your blog is a sign of hope in a Church not known for dialogue. i have been finding my spiritual and moral encouragement not in the voices of the Church, but from the prophetic voices in politics, academia, and Oprah. We shall see if the Church can reclaim it's rightful role as moral compass, peace-maker, and motivator to action --  to call forth the gifts and action needed to transform our culture into a truly life-giving rather than death-dealing environment -- for the vulnerable, the young, the old, the outsider, the human and all of creation.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 04:19 PM

Anonymous

Amen Brother Moon:

Yes the Catholic Church has been silent on other issues of socials justice to include the disparity of those that are not educated and end up in the jail system.  The list is long.  I find it interesting that the Catholic Taliban who claim to be pro choice are the same people that believe we should pick up arms and fight in the middle east.  I guess there lives are not so sacred.  

What about the shut ins, impoverished, homeless, the environment.

Peace from Sister Moon

Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 07:03 PM

Tom from NJ

Thank you for sharing your insightful and courageous reflections in the wider public forum. Your parishioners are blessed to have such a prophetic pastor !

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 02:14 PM

Jill

Thank you for writing this eloquent blog.  Our world is littered with the debris of ideals sacrificed to the idol of the ideal.   With the best of intentions fundamentalist fanatics use their ends to justify their means.  In times of turmoil it takes faith to believe and cling to the power of truth, peace, compassion and above all love.   You can both theorize about God and pray, but what is the point if you are unable to "enter the marketplace in peace and compassion." We are blessed to have a president and pastor to give us hope that fruitful dialogue is possible.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 11:00 AM

viamedia111

Wow--it is exciting to read such powerful theological analysis so well written.  You actually preached about this in front of a congregation?  That is the kind of pastoral courage the church desperately needs. I am especially impressed by the reminder that we are meant to bring unity through love.  So many people in power are doing their best to make us fearful.  I will definitely keep checking for more from this blog in the future.

Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 12:33 PM

NEW RESPONSES SINCE THE LINK FROM CATHOLICCULTURE.ORG. NB, THEIR TENACITY TO CLAIM EXCLUSIVE ORTHODOXY, AND THE VOCABULARY THAT BETRAYS THEIR MEAN-SPIRITEDNESS.  IN THIS MIDST OF THESE EXCHANGES I INSERTED A RESPONSE.  SEE IF YOU CAN FIND IT. 

PLEASE COMMENT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS BLOG...BOTH ON THE RIGHT AND ON THE LEFT!

kiwiinamerica

The Catholic "Taliban"? Is that all you've got? Name calling?

Try "faithful" Catholics. Catholics who obediently submit to the Church's teaching authority on sexuality and life without whining and without putting their own self-interest before truth.

We've had four decades of this nonsense from rebels, self-appointed experts and dishonest naysayers who refuse to change their own beliefs but instead demand that the Church change. Sorry, it won't . We absolutely and utterly reject your demands that the Church recognize sin as virtue. Not now, not ever. Persecute us, vilify us, even kill us but never will we bow down before your immoral, bankrupt agenda of sexual license.

Abortion is murder and if you support it you have blood on your hands.

If the Muslims ever do overrun this country you'll find out what real the Taliban is like and you'll rue the day you whined about Catholics standing up for their faith and exercising their power of free speech. The true Taliban are fascists like you who want to run the Catholic Church according to your own sexual whims.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 09:29 AM

LALALAW

There is nothing genius about Obama.  He is a socialist charlatan.  Catholics are a fovorite target for use by the leftists.  They hijack the message of Christ where it overlaps their tactic for acquiring power--profession of care for the blessed poor and and less fortunate.  Catholics, however, should not use the left, as the ends do not justify the means.  

MANHATTAN DECLARATION

A Summary

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions ofcivil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are (1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty. Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are

inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the

crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Human Life

The lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are ever more threatened. While public opinion has moved in a pro-life direction, powerful and determined forces are working to expand abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Although the protection of the weak and vulnerable is the first obligation of government, the power of government is today often enlisted in the cause of promoting

what Pope John Paul II called “the culture of death.” We pledge to work unceasingly for the equal protection of every innocent human being at every stage of development and in every condition. We will refuse to permit ourselves or our institutions to be implicated in the taking of human life and we will support in every possible way those who, in conscience, take the same stand.

