Baltimore, Nov 9, 2008 / 11:08 pm (CNA).- Since the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, several Catholic commentators have speculated on how the original agenda of the annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will change.
According to bishops involved in the organization of the three-day meeting, which starts this Monday, the agenda, including a public discussion of abortion and politics, is fully on track.
Speculation that the agenda might change came late last week when several prominent Catholic commentators argued that the bishops had "lost authority" by speaking out strongly against Catholics voting for pro-abortion politicians, like Sen. Barack Obama and other mostly Democratic candidates, who were elected to office last Tuesday.
On Friday, Religion News Service reported that the USCCB “has scuttled plans to discuss abortion and politics next week in Baltimore,” citing the bishops’ spokeswoman, Sister Mary Ann Walsh. RNS also quoted Sister Walsh saying that the agenda had yet to be finalized.
Moreover, according to the National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen Jr., “some analysts, especially those of a more liberal bent, are spinning the election of Barak Obama as a ‘repudiation’ of what they see as an overly strident and partisan tone from the bishops, especially on abortion. A few ardently pro-life Catholics, meanwhile, actually believe that what they call ‘silence and treachery’ from the bishops on abortion helped pave the way for Obama’s success.”
On Friday, Peter Steinfels argued in his regular New York Times column that "anyone constructing a list of the big losers on Tuesday would probably include the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops."
No the "big losers" were not the bishops, it was the unborn. But since Steifel’s definition of being a big loser is that people did not listen to the bishops who spoke out then by that definition Steinfells and like-minded types are also big losers since nobody listens to them on all of their progressive ideas for the Church.
A similar suggestion was made by Fr. Thomas Reese S.J. of Georgetown University in an article published by the Dallas Morning News on Sunday.
Quoting the same figure of nominal Catholics voting for Obama, Reese said that “Episcopal authority took a major hit during the election,” and argued that “(the) division between the vocal, partisan bishops and the silent, nonpartisan bishops will be a major issue at the Baltimore meeting.”
I knew that just as soon as the election was over that progressive Catholics would be taking just this exact tack. That the bishop’s authority had taken a hit. This is laugh out funny coming from those whose idea of authority is what issues from their own lips. You have to preach the truth in season or out of season. You have to preach the truth even if you do not persuade everybody. You preach the truth simply because it is the truth. But for progressive Catholics preaching the truth to prevent the murder of innocents results in being a "big loser" and "taking a hit." I guess the martyrs all got it wrong.
Fr. Reese’s idea of partisan is only political, but the word means "a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person." The "cause" here was for the unborn. Remaining silent in defending life is not something to be proud about. If you are nonpartisan when it comes to defending life you are one of those who allow evil to exist by doing nothing.
Even though a sizable number of Bishops to their credit did speak up, there was never a chance that they were going to have a sizable influence. A bishop’s letter or homily goes up against the 24/7 culture of death and often minions of the culture of death exist right within the diocese to make sure any strong pro-life messages from their ordinary are promptly doused with water.
After reading Steinfels and Reese here is a palate cleanser at the end of the article.
Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon, also offered a different vision on how to interpret the current circumstances from a Catholic perspective.
“In our present political climate it would be very easy to somehow link our courage and hopefulness to the outcome of political endeavors. It would be easy to position our hope in some kind of political strategy and call for greater courage in fostering that particular strategy.”
“The fact that whatever kind of kingdom we manage to build here will always be an imperfect kingdom helps us keep our focus on that in which and for which we ultimately hope, a kingdom of God in eternity,” he said. [article]
17 comments
There is anecdotal evidence that, when compared to John Kerry’s share of the Catholic vote in 2004, Obama lost ground in states where bishops spoke out about the importance of abortion:
http://richleonardi.blogspot.com/2008/11/when-shepherds-speak.html
I have hope that the bishops will do their apostolic jobs even in the face of heretics like Fr. Reese.
As I read the results, the major source of Obama support among Catholics was the Hispanic community, which asserts itself to be Catholic, but voted overwhelmingly for Obama (i.e., against life) and, here in California, was at least neutral on gay marriage. Are the Bishops writing, or being translated into Spanish, or is that community somehow cut off from the Church?
