USCCB Rebukes the Gang of 18
Recently a group of 18 Catholic democratic legislators from the US House of Representatives took it upon themselves to correct the Pope regarding his recent statements about the excommunication of the Mexico City Catholic politicians who voted for abortion. They implied that the Pope's stand against pro-abortion politicians "offend the very nature of the American experiment."
"The fact is that religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role and responsibility of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America," the 18 write; "it also clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution."
The USCCB responded on May 18th:
To suggest that the Church should not clearly voice its teaching and apply it in a pluralistic society is to attack freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The Catholic Church always will and must speak out against the destruction of innocent unborn children. The right to do so is guaranteed by the Constitution that all legislators are elected to uphold. Speaking and acting against abortion is not a matter of partisan politics. It is a matter of life and death.
The bishops urge all Catholics, especially those who hold positions of public responsibility, to educate themselves about the teaching of the Church, and to seek pastoral advice so that they can make informed decisions with consistency and integrity. Read the full statement here.
At a time when when the USCCB is frequently maligned by Catholics in the blogosphere, I am thankful for the stand they took here in going head to head with the Catholic politicians who felt that they could defy 2000 year old Christian morality in the falsely purported name of constitutional freedom. Thank God for these bishops, let's keep them in prayer as well as the Gang of 18 too. Pray that they will stop "experimenting" with us Americans and take the side of life.
"The fact is that religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role and responsibility of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America," the 18 write; "it also clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution."
The USCCB responded on May 18th:
To suggest that the Church should not clearly voice its teaching and apply it in a pluralistic society is to attack freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The Catholic Church always will and must speak out against the destruction of innocent unborn children. The right to do so is guaranteed by the Constitution that all legislators are elected to uphold. Speaking and acting against abortion is not a matter of partisan politics. It is a matter of life and death.
The bishops urge all Catholics, especially those who hold positions of public responsibility, to educate themselves about the teaching of the Church, and to seek pastoral advice so that they can make informed decisions with consistency and integrity. Read the full statement here.
At a time when when the USCCB is frequently maligned by Catholics in the blogosphere, I am thankful for the stand they took here in going head to head with the Catholic politicians who felt that they could defy 2000 year old Christian morality in the falsely purported name of constitutional freedom. Thank God for these bishops, let's keep them in prayer as well as the Gang of 18 too. Pray that they will stop "experimenting" with us Americans and take the side of life.
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 11:12 PM
1 Comments:
First the condemnation of dissident jesuits, now this? Go USCCB!
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