Marriage

The institution of marriage, already wounded by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is at risk of being redefined and thus subverted. Marriage is the original and most important institution for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all. Where marriage erodes, social pathologies rise. The impulse to redefine marriage is a symptom, rather than the cause, of the erosion of the marriage culture. It reflects a loss of understanding of the meaning of marriage as embodied in our civil law as well as our religious

traditions. Yet it is critical that the impulse be resisted, for yielding to it would mean abandoning the possibility of restoring a sound understanding of marriage and, with it, the hope of rebuilding a healthy marriage culture. It would lock into place the false and destructive belief that marriage is all about romance and other adult satisfactions, and not, in any intrinsic way, about the unique character and value of acts and relationships whose meaning is shaped by their aptness for the generation, promotion and protection

of life. Marriage is not a “social construction,” but is rather an objective reality—the covenantal union of husband and wife—that it is the duty of the law to recognize, honor, and protect.

Religious Liberty

Freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized. The threat to these fundamental principles of justice is evident in efforts to weaken or eliminate conscience protections for healthcare institutions and professionals, and in antidiscrimination statutes that are used as weapons to force religious institutions, charities, businesses, and service providers either to accept (and even facilitate) activities and relationships they judge to be immoral, or go out of business. Attacks on religious liberty are dire threats not only to individuals, but also to the institutions of civil society including

families, charities, and religious communities. The health and well-being of such institutions provide an indispensable buffer against the overweening power of government and is essential to the flourishing of every other institution—including government itself—on which society depends.

Unjust Laws

As Christians, we believe in law and we respect the authority of earthly rulers. We count it as a special privilege to live in a democratic society where the moral claims of the law on us are even stronger in virtue of the rights of all citizens to participate in the political process. Yet even in a democratic regime, laws can be unjust. And from the beginning, our faith has taught that civil disobedience is required in the face of gravely unjust laws or laws that purport to require us to do what is unjust or otherwise immoral. Such laws

lack the power to bind in conscience because they can claim no authority beyond that of sheer human will.

Therefore, let it be known that we will not comply with any edict that compels us or the institutions we lead to participate in or facilitate abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that violates the principle of the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every member of the human family.

Further, let it be known that we will not bend to any rule forcing us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality, marriage, and the family.  

Further, let it be known that we will not be intimidated into silence or acquiescence or the violation of our consciences by any power on earth, be it cultural or political, regardless of the consequences to ourselves. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no

circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 10:00 AM

Mary

I am absolutly dumbfounded that you call yourself a Catholic.  All of you modernest priests, including Cardinal Bernadine, may he rest in peace, need to find something else to call yourselves, like maybe heratic.  Modernism and nuancing are heresy.  Sin is sin, it doesn't nuance.  This child who you refer to, isn't a real issue, because pregnancy interuption to protect the life of the mother has always been acceptable to the Church.  If her life was truly in danger, there wouldn't be an issue.  I know this because I worked in a Catholic hospital in Labor and delivery, and I saw truly life endangering pregnancies interrupted.  If humanly possible, we saved the child as well,  sometimes we weren't able to, but we still saved the life of the mothers.  Perhaps instead of calling Catholics like me absolutists, or taliban, you ought to read a book about the real taliban, and what they do to real women and children.  I can recomend "A Thousand Splendid Suns".  It is written by a real doctor, who has some idea of what he is talking about, you obviously don'

t, who is also an Afghani, and knows something about the real Taliban.  Father, it's time to grow up and realise that you are responsible before God for the errors you teach.  You are also expected to know better, so you will be held to a higher standard when you are called to make an accounting.  You are giving terrible example to anyone who is stupid enough to listen to you.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 10:08 AM

RobbyS

Widespread, according to Jung, is an urban phenomenon, evidence of a general confusion of sexual roles.  It certainly has caused confusion in the priesthood.  The evidence of this is the numerous cases of pederasty and the savaging  of Church finances when  knowledge has come out.  St. Therese said she was kind of shocked when at the age of 14 she found out that Priests can sin.  The victims of pederast priests suffered a shock of a different sort when she found out they can be moral corrupt.  Never mind that society more or less looks the other way when  male child prostitution becomes common in places like San Francisco.   What is hypocritical behavior  in a priest is   OK behavior with people who says that they will do anything "for the children" ---except  take on the gay rights lobby.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 10:09 AM

BRW

Thursday, November 25th, 2009

Sir ...

How you came to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest is really beyond me.  However, in light of the reforms of Vatican II, I can see where certain members of the "Lavender Mafia" within the Church gave you a "wink and a nod" (and possibly a little more).

Your stance on the traditional beliefs and teachings of the Church are a VERY GRAVE concern for an individual like myself.  Several years ago, I sought to pursue a possible vocation to the priesthood within the Diocese in which I reside.  While in a confrence room waiting to go before the review board / interview session, I was in a group of about seven or eight other candidates.  One gentleman, who apparently was a close "friend" of the Vocational Director, made a queer pass at me via placing his foot on top of mine beneath the conference room table.  This was no accidental nudge or bump, but a purposeful fixed foot placement.

