Retired Texas Bishop Rene Gracida says that Catholics cannot, in good conscience, vote for Obama. Now, in a last-ditch attempt to derail Latino support for Obama, an anti-abortion crusader and anti-illegal immigration activist have teamed up to blast out Gracida’s message by email to nearly three million Latino voters and reaching even more people by radio.
Randall Terry, the aggressive anti-abortion organizer who founded Operation Rescue, says it was his idea. He enlisted Gracida, who made national headlines in 1990 by excommunicating three Catholics for assisting with abortions. In 2004, Gracida gave a special benediction for the Republican National Convention.
In the English-language version of his anti-Obama message, Gracida says, “A Catholic cannot be said to have voted in this election with a good conscience if they have voted for a pro-abortion candidate. Barack Hussein Obama is a pro-abortion candidate.” You can hear the Spanish version here.
Terry called the email blast “a blockbuster because Obama is desperate to take the Hispanic vote.” He told us the emails went to “2.9 million Hispanic voters” as well as “100,000 whites.” He corrected that to “100,000 Americans,” then quickly said that didn’t sound quite right either. He said he hasn’t had much sleep, due to this last-minute effort.
RightMarch.com provided financial and logistical support for the campaign, buying a bit of radio time in Ohio, and procuring the massive email list to reach Latinos.
RightMarch’s president, William Greene, made illegal immigration his top issue last year, when he lost a special election for Congress in Georgia. A fundraising letter of support for Greene from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps PAC (which we profiled here) described Greene thusly:
Bill has been a leader in the fight against illegal immigration as a grassroots activist, delivering millions of messages to Capitol Hill from constituents, demanding NO AMNESTY for illegals;
He has personally mustered with us on the U.S.-Mexican border as a volunteer with the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, standing watch to report the illegals streaming unhindered across our officially undefended Arizona border;
Bill has helped us to raise tens of thousands of dollars for MCDC operations and projects, such as the Border Fence Project…
He has pushed hard for congressional bills to de-fund pro-illegal immigration groups like the ACLU and La Raza, to take away their ill-gotten gains stolen from the pockets of unwilling and unsuspecting taxpayers.
Terry said radio hosts are picking up the Bishop Gracida ad and broadcasting it for free. Some individuals are paying for airtime themselves, he said, and one businessman in Ohio paid for a TV version of the ad.
“The glory of this is that it’s free,” Terry said. “It’s viral!”
—By Will Evans, Center for Investigative Reporting.
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By Enrico Moretti, November 25, 2008 at 12:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What are we Catholic’s to think of this?
Read the whole story Here:
Comments: Catholic Campaign for Human Development Has Given ACORN $7 Million
by Phyllis Schlafly
11/11/2008
Do you wonder why 2008 election data shows that the majority of
Catholics voted for Barack Obama even though his record as Illinois
state senator proves him the most pro-abortion candidate who ever ran
for president?
Perhaps one answer is that on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, millions
of Catholics will again be putting in their church’s collection plate
their annual donation to what the pre-printed envelope calls “Campaign
for Human Development: The Catholic Church working to end poverty and
injustice in America; We’ll turn your dollars into hope for the poor
of our nation.”
The generous Catholics who respond to that well-phrased appeal
probably think they are making a Good Samaritan gift to provide
necessaries to the down-and-out. Most would probably be shocked to
learn that the money donated to the Campaign for Human Development
(CHD) does not go for charity but for radical Obama-style community
organizing.
Over the last 10 years, CHD has given $7.3 million of Catholic-donated
dollars to the Saul Alinsky-style group called ACORN (Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now). When in 1998 some Catholics
complained that CHD grants were not used for Catholic charity but were
actually funding groups opposed to church teachings, CHD changed its
name to Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
The name change did not redirect the flow of money. In 2007 alone,
CCHD increased its support of ACORN, giving it 37 grants totaling
$1,037,000.
Continued
During 2007 and 2008, ACORN and its affiliated organizations were
aggressively registering what it claimed were 1.3 million poor people.
