Bishop Tobin rejects inauguration invite over Raimondo's support of abortion rights + Poll

[JimG]

Most often, we preach through our actions, not with our words.

Jim

And what message would the Bishop’s attendance at an inauguration for a pro-abortion governor give to the public?

I think it would send the message that hey, if the bishop can support a pro-abortion governor, so can you and I. Being pro-abortion must not be so bad after all.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

And what message would the Bishop’s attendance at an inauguration for a pro-abortion governor give to the public?

I think it would send the message that hey, if the bishop can support a pro-abortion governor, so can you and I. Being pro-abortion must not be so bad after all.

It would show that he’s not a religious snob in that he respects the office of governor, despite his disagreement on issues of abortion.

He’s made more of a negative statement in the area of evangelization than positive.

The popes have met with US leaders despite their support for abortion, Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, etc.

The Pope’s have also sent letters of congratulations to the presents of nations int he free world upon their elections.

This isn’t the first time Bishop Tobin got himself into bad public relations by his actions, which never turned out for the good.

Jim

 

[boar2roar]

It would show that he’s not a religious snob in that he respects the office of governor, despite his disagreement on issues of abortion.

He’s made more of a negative statement in the area of evangelization than positive.

The popes have met with US leaders despite their support for abortion, Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, etc.

The Pope’s have also sent letters of congratulations to the presents of nations int he free world upon their elections.

This isn’t the first time Bishop Tobin got himself into bad public relations by his actions, which never turned out for the good.

Jim

Who cares about public relations with the media in the US? Its good that at least some people in the church stand up for pro life values.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I agree that it is nothing short of your duty as a Christian to visibly show opposition to abortion in your social life, by comments and actions. Too many don’t. We’re supposed to be pleasing God here, not man.

 

[Orogeny]

It would show that he’s not a religious snob in that he respects the office of governor, despite his disagreement on issues of abortion.

Whoa. Since the bishop did not accept the invitation, did you not just call him a religious snob?

Peace

Tim

 

[GUYMAN]

The bishop didn’t say that he wouldn’t have dinner with the new governor. He didn’t say that he wouldn’t speak to her. He said that he wouldn’t attend her inauguration because it is a bad thing that she is governor given her profession of faith that is totally discordant with her pro-abortion politics.

The whole “eating with prostitutes” argument might be the single-most overused one in contemporary Christian discourse. Just because our Lord entertained sinners doesn’t mean that we should fete their departures from the moral law, whether at parades or inaugurations. Christ didn’t shun sinners, but he didn’t stand outside brothels applauding every John that entered. Genuine outreach requires honesty and authenticity, and pretending that Raimondo’s election is a good thing is neither honest nor authentic

Well put

 

[SWolf]

Whoa. Since the bishop did not accept the invitation, did you not just call him a religious snob?

Peace

Tim

It seems many people are ignorant of how much a public appearance impacts perception.

If the Bishop came, it would show, tacitly, that while abortion is a bad thing, it’s not worth getting into a scuffle over.
Since the Bishop did not come, it shows Abortion is an intrinsic evil that will not be tolerated, even if it means hurt relations.

If the Bishop would be given the podium, he would have been wise to accept and give a fiery pro-life speech, like Mother Teresa did when she accepted the nobel Prize. He was not given a voice, they only wanted his presence.

The Pope met with Obama, IN PRIVATE. I have no problem with that. If the Pope went to Obama’s Inauguration, you bet that would be a problem.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Who cares about public relations with the media in the US? Its good that at least some people in the church stand up for pro life values.

It’s not public relations with the media, but with people.

The Church cares because she is trying to save souls, not drive them away.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Whoa. Since the bishop did not accept the invitation, did you not just call him a religious snob?

Peace

Tim

Yes.

He should follow the example of Cardinal Dolan who did not refuse to be on the same stage or at the same dinner which Obama or Como because of their pro-abortion positions.

Jim

 

[JimG]

It would show that he’s not a religious snob in that he respects the office of governor, despite his disagreement on issues of abortion.

He’s made more of a negative statement in the area of evangelization than positive.

The popes have met with US leaders despite their support for abortion, Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, etc.

The Pope’s have also sent letters of congratulations to the presents of nations int he free world upon their elections.

This isn’t the first time Bishop Tobin got himself into bad public relations by his actions, which never turned out for the good.

Jim

Having bad public relations with the pro-abortion establishment is not a bad thing. Making a token appearance would simply work to seemingly give approval to a pro-abortion governor by a Catholic bishop. That’s not good PR except for the pro-abortion establishment.

 

[SWolf]

Having bad public relations with the pro-abortion establishment is not a bad thing. Making a token appearance would simply work to seemingly give approval to a pro-abortion governor by a Catholic bishop. That’s not good PR except for the pro-abortion establishment.

Yup.

Attending this inauguration would be just about as absurd as attending the celebration of the anniversary of Roe vs Wade.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Having bad public relations with the pro-abortion establishment is not a bad thing. Making a token appearance would simply work to seemingly give approval to a pro-abortion governor by a Catholic bishop. That’s not good PR except for the pro-abortion establishment.