I nudged myself back in my chair and leaned down to see just what was pressing down on my foot, and here was this fellow seminarian candidate's shoe on top of mine.  Granted, I took this to be a "topping" gesture on his part to see if I was game as a "bottom / receiver".  You are aware of these terms, yes?  I looked up at this guy and he had a mischievous smirk on his face.  I slid my foot out from under his and just gave him a very sorrowful look of disgust.

Needless to say, this candidate got into the local seminary (he was in fact "residing with" the Vocational Director while his application was in progress).  I was denied admission and given an evasive reason for not being so by the very same Vocational Director.  In addition, upon my submission for acceptance, I pulled no punches in that I spoke openly about my feelings on the state of the U.S. Roman Catholic seminaries (my exact quote was "that they have become bastions for homosexuals" end quote).

I take it that Mr. Vocational Director and others on the board did not take too kindly to this, however, it needs to be a salvo of truth across the bow of the ship which certain elements within the Church have come to set sail with and in which to foist upon the flock of "believers" within its ranks who are very, very, very uneducated about the Traditional Teachings Of The Holy Roman Catholic Church.  Woe be to them that call "good" bad and "bad" good.  It sounds like with your liberal interpretation of the Bible and of Church Doctrine, you may just want to slide on over to one of the Protestant denominations which espouse the line similar to yours (i.e. homosexuality is "normal", can't we all just get along, Kumbaya, and "if it feels good - then do it', etc. etc. etc.).  Step aside and let a more worthy candidate (whomever God may choose) who truly wants to be an "alter Christus" replace you.

Granted, I am no angel either.  I am a deep sinner myself and have waxed and waned in my zeal for the Church.  And it is very easy to pick out the motes in others eyes when I myself have planks (enough to build a small fleet of ships as I usually quip) in my own eyes.

May God have mercy upon your soul and upon the souls entrusted to your care as a "Priest".  One day, what is hidden shall be revealed, and that day can only approach much too soon and welcomed in my opinion.

BRW

age 41

Florida, U.S.A.

"Ad Jesum Per Mariam"

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 10:16 AM

Mark B.

Abortion is murder.  When Obama is willing to acknowledge the basic truth of that statement, then and only then could he possibly be considered as an appropriate speaker for a commencement ceremony at a Catholic University.  Obama may be an eloquent speaker, but that does not hide the fact that Obama is the most radically pro-abortion proponent ever to take the oath of office.  Notre Dame has a 40-year history of disobedience to Catholic teaching.  Fr. Jenkins disrespected the voices of the bishops who pleaded with Jenkins to rescind the Obama invitation, he betrayed the Notre Dame students who deserved much more, and betrayed American Catholics in general.

It is one thing to deal charitably with those caught up in challenging pregnancies, and I am very grateful to Catholic charities for dealing with my girlfriend who found herself in that situation 32 years ago.  They objectively explained the adoption alternative to us, and we were so very happy that they were there for us. Even under those circumstances the thought of abortion was obvious injustice in the minds of two very young and very scared kids.  It was far easier for my girlfriend as an unwed mother to carry our baby to birth than to consider killing her – not for a moment did that ever seem acceptable to us.  How could you consider killing someone you love?  To applaud and encourage the killing of innocent babies as a way out is certainly not charity but it is an evil and malicious deception, and always outright murder.  Abortion also places a burden of guilt upon the mothers, and to a lesser extent upon the fathers.  To deal with the thought of being responsible for the death of an innocent child is a terrible burden that time does not erase.  It is no figure of speech to say that abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace in the world.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 12:32 PM

Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick / Diocese of Fargo

Each procured abortion is a homicide.

When the law protects some people from homicide, and refuses to protect other people from homicide, the law is discriminatory.

Thus, "pro-choice" politicians are pro-discrimination.

And this is a form of discrimination that is WORSE than racial discrimination, because the result is homicide rather than something much less--like having to sit in the back of a bus.

Therefore, your position in favor of "pro-choice" "Catholics" requires you to say that a politician could support racial segregation and discrimination, and still be a practicing Catholic.

Nonsense. Being "pro-choice" is worse than being a racist. It is incompatible with practicing the Catholic Faith.

And those who are publicly not practicing the Catholic Faith MUST be refused Communion. Cf. Canon 915. The purpose of the Canon is to prevent scandal and sacrilege.

