Catholic U.S. Lawmakers Call for Direct Repudiation

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Fifty Catholic members of Congress have written Pope Benedict XVI, asking him to directly reject the views of British-born Bishop Richard Williamson, who has denied the scale of the Holocaust. Benedict last week reinstated Williamson and three other bishops who have rejected the church’s teachings from the second Vatican Council. An excerpt:

“We understand that . . . you do not share in his views. And we welcome your recent statement expressing ‘full and indisputable solidarity’ with the Jewish people. But this is too sensitive an issue to be handled without a direct repudiation of Bishop Williamson’s views. As a spiritual leader and the head of the Catholic Church, we believe it is vital that you publicly state your unequivocal position on this matter so that it is clear where the Church stands on one of the most consequential events of the 20th century. To neglect to do so is to allow others to portray it as they wish and impede the progress made over so many years toward harmony and reconciliation.”

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003324.html
 
There are Catholic congress members? Where are they when it comes to the abortion issue?
 
I don’t necessarily think it’s “supreme arrogance,” but I do think it is not within their role as U.S. lawmakers to have anything to do with this issue – particularly as it is a religious issue, not a secular one (regardless of the fact there are secular ramifications).

Congress should have its hands full right now, with U.S. laws.

If individual Jewish and/or Catholic members of Congress, wish to write letters to the Pope as private citizens expressing personal views, I wouldn’t find that supreme arrogance, either.

In reply to the above, modern reproductive issues have nothing to do with historical Holocaust facts. One does not depend on the other.

I’m hardly a sinless person, yet I have written to the pope (not about either of those issues!). One need not be perfect to express an opinion to a religious leader.
 
Terrysa,

According to the following post over at Fr. Z’s blog – all are democrat. Hmmmm…

Of the 47 signers, here is the breakdown:

100% NARAL Rating – 26
80% NARAL Rating – 1
45% NARAL Rating – 2
0% NARAL Rating – 3

Those not in congress long enough to get a rating – 15

All are Democrats

**Comment by Most Excellent Sledgehammer — 2 February 2009 **
 
Elizabeth502 said:
I don’t necessarily think it’s “supreme arrogance,” but I do think it is not within their role as U.S. lawmakers to have anything to do with this issue – particularly as it is a religious issue, not a secular one (regardless of the fact there are secular ramifications).

Congress should have its hands full right now, with U.S. laws.

If individual Jewish and/or Catholic members of Congress, wish to write letters to the Pope as private citizens expressing personal views, I wouldn’t find that supreme arrogance, either.

In reply to the above, modern reproductive issues have nothing to do with historical Holocaust facts. One does not depend on the other.

I’m hardly a sinless person, yet I have written to the pope (not about either of those issues!). One need not be perfect to express an opinion to a religious leader.
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Many of the Congressmen support abortion and contracpetives and stand against Church teachings, yet they have the arrogance to preach to the Pope.
 
Kevirish01 said:
Terrysa,

According to the following post over at Fr. Z’s blog – all are democrat. Hmmmm…

Of the 47 signers, here is the breakdown:

100% NARAL Rating – 26
80% NARAL Rating – 1
45% NARAL Rating – 2
0% NARAL Rating – 3

Those not in congress long enough to get a rating – 15

All are Democrats

**Comment by Most Excellent Sledgehammer — 2 February 2009 **
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Very illuminating.
 
terrysa said:
There are Catholic congress members? Where are they when it comes to the abortion issue?
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You got that right-showed a lot of chutzpah [gall] to tell the Holy Father what to do!

Idiots…clean up your own house first, you guys!
 
Again, folks, I don’t consider it “preaching.” Nor do I believe that sinners cannot appeal to the Pope. Anyone should be able to express a private opinion, but the important points are these, i.m.o:

(1) positions on Williamson and his inaccurate statements are not the province of the role of U.S. lawmakers, who should be way too busy to get involved in matters of religious jurisdiction and public relations. Nevertheless, they have a right to appeal in a private role.

(2) I agree that opinions of persons whom the Pope would respect as moral authorities would undoubtedly be better received than the opinions of those holding controversial views on other matters. That’s the practical effect, however, and does not strip an individual of registering an opinion on one matter even while opposing on a different matter. It’s up to the Pope, not to any of us, to determine whether he wants to listen & consider such opinions. It’s not up to us to censure their opportunity to communicate with the Pope in the first place. He’s a big boy; he can make his own decisions, judge the merits of a statement on his own terms.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
Again, folks, I don’t consider it “preaching.” Nor do I believe that sinners cannot appeal to the Pope. Anyone should be able to express a private opinion, but the important points are these, i.m.o:

(1) positions on Williamson and his inaccurate statements are not the province of the role of U.S. lawmakers, who should be way too busy to get involved in matters of religious jurisdiction and public relations. Nevertheless, they have a right to appeal in a private role.