ACORN focused on new registrations in the key toss-up states of Ohio,
Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Even though the pro-Obama political activity of ACORN had been widely
reported, and employees of ACORN and affiliated organizations like
Project Vote have been either indicted or convicted of submitting
false voter registration forms in 14 states, in June 2008 CCHD
approved grants of $1.13 million to 40 local ACORN affiliates for the
cycle beginning July 1, 2008. Those grants were ratified by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops at its June 2008 meeting.
The CCHD-ACORN relationship suddenly became too embarrassing to
ignore, and CCHD announced it was suspending (not canceling) the 2008
grants. But the reason given for suspension was not ACORN’s partisan
political activity or registration frauds, it was because Dale Rathke,
the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1
million from the organization and its affiliates back in 1999 and
2000.
——————————————————————————–
Mrs. Schlafly is the author of the new book The Supremacists: The
Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It (Spence Publishing Co).
By Jack McHale, November 6, 2008 at 11:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No candidate was 100% anti-abortion…McCain supported abortion in cases of rape and incest as well as the health of the mother…Obama’s programs will do more to lessen the abortion rate….He is not pro abortion but rather pro choice…The many Catholics who voted for Obama made the right choice in terms of their consciences…thanks to the bishop’s Faithful Citizenship program promotion..Hope lives again in the US and the world!
I believe that every American has the right to express their political opinions because we all pay our taxes. So if Ministers, Priest, Bishop’s and Popes want to get involved into politics that okay “AS LONG AS THEY PAY TAXES TOO!
Sort of the old if you want to dance then pay the piper.
I am a little late commenting on this article, in the hospital having back surgery.
The premise that an informed “Catholic Conscience,” can only vote for John McCain-Sarah Pailn, is an absurd and downright LIE.
John McCain, is a man, who has been taken over by the neo-conservative right wing Fundamentalist Christian’s who control the Republican Party now. His votes on the Iraq “war,” the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program, funding for the extreme poor and hungry, the needy and jobless have proved he is not a man who follows the Christian path of life and protection of the widows and orphans.
One thing must be said, to those who listen to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church for the way they are to vote in this election, remember that G-d, is watching you vote for a man who cares nothing for the poor and the treaties signed by the US, cares nothing for those children once they are born, how to feed and clothe them and John McCain, believes in the doctrine of preemptive war. Which doctrine espoused, by the hierarchies choice of the shrub, George W. Bush, has brought us into a civil war not unlike the Vietnam War, where we were the aggressors and occupiers, and everyone fought against us.
Should the “winds of the Holy Spirit once again,” blow through the doors of the Church, I may in good conscience vote for the candidate espoused by the Bishops and priests.
By riqui, November 4, 2008 at 10:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
It is impossible to be a practicing Catholic and support candidates that are pro-abortion. I’m not saying that McCain is a the best candidate either, but it just eliminates Obama.
By Anthony Look, November 4, 2008 at 6:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Being born Latin and as a reformed Catholic, I have noticed that when the Pope (or its Bishops or Priests) make dogmatic church mandated statements about voting; the flock just rolls their eyes. Latin’s believe in God; but, we put very little faith in our human ministers. We Latin’s have a tradition of knowing when politicians and clergy are giving us a bunch of self serving bull.
A good example is the Catholic’s Church stand on the birth control pill. Despite the Church emphatically forbidding their use; the flock rolls their eyes and has for generations whole heartedly embraced birth control.
The blatant political desperate act of the Republicans and the Jesuit branch of the Catholic Church does not go unnoticed; it will just be predictably ignored.
This election is about the economy; this is not about a female giving up the gestational rights of one’s own body to the government.
Political propaganda by the clergy on news shows (in particular FOX) did more to give the church an image of a threatening nature, than one of nurturing life.
It had an effect in particular with Catholic youth of placing the Church in the pockets of the Republicans.
They have just lost another generation with this move.
A better approach would have been one of the Church to have advocated working with whom ever won to lessen the number of abortions and increasing help for adoptions.
Latins are not the mass sheep that these Jesuits clergy arrogantly still feel they can dictate to.