What have the unborn babies done to offend you, that has led you to exclude them from your love and your concern? Why have you come to despise the babies, and their right to life? How did you become so bigoted against them?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 02:26 PM

Andy

" The Church reborn reflects the diversity of humanity: old, young, rich, poor, gay, straight, people of all cultures and nations."

male, female

That was a big ommission.

I personally think you are almost right. It's the almost part that is the biggest danger.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 04:04 PM

Anonymous

Soon you and your Bishop will be thrown into the pit with Satan.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 07:02 PM

New Site go there!

Well....there's a lot of traffic due to the denizens who crawl over to "Catholic Culture" website.  Thank you for the publicity.  The anger and the venom seem to say, "They will know you are Christians by your love..."  Ahh, yes.  I shall wait at the heavenly gates with all of these "haters" who would be willing to burn a pyre of so-called heretics and then together we will read Matthew 25: "...what you did to the least of these..." and then see who gets through the door.  But then, I - unlike the angry choir of responses dates Nov 25 and on - believe in forgiveness and a loving God.  My heaven will be in sharing my blog with you for eternity.  Your hell will be listening to it...for EVER.

So, please everyone, pack up your bags and head over to the newly reorganized and edited site: http://www.frjonblog.org/Site/Welcome.html

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 02:41 AM

Anonymous

Follow the authentic teachings of the church (catechism) and you should find your way, Father.   Anything else will lead you south!  Get my drift?

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 04:14 AM

Gustav

Hey liberals, stop killing the innocent babies with your votes!  Yes, you liberal as well as not so liberal Catholics, God judges justly all hypocrits including those on the left and that includes priests and bishops!  Even priests with blogs.

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 04:20 AM

Frederick

Christ loves all gays, adulters, cheaters, etc.  but he loves them too much to let them stay that way.  Go to confession a get rid of ALL sin, it's the Catholic thing to do.  

It is said that most go to hell for sins of the flesh.

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 04:26 AM

Frederick

Faithful Christians,

Please sign the Manhattan Declaration, it's about life.  Go to www.manhattandeclaration.org

Blessings

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 04:45 AM

BRW

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Jon ...

Just headed over to your new blog ... hey guy, you aren't looking too happy in the pic you posted of yourself.  ;-)  

Additionally, your response with regard to the flurry of posts dated from November 25th, 2009 onward, seem ... well, *ahem* a wee bit juvenile to say the least.  Tit for tat, eh?

Saddens me.  I will pray for you and your flock.  Hopefully you will wise up and amend your wayward cafeteria Catholic beliefs.  I wouldn't be surprised to see you possibly called to the carpet before someone in Rome.

You and the likes of the infamous Chicago priest "Fr." Michael Louis Pfleger of the St. Sabina parish, are soooo far to the left of the Roman Catholic spectrum as to make even die hard Protestants blush.

C'mon now, just what are you trying to overcompensate for?  Something in your past?  Not enough attention from mommy and daddy as a wee tyke?  Trying to make it easier for others in the priesthood to be accepted as homosexuals?  Possibly trying to bring the Church around to whatever sexual issues you yourself may have?  Yes / No?

Granted, I will give you a ton of credit for the help and outreach that you have offered those in need.  Puts me to shame and I can only aspire to do acts of Charity such as you have done to those most in need.  This I do emphatically commend you for.  But your stances on abortion, homosexuality, homosexual "marriage", etc. are a very, very, very grave concern of mine.

Thank you for your time, and I am sorry for the level of vitriol contained within this post and one I posted earlier, but this issue really pains me.  I speak my mind and tell it like it is, however, I do allow myself the ability to be empathetic to viewpoints different than my own.  But one thing I will not compromise upon is the Traditional Teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.  Nada.  Its been here before you, and will be here for long after you.  Currently the past 40+ years have been a cycle of confusion within the Church (i.e. since Pope John XXIII "opened the windows to the modern world").  This cycle shall also pass.

May God have mercy upon you, and may the Most Blessed Virgin Mary guide you.  Please look into taking a lengthy sabbatical and entering a contemplative religious order in which to reflect, meditate, and seek proper guidance.  This can only serve to better you and hopefully ease whatever internal issues you may be wrestling with.

Take care,

BRW

"Ad Jesum Per Mariam"

Thursday, November 26, 2009 - 08:49 AM

See the following links for more background on the issues and concerns on this story! 

See this also on YOUTUBE:

Catholic Democrats Website

Web Sites that Incited the Issue

Catholic news agency

Jack Clough

(check out Jack’s “News and Opinion” link: NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE! - apparently St. GOP is his parish...)

California Catholic Daily