We’re not talking about an establishment here, but an individual, who was elected governor of RI.

His refusal to attend the inauguration and his reasons for it, are a poor way of witnessing Jesus Christ to sinners.

People know the Bishop’s position with regard to the governor elect’s position on abortion.

You can be sure Pope Francis will not refuse to meet with politicians who support abortion. In fact, he has already met with them.

Jim

 

[_Abyssinia]

We’re not talking about an establishment here, but an individual, who was elected governor of RI.

His refusal to attend the inauguration and his reasons for it, are a poor way of witnessing Jesus Christ to sinners.

People know the Bishop’s position with regard to the governor elect’s position on abortion.

You can be sure Pope Francis will not refuse to meet with politicians who support abortion. In fact, he has already met with them.

Jim

Don’t you think there is a difference between meeting people like Pope Francis does and participating / being being part of / however you would word it, part of an inauguration ceremony for a governor?

 

[Path_Finder]

Pope Francis has also refused to meet people. Russel Crowe, the Dalai Lama…

Pope Francis I, has refused to meet migrants who have taken sanctuary in a church in Rome. The pope is said to wish to avoid making a ‘political gesture’.

…They then made their way to the historic Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. They have asked the pope to grant them asylum in the Vatican, according to Roman Catholic newspaper The Tablet.

They are said to have sent a letter to the pope in which they said ‘We ask that you make yours the wounds that we carry, that you grant us as human beings who have been persecuted, harassed and humiliated by the Italian state, political asylum’.

workpermit.com/news/2014-06-24/pope-refuses-to-meet-migrants-in-roman-church

 

[Brandall]

It’s not public relations with the media, but with people.

The Church cares because she is trying to save souls, not drive them away.

Jim

So, rather than making a statement, that many have heard, about the evils of abortion and the support of abortion, the Bishop should have sucked it up and just gone and said nothing. OK

 

[PJD1987]

Lost in all of these stories is that sometimes, what is needed is tough love.



Good for the Bishop, good for the La Salle Academy!:clapping::yup:

As a RI resident and La Salle Academy Alumni this is good, however, La Salle removed Raimondo’s picture, and then succumbed to relentless pressure from the Providence Journal and removed ALL pictures from their Wall of Fame to avoid the controversy and kind of watered down their actions.

 

[Corki]

Do you think the Pope “refused” to meet the Dalai Lama?

non sequitor

1. the Dalai Lama is not Catholic so the Pope doesn’t have the same expectation that he will adhere to Catholic moral teaching.
2. the Bishop did not refuse to meet the new Governor. He is only choosing not to participate in the inauguration.

 

[zz912]

We’re not talking about an establishment here, but an individual, who was elected governor of RI.

His refusal to attend the inauguration and his reasons for it, are a poor way of witnessing Jesus Christ to sinners.

Jim

An individual, who is being installed as Governor, in an official capacity, at an official state function, at an organized public forum.

And witnessing to sinners exactly WHAT? Witnessing to them that our beliefs are negotiable and not worth any sacrifice at all?!?!

 

[zz912]

Cheers to the bishop for his proper action in refusing the invitation.

But then in the article we read this:

*The Rev. Edward L. Pieroni, pastor of St. Raymond Roman Catholic Church in Providence where Raimondo is a parishioner, will be one of six religious leaders from different faiths participating in the inauguration.

Raimondo will attend a 9 a.m. Mass at St. Raymond, on North Main Street, before the inauguration.

“It’s their regular weekday Mass,” said diocesan spokeswoman Karen Davis. The governor-elect “wanted to start the day with prayer at her parish.”*

Ummm, Bishop, you need to get your shepherds in line. Your own priest is COMPLETELY undermining the faith, and by your own words, is causing a problem and supporting grave moral evil. And Bishop, this priest is most likely committing sacrilege and profaning the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. (Fr. Pieroni personally knows the Gov-elect, and she is attending Mass. There is a high likelihood that she is receiving the Eucharist.) The Bishop should call this pastor into his office and read him the riot act and get him in line with the faith. And the Bishop should inquire if the Gov-elect is receiving Communion, and if so, forbid her from doing so.

We as Catholics need to BEEEEEEEE Catholic.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

There is a high likelihood that she is receiving the Eucharist.

More than a “high likelihood”, according to the Providence Journal photo caption she did:

Governor-elect Gina Raimondo, accompanied by her son, Tommy, returns to her pew after receiving communion at Mass at St. Raymond’s Church on the morning of her inaugural.

The Bishop should call this pastor into his office and read him the riot act and get him in line with the faith. And the Bishop should inquire if the Gov-elect is receiving Communion, and if so, forbid her from doing so.

Rhode Island has had many Catholic pro-abortion politicians. None of them have ever been publicly banned from receiving communion. Patrick Kennedy revealed that he had received a letter from Bishop Tobin requesting that he not receive communion, but Bishop Tobin was not the one to make that public. I am also unaware of Bishop Tobin ever telling his prebyterate to refuse a politician communion.