I do think the opposite affect actually was achieved, less votes for the Republicans and less Catholic youths respecting the Catholic Church.
Since I am a practicing Catholic, I know fellow-parishioners who would not think of voting for a pro-abortion candidate. There are many Catholics who share this view, following the precepts of church leaders, including Pope Benedict, who last year supported the decision by Mexico’s bishops to excommunicate politicians who had voted to legalize abortion in the first trimester.
I too am against abortion, but it is not an issue that could have prompted me to vote, in the past, for an extremely tainted George W. Bush or a cynical me-first politician like John McCain now.
Both represent the worst of neo-conservative ideology, an ideology that has brought us to the brink of economic Armageddon, deceived us into an unjust and endless war, and turned its back on the needs of the many, using the hoax of trickle-down economics.
I cannot be suckered into accepting candidates on the basis of one professed issue, especially when it is an insincere, cynical ploy for votes. If you are acquainted with most issues, you would find that recent conservative policy speaks only for the rich. It is bigoted, duplicitous, and especially under Bush, fraught with corruption and cynicism.
If you really analyze abortion as a right-to-life issue, the proclaimed pro-life party has never demonstrated much if any impact on abortion. A president’s primary weapon is the judicial appointment.
Republican appointments of “strict-constructionist” federal judges since Ronald Reagan owe more to protecting property rights than overturning abortion rights. No progress in stopping abortion has resulted. In effect, court rulings have done more to restrict human rights and victimize the poor than stop abortion.
In a nutshell, the recent Republican party’s overall policies have been responsible for taking more unnecessary lives in war, impoverishing and imperiling life because of economic policy, and lowering the quality of life for the poor through its social policy. For want of health care coverage, for example, some 18,000 Americans die per year.
Thus it is nothing less than a cruel hoax to use religion to exhort anyone to vote for an unprincipled McCain and a truth-challenged dolt like Palin.
Many thoughtful Catholics are voting for Obama. My husband and I are such. There are voter pamphlets circulated to Catholics that suggest they don’t vote for someone based on one issue only.
This would entail understanding the national security risks associated with Palin as a choice.
One of our priests would not listen to me when I told him about Palin’s dewitching by Paster Muthee and her remarks afterwards that she was amazed about how he prayed that the Lord should make a way for her and her ambitions. “And he did that without even knowing what my plans were!”
I would rather not be Catholic if I were forced to chose between voting for McCain/Palin or facing excommunication. There are plenty of more reasonable faith groups out there, and many Latinos have already been driven in that direction.
By Nyla, November 3, 2008 at 1:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
yeah, and apparently catholics can’t have sex before marriage. How’s that workin’ out? The hombres and mujeres that I know have converted from Clinton to Obama, not Clinton to McCain.
By SouthernYankee, November 3, 2008 at 1:56 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
As a catholic am offended by the road the church has taken. I very seldom go to church any more. I pray every night and say my rosary every day. Any church that mixes in politics should lose their exempt ID. The church I grew up in worried about the poor people and helping them find a better life. I stopped contributing money to them. I only give to St Jude Hospital and Liberal causes. My church I grew up in died when the met up with the extreme right wing nuts. I don’t regonize this church and that new Pope whom I can’t stand..
The church wow, more wars have been fought in the name of religion than we want to know. However, where were these people, and why did they not raise their voices when the priests were committing pedophilia! Instead of moving them to other church’s they should have used some of that righteous indignation to stop them! Gee, nothing like an inquisition to get the blood moving, eh!
For all of those that are so right to life: I believe in life to, however, many on the right have aborted education, many on the right have aborted affordable daycare, many on the right have aborted the concept of equal pay for equal work, many on the right have aborted the concept of community preferring individuality! No, those on the right have aborted - from society, to an anti-intellectual position that they will fight to maintain!
Nine out of ten Catholic Bishops, retired or otherwise, and fully eight out of ten condemned “pedophile” priests ‘spiritually’ endorse Tomas de Torquemada for President. Nothing says “free and fair” elections like brass-hole Catholic “Princes of the Church” sticking their noses into affairs that are comprehensively none of their freaking business. Can the Catholic Princes say “Inquisition?” How about it Pope-a-Dope, burn any heretics or Jews lately?