Thanks for posting on this (great post, BTW). I’m heartened by the continued attention to this by you and others. Thank God! I’m not so much upset with Catholics who voted for Obama (though yes, I am upset), but mostly with priests who have not towed the line on being pro-life. I don’t know what can be done, if anything. I don’t know enough about how that works. Seems like a central tenent of the Church, being pro-life; how then, would someone in the cloth be so complicit? I cannot imagine for the life of me – no pun intended – why someone would become a priest and not be completely pro-life, and be smart enough to see the difference in the two parties with regard to abortion. One party might be in favor (generally) of capital punishment, and more prone to go to war than the other; but one party also is absolutely complicit in 1.6 million people being denied the most basic human right there is, each and every year, in this country alone. And we have the words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in one of our founding documents! I never thought the left’s accusations about the U.S. carried water, and largely they don’t, except on this issue. On this, we fail every important test as a people.
Excellent points, Jester!
The “big losers” (aside from the unborn, of course) have not been determined yet because we have not reached the end of the race. The end for each of us will be when we are standing at our final judgment and we have to answer for our actions.
I’m proud of the few bishops that actually spoke out. But, unfortunately, even silence from a small portion of bishops is affirmation enough for a dissenting catholic who is bent on going against church teaching.
We need far more proactive leadership in the Catholic Church in America. They are all sitting back and only a few react to the moral turmoil our country goes into when we have these elections. That’s not leadership.
We need leaders who are willing to give a clear vision and direction for all Catholics. We need a long term strategy – not just a reminder of conscience during a single election. We should be getting led in ways that will not only affect this present election but will shape the elections to come. WE don’t have that. I wrote more on this on my post today if anyone is interested: http://tinyurl.com/6olksg
God bless and peace be with you!
There is more than one way to speak out and send an effective message. One way that will and can be heard and absorbed by whole parishes and communities, indeed, the whole world, is the blessing of the child in the womb. This blessing has been composed and will be voted on at the Bishop’s Conference.
Please pray that the blessing is approved and that pastors will use it. The more we act according to the truths of our faith and the teaching of the church, the more invitations we send to the world to believe!!
EWTN continues its coverage of the Conference today. Push the record button if you can’t watch the coverage live.
In regards to speaking out versus keeping silent, I am reminded of a passage from Ezekiel 33:
8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
I am also reminded of a little quote by St. Anthony Mary Claret:
“The right to speak out and teach the nations, which the Church received from God Himself in the person of the Apostles, has been usurped by a mob of obscure journalists and ignorant charlatans.”–St. Anthony Mary Claret
Great posts, Jeff and Matthew!
I am soooo tired of MSM idiots like the NY Slimes and dissidents like Fr. (?) Reese.
The real losers in this election WERE the unborn! Voters thought more about their bellies and their wallets than about values and morals!
Excellent perspective Jester!
Let me start focusing: “A few ardently pro-life Catholics… believe that what they call ‘silence and treachery’ from the bishops on abortion helped pave the way for Obama’s success.”
NOW: Is there any doubt that, if pro-abortion “Catholic” lawmakers were excommunicated, will we STILL be murdering 1.5 million babies in Moloch’s altar yearly?
Absolutely? But ohohoh the USCCB keeps displaying intellectual great education, and mannerly refinement, publishing great sounding discourses which insist in covering the pro-abortion-ESCR wolf-culprits as… mere fellow travelers of (Cardinal George brand new sheep skin):
“So many people of good will, dutiful priests and loving religious women, bishops and lay people of the Catholic Church who took our social doctrine to heart then can feel vindicated now (with winner Obama)… As bishops, we can only insist that those who would impose their own agenda on the Church, those who believe and act self-righteously, answerable only to themselves, whether ideologically on the left or the right, betray the Lord Jesus Christ…”
In other words: congratulations Obama, and (yawning) we feel saaad… in our most august USCCB, checking that the genocide abortion chambers are going full steam.