(2) I agree that opinions of persons whom the Pope would respect as moral authorities would undoubtedly be better received than the opinions of those holding controversial views on other matters. That’s the practical effect, however, and does not strip an individual of registering an opinion on one matter even while opposing on a different matter. It’s up to the Pope, not to any of us, to determine whether he wants to listen & consider such opinions. It’s not up to us to censure their opportunity to communicate with the Pope in the first place. He’s a big boy; he can make his own decisions, judge the merits of a statement on his own terms.
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It is NOT your task to preach to or lecture anyone here. Most of the congressmen signing that letter are in complete rejection of core teachings of the faith, they are not just weak Catholics, they are people who have publicly opposed Catholic teachings and now they have the arrogance to preach to the Pope. That is like a active murderer telling someone “Thou shall not kill.” Hypocrisy and arrogance run amok. Their letter has obvious inaccuracies in it and they do not have the full story, yet they are trying to stand above the Pope and lecture him.
 
irishpatrick said:
It is NOT your task to preach to or lecture anyone here. Most of the congressmen signing that letter are in complete rejection of core teachings of the faith, they are not just weak Catholics, they are people who have publicly opposed Catholic teachings and now they have the arrogance to preach to the Pope. That is like a active murderer telling someone “Thou shall not kill.” Hypocrisy and arrogance run amok. Their letter has obvious inaccuracies in it and they do not have the full story, yet they are trying to stand above the Pope and lecture him.
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Whatever your opinion of the joint letter of the congressmen (and note that I have already registered my own disapproval of that letter). I merely pointed out that it is not our business who writes to the Pope, or how the Pope receives such communications. That is arrogance, actually. There is way too much concern on CAF about controlling the flow of communication from the pens and lips of persons that any particular CAF poster disapproves of, and of deciding who has the “right” to register an opinion on anything, whether someone or ones should collectively prevent certain people from speaking or writing. From a practical standpoint, as I stated above, I agree with the position that a person whom a leader (of anything) does not respect, is not likely to be as well-received as someone whose known opinions that person does respect. However, the Pope can make up his own mind and doesn’t need CAF posters to decide that persons of questionable moral views should be somehow prevented from communicating with the Pope. The Vatican can take care of itself.

I think your reply was rude and uncalled for. I notice this a lot when anyone on CAF dares not to join a virtual lynch-mob against unpopular persons. My (negative!) opinion of the congressional letter is as irrelevant as anyone else’s is – when it comes to its reception by the Pope, which is none of our business. I’m sorry that you choose to attack me for pointing this out.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
Whatever your opinion of the joint letter of the congressmen (and note that I have already registered my own disapproval of that letter). I merely pointed out that it is not our business who writes to the Pope, or how the Pope receives such communications. That is arrogance, actually. There is way too much concern on CAF about controlling the flow of communication from the pens and lips of persons that any particular CAF poster disapproves of, and of deciding who has the “right” to register an opinion on anything, whether someone or ones should collectively prevent certain people from speaking or writing. From a practical standpoint, as I stated above, I agree with the position that a person whom a leader (of anything) does not respect, is not likely to be as well-received as someone whose known opinions that person does respect. However, the Pope can make up his own mind and doesn’t need CAF posters to decide that persons of questionable moral views should be somehow prevented from communicating with the Pope. The Vatican can take care of itself.

I think your reply was rude and uncalled for. I notice this a lot when anyone on CAF dares not to join a virtual lynch-mob against unpopular persons. My (negative!) opinion of the congressional letter is as irrelevant as anyone else’s is – when it comes to its reception by the Pope, which is none of our business. I’m sorry that you choose to attack me for pointing this out.
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You too are entitled to your opinion, though I found your previous post to be incredibly rude.
 
irishpatrick said:
You too are entitled to your opinion, though I found your previous post to be incredibly rude.
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And you’re obviously entitled to your own opinion, but from my actual words and from the logical facts as I’ve laid them out, I think your reaction is inappropriate and unfortunate. CAF posters often lose all self-control and proportion when discussing anything related to politicians and reproductive issues. This is one of many examples of this.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
And you’re obviously entitled to your own opinion, but from my actual words and from the logical facts as I’ve laid them out, I think your reaction is inappropriate and unfortunate. CAF posters often lose all self-control and proportion when discussing anything related to politicians and reproductive issues. This is one of many examples of this.
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This is an over-the-top and completely unfair reaction. Please calm down. People on CAF are good Catholics who simply want to see those Congressmen turn back to the faith. They spit on the faith, trash it in public, and now they send a letter to the Pope trying to get him to come in line with their thinking…that is pure hypocrisy and arrogance.

No-one here is saying those people do not have a right to communicate with the Pope, they do. Yet, trying to tell the Pope what to do, while living in such a state of near excommunication is utterly ridiculous. It is exactly that sort of arrogance and hypocrisy that is the reason abortion is legal…people thinking they know better then the Pope.

We are friends, not enemies. 🙂
 
The supplied link does not name the Catholic Lawmakers. A quick web search did not bring up the names, either.

Anyone know a source?

I am sure some of my California representatives must be among the signers.
 
Another_Mary said:
The supplied link does not name the Catholic Lawmakers. A quick web search did not bring up the names, either.

Anyone know a source?

I am sure some of my California representatives must be among the signers.
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I do not know the list, yet none of them were Republicans.
 
Are these the same lawmakers that say they are faithful catholics but support things that Holy Mother Church teaches against?🤷
 
If our Catholics in name only lawmakers understood ANYTHING about the Catholic Church, they might realize the Pope can’t do anything about it.

Say for example, that Cardinal Williamson went to Pope Benedict and confessed & repented of this sin? Pope Benedict would be bound by the seal of Confession not to discuss it.

Of course, our Catholic lawmakers don’t understand anything about Church teaching. This coming from lawmakers who embrace Robert Byrd-an ex KKK member.
 
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