By alicia, November 3, 2008 at 8:02 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What else can one do? Nothing sticks to Obama because everyone is blinded by the cult of personality and Hollywood image. Id rather know the facts about Obama NOW..not when he has all the power.Besides, I wouldnt trust a Republican who had BOUGHT an election, why would I trust a democrat that had done the same? If Obama loses this, hes going to be paying back Oprah for a long time.
McCain/Palin 08
By Hulk2008, November 3, 2008 at 8:02 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Those efforts to suppress Catholic votes for Obama are all across the country. Priests and bishops nationwide are publishing cautionary tomes and preaching similar messages quoting passages from the Catholic Catechism.
I spoke to a local priest about this and pointed out that ALL the Republicans on our slate were strongly pro-preemptive war, noting that the Catechism forbids voting for all who support abortion, war, euthenasia, and other anti-life trends, including oppression of the poor. Basically I said we have NO one to vote for using those principles. His reply: “We do have a difficult task.”
Being a lifelong Catholic, I am dismayed at the way the Church hierarchy has narrowed its views and also left the poor behind - the Church that used to be the champion of minorities and the poverty-stricken has left them once again for the powerful and wealthy. What happened to those Vatican II clergy who encouraged personal involvement, personal conscience, personal freedom to choose rather than blindly following by rote ? We need another Roncalli (John XXIII) to emerge.
By Jim Yell, November 3, 2008 at 6:34 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I have always found American Catholics to be average Americans and whatever the rigid pronouncements from the Vatican they usually understand the difference between what is allowed in a system that protects all of its citizens in their right of belief or disbelief. On the average they are probably more balanced than protestants, but with the renewed move to force fundamentlism on Catholics by the Pope, it should be a concern for the rest of us.
Yes I believe the churches should start paying their taxes and those that are being run for huge profits and at the same time interfering in the functioning of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, these should certainly be identified and taxed.
By Pacrat, November 3, 2008 at 5:44 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Who does this ignorant creep think he is? Since when do bishops influence thinking - catholic or otherwise? Get this old man back to his nursing home before he hurts himself!
Time to start taxing these institutions. They have defied the requirements of non-profit status too long by direct engagement in support of particular politicians and legislation.
The catholic church has never fostered independent or critical thinking amongst it’s flock of sheep. To do so would leave those in the church hierarchy powerless. I’m glad I left the catholic church when I was nineteen.
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By Enrico Moretti, November 25, 2008 at 12:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What are we Catholic’s to think of this?
Read the whole story Here:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29441
Comments: Catholic Campaign for Human Development Has Given ACORN $7 Million
by Phyllis Schlafly
11/11/2008
Do you wonder why 2008 election data shows that the majority of
Catholics voted for Barack Obama even though his record as Illinois
state senator proves him the most pro-abortion candidate who ever ran
for president?
Perhaps one answer is that on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, millions
of Catholics will again be putting in their church’s collection plate
their annual donation to what the pre-printed envelope calls “Campaign
for Human Development: The Catholic Church working to end poverty and
injustice in America; We’ll turn your dollars into hope for the poor
of our nation.”
The generous Catholics who respond to that well-phrased appeal
probably think they are making a Good Samaritan gift to provide
necessaries to the down-and-out. Most would probably be shocked to
learn that the money donated to the Campaign for Human Development
(CHD) does not go for charity but for radical Obama-style community
organizing.
Over the last 10 years, CHD has given $7.3 million of Catholic-donated
dollars to the Saul Alinsky-style group called ACORN (Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now). When in 1998 some Catholics
complained that CHD grants were not used for Catholic charity but were
actually funding groups opposed to church teachings, CHD changed its
name to Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
The name change did not redirect the flow of money. In 2007 alone,
CCHD increased its support of ACORN, giving it 37 grants totaling
$1,037,000.
Continued
During 2007 and 2008, ACORN and its affiliated organizations were
aggressively registering what it claimed were 1.3 million poor people.