CAN WE ASK ROME TO EXCOMMUNICATE THE INTELLECTUAL LAWMAKERS–not the surgical minions-OF THE BUTCHERED BABIES?
I’m sure most bishops mean well: so, allow us to be kind but firm:
How will they be judged historically, down the road?
Ten years from now people are going to look back at their pious speeches (not self-righteous, God forbid!!!) and… wonder how it was possible a culture built into the wholesale destruction of unborn life.
Deep regards
Grammar Nanny here!
exact tact
The bolded word should be “tack.”
It is especially disappointing that you, an ex-NAVY guy, missed this…
I like Eve Tushnet’s response. She wrote, “Just remember, we’re the party that believes in the necessity and meaning of suffering–and especially humiliation. So really, we win again! Offer this $#@! up, y’all.” In CHRIST all suffering will bring fruit. I also rest my hope on the promise of Christ that things that are hidden will be made clear – on both sides. God’s mercy and love will be made clear to the hearts and minds of the people of our nation AND the deceit and lies and ignorance will be made clear
Mary
BROKEN ALABASTER
http://www.brokenalabaster.com
Guillermo,
Have you written or spoken to any of the bishops whose words or actions have so upset you? Doing so might relieve some of the bitterness in your heart.
I recall a certain letter I wrote to my bishop when I felt he was being too harsh on our politicians. It was a respectful but ignorant letter. I hope it has been not only thrown away, but burned. The response to my letter corrected my conscience. (Apostolic correction, even delivered so gently that it is not obvious correction, is powerful)
Since then, I have led two local 40 Days For Life campaigns and have committed myself to the defense of the unborn. If not for the correction of my bishop, I would probably have been one of those Catholics who are, today, justifying their vote for Obama. (Ugh, the thought!)
As to why all Catholics don’t hear them, I think it is partly due to affliction and resulting deafness, & partly due to disposition. We are told, “Seek and you shall find”.Seeking implies being open to the Truth via the instruction given to us by those appointed and ordained to guide us.
Last week I had a sad conversation with a very good Catholic person who had voted for Obama. She told me that she did feel torn about it, and had consulted more than one priest. The priests told her that abortion is “only one issue” and she could in good conscience vote for Obama. I told her about FOCA and other things about Obama’s support for abortion, but she just kept repeating “he’s more pro-choice than pro-abortion.” Very sad.
Sr. Lorraine,
What I don’t understand is this:
Why can’t the Bishops and the Pope make it clear that supporting a candidate who supports FOCA is the same as supporting abortion? I think the Church really needs to have a teach in, for its own people of the cloth, in this issue. I’m am sick of religious telling people’s it’s okay to support someone who supports abortion, by default or otherwise. Honestly, I never thought my own Church would fall short in this regard. I’m so angry about being let down in this way, I really have had enough.
Joanne, for your words “have you written,or spoken to any of the bishops whose words or actions have so upset you? Doing so might relieve some of the bitterness in your heart”.
Please, be assured that there is no bitterness in me, but the Jesus LOVE propelling Him to brand as white sepulchres, hypocrites, pigs, vipers, until when will I have to stand you stupid, etc., to those fond of the first positions and fancy garments, among other deeds.
THE NAKED FACT (NOT bitter JUDGMENT) IS:
USA abortion lawmakers (dozens of them!), WERE allowed by the USCCB to use the name Catholic, to be direct-formal authors of INTELLECTUAL COLD-BLOODED-MURDER.
The point STILL is: many bishops do talk the talk but NOT walk the walk of excommunicating them. RESULT: MILLIONS (just check the numbers) of “Catholics” bought the actual non-negotiable genocide as trivial.
For your information Cardinal Cipriani in Peru, my friend, is one of the foremost deniers of the Eucharist to pro-abortion culprits, and the Sodalitium (similar to Opus Dei) in Rome, are working with Abp. Burke in the Vatican to make a major purge in the USCCB. By the way all the harsh words of Jesus above mentioned, can apply to the self-congratulatory “anti-racist triumph of Obama” by Card. George, or the self-complacent USCCB with the genocide in Baltimore now.
Cordially
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