ACORN focused on new registrations in the key toss-up states of Ohio,
Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Even though the pro-Obama political activity of ACORN had been widely
reported, and employees of ACORN and affiliated organizations like
Project Vote have been either indicted or convicted of submitting
false voter registration forms in 14 states, in June 2008 CCHD
approved grants of $1.13 million to 40 local ACORN affiliates for the
cycle beginning July 1, 2008. Those grants were ratified by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops at its June 2008 meeting.
The CCHD-ACORN relationship suddenly became too embarrassing to
ignore, and CCHD announced it was suspending (not canceling) the 2008
grants. But the reason given for suspension was not ACORN’s partisan
political activity or registration frauds, it was because Dale Rathke,
the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1
million from the organization and its affiliates back in 1999 and
2000.
Report this——————————————————————————–
Mrs. Schlafly is the author of the new book The Supremacists: The
Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It (Spence Publishing Co).
By Jack McHale, November 6, 2008 at 11:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No candidate was 100% anti-abortion…McCain supported abortion in cases of rape and incest as well as the health of the mother…Obama’s programs will do more to lessen the abortion rate….He is not pro abortion but rather pro choice…The many Catholics who voted for Obama made the right choice in terms of their consciences…thanks to the bishop’s Faithful Citizenship program promotion..Hope lives again in the US and the world!
Report thisBy LibertyWatch, November 4, 2008 at 10:44 am Link to this comment
I believe that every American has the right to express their political opinions because we all pay our taxes. So if Ministers, Priest, Bishop’s and Popes want to get involved into politics that okay “AS LONG AS THEY PAY TAXES TOO!
Sort of the old if you want to dance then pay the piper.
Report thisBy nrobi, November 4, 2008 at 10:21 am Link to this comment
I am a little late commenting on this article, in the hospital having back surgery.
Report thisThe premise that an informed “Catholic Conscience,” can only vote for John McCain-Sarah Pailn, is an absurd and downright LIE.
John McCain, is a man, who has been taken over by the neo-conservative right wing Fundamentalist Christian’s who control the Republican Party now. His votes on the Iraq “war,” the Childrens’ Health Insurance Program, funding for the extreme poor and hungry, the needy and jobless have proved he is not a man who follows the Christian path of life and protection of the widows and orphans.
One thing must be said, to those who listen to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church for the way they are to vote in this election, remember that G-d, is watching you vote for a man who cares nothing for the poor and the treaties signed by the US, cares nothing for those children once they are born, how to feed and clothe them and John McCain, believes in the doctrine of preemptive war. Which doctrine espoused, by the hierarchies choice of the shrub, George W. Bush, has brought us into a civil war not unlike the Vietnam War, where we were the aggressors and occupiers, and everyone fought against us.
Should the “winds of the Holy Spirit once again,” blow through the doors of the Church, I may in good conscience vote for the candidate espoused by the Bishops and priests.
By riqui, November 4, 2008 at 10:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
It is impossible to be a practicing Catholic and support candidates that are pro-abortion. I’m not saying that McCain is a the best candidate either, but it just eliminates Obama.
Report thisBy Anthony Look, November 4, 2008 at 6:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Being born Latin and as a reformed Catholic, I have noticed that when the Pope (or its Bishops or Priests) make dogmatic church mandated statements about voting; the flock just rolls their eyes. Latin’s believe in God; but, we put very little faith in our human ministers. We Latin’s have a tradition of knowing when politicians and clergy are giving us a bunch of self serving bull.
Report thisA good example is the Catholic’s Church stand on the birth control pill. Despite the Church emphatically forbidding their use; the flock rolls their eyes and has for generations whole heartedly embraced birth control.
The blatant political desperate act of the Republicans and the Jesuit branch of the Catholic Church does not go unnoticed; it will just be predictably ignored.
This election is about the economy; this is not about a female giving up the gestational rights of one’s own body to the government.
Political propaganda by the clergy on news shows (in particular FOX) did more to give the church an image of a threatening nature, than one of nurturing life.
It had an effect in particular with Catholic youth of placing the Church in the pockets of the Republicans.
They have just lost another generation with this move.
A better approach would have been one of the Church to have advocated working with whom ever won to lessen the number of abortions and increasing help for adoptions.
Latins are not the mass sheep that these Jesuits clergy arrogantly still feel they can dictate to.
I do think the opposite affect actually was achieved, less votes for the Republicans and less Catholic youths respecting the Catholic Church.
By ocjim, November 3, 2008 at 4:38 pm Link to this comment
Since I am a practicing Catholic, I know fellow-parishioners who would not think of voting for a pro-abortion candidate. There are many Catholics who share this view, following the precepts of church leaders, including Pope Benedict, who last year supported the decision by Mexico’s bishops to excommunicate politicians who had voted to legalize abortion in the first trimester.
I too am against abortion, but it is not an issue that could have prompted me to vote, in the past, for an extremely tainted George W. Bush or a cynical me-first politician like John McCain now.
Both represent the worst of neo-conservative ideology, an ideology that has brought us to the brink of economic Armageddon, deceived us into an unjust and endless war, and turned its back on the needs of the many, using the hoax of trickle-down economics.
I cannot be suckered into accepting candidates on the basis of one professed issue, especially when it is an insincere, cynical ploy for votes. If you are acquainted with most issues, you would find that recent conservative policy speaks only for the rich. It is bigoted, duplicitous, and especially under Bush, fraught with corruption and cynicism.
If you really analyze abortion as a right-to-life issue, the proclaimed pro-life party has never demonstrated much if any impact on abortion. A president’s primary weapon is the judicial appointment.
Republican appointments of “strict-constructionist” federal judges since Ronald Reagan owe more to protecting property rights than overturning abortion rights. No progress in stopping abortion has resulted. In effect, court rulings have done more to restrict human rights and victimize the poor than stop abortion.
In a nutshell, the recent Republican party’s overall policies have been responsible for taking more unnecessary lives in war, impoverishing and imperiling life because of economic policy, and lowering the quality of life for the poor through its social policy. For want of health care coverage, for example, some 18,000 Americans die per year.
Thus it is nothing less than a cruel hoax to use religion to exhort anyone to vote for an unprincipled McCain and a truth-challenged dolt like Palin.
Report thisBy Opening Eyes, November 3, 2008 at 3:52 pm Link to this comment
Many thoughtful Catholics are voting for Obama. My husband and I are such. There are voter pamphlets circulated to Catholics that suggest they don’t vote for someone based on one issue only.
Report thisThis would entail understanding the national security risks associated with Palin as a choice.
One of our priests would not listen to me when I told him about Palin’s dewitching by Paster Muthee and her remarks afterwards that she was amazed about how he prayed that the Lord should make a way for her and her ambitions. “And he did that without even knowing what my plans were!”
I would rather not be Catholic if I were forced to chose between voting for McCain/Palin or facing excommunication. There are plenty of more reasonable faith groups out there, and many Latinos have already been driven in that direction.
By Nyla, November 3, 2008 at 1:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
yeah, and apparently catholics can’t have sex before marriage. How’s that workin’ out? The hombres and mujeres that I know have converted from Clinton to Obama, not Clinton to McCain.
Report thisBy SouthernYankee, November 3, 2008 at 1:56 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
As a catholic am offended by the road the church has taken. I very seldom go to church any more. I pray every night and say my rosary every day. Any church that mixes in politics should lose their exempt ID. The church I grew up in worried about the poor people and helping them find a better life. I stopped contributing money to them. I only give to St Jude Hospital and Liberal causes. My church I grew up in died when the met up with the extreme right wing nuts. I don’t regonize this church and that new Pope whom I can’t stand..
Report thisBy Spiritgirl, November 3, 2008 at 1:04 pm Link to this comment
The church wow, more wars have been fought in the name of religion than we want to know. However, where were these people, and why did they not raise their voices when the priests were committing pedophilia! Instead of moving them to other church’s they should have used some of that righteous indignation to stop them! Gee, nothing like an inquisition to get the blood moving, eh!
For all of those that are so right to life: I believe in life to, however, many on the right have aborted education, many on the right have aborted affordable daycare, many on the right have aborted the concept of equal pay for equal work, many on the right have aborted the concept of community preferring individuality! No, those on the right have aborted - from society, to an anti-intellectual position that they will fight to maintain!
Report thisBy skulz fontaine, November 3, 2008 at 12:07 pm Link to this comment
Nine out of ten Catholic Bishops, retired or otherwise, and fully eight out of ten condemned “pedophile” priests ‘spiritually’ endorse Tomas de Torquemada for President. Nothing says “free and fair” elections like brass-hole Catholic “Princes of the Church” sticking their noses into affairs that are comprehensively none of their freaking business. Can the Catholic Princes say “Inquisition?” How about it Pope-a-Dope, burn any heretics or Jews lately?
Report thisBy alicia, November 3, 2008 at 8:02 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What else can one do? Nothing sticks to Obama because everyone is blinded by the cult of personality and Hollywood image. Id rather know the facts about Obama NOW..not when he has all the power.Besides, I wouldnt trust a Republican who had BOUGHT an election, why would I trust a democrat that had done the same? If Obama loses this, hes going to be paying back Oprah for a long time.
Report thisMcCain/Palin 08
By Hulk2008, November 3, 2008 at 8:02 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Those efforts to suppress Catholic votes for Obama are all across the country. Priests and bishops nationwide are publishing cautionary tomes and preaching similar messages quoting passages from the Catholic Catechism.
Report thisI spoke to a local priest about this and pointed out that ALL the Republicans on our slate were strongly pro-preemptive war, noting that the Catechism forbids voting for all who support abortion, war, euthenasia, and other anti-life trends, including oppression of the poor. Basically I said we have NO one to vote for using those principles. His reply: “We do have a difficult task.”
Being a lifelong Catholic, I am dismayed at the way the Church hierarchy has narrowed its views and also left the poor behind - the Church that used to be the champion of minorities and the poverty-stricken has left them once again for the powerful and wealthy. What happened to those Vatican II clergy who encouraged personal involvement, personal conscience, personal freedom to choose rather than blindly following by rote ? We need another Roncalli (John XXIII) to emerge.
By Erich Vieth, November 3, 2008 at 7:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
There are numerous reasons why anti-abortion Catholics should nonetheless vote for Barack Obama. Many of those reasons have been detailed here: “Why practicing Catholics should vote for Barack Obama, not for John McCain”
Report thishttp://dangerousintersection.org/2008/09/07/why-practicing-catholics-should-vote-for-barack-obama-not-for-john-mccain/
By Jim Yell, November 3, 2008 at 6:34 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I have always found American Catholics to be average Americans and whatever the rigid pronouncements from the Vatican they usually understand the difference between what is allowed in a system that protects all of its citizens in their right of belief or disbelief. On the average they are probably more balanced than protestants, but with the renewed move to force fundamentlism on Catholics by the Pope, it should be a concern for the rest of us.
Yes I believe the churches should start paying their taxes and those that are being run for huge profits and at the same time interfering in the functioning of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, these should certainly be identified and taxed.
Report thisBy Pacrat, November 3, 2008 at 5:44 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Who does this ignorant creep think he is? Since when do bishops influence thinking - catholic or otherwise? Get this old man back to his nursing home before he hurts himself!
Report thisBy Jaded Prole, November 3, 2008 at 4:29 am Link to this comment
Time to start taxing these institutions. They have defied the requirements of non-profit status too long by direct engagement in support of particular politicians and legislation.
Report thisBy thebeerdoctor, November 3, 2008 at 3:50 am Link to this comment
Proof that the political kitchen sink includes rosary beads.
Report thisBy middlepath, November 3, 2008 at 12:02 am Link to this comment
The catholic church has never fostered independent or critical thinking amongst it’s flock of sheep. To do so would leave those in the church hierarchy powerless. I’m glad I left the catholic church when I was nineteen.
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