Confusion as Spokane bishop asks priests not to join 40 Days for Life vigils

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Confusion as Spokane bishop asks priests not to join 40 Days for Life vigils

lifesitenews.com/news/confusion-as-spokane-bishop-asks-priests-not-to-join-40-days-for-life-vigil

Since when is praying anywhere against the Majesterium of the Church ?

Bishops are not immune to sin, or supporting wrong causes. Pray for them.

This Bishop has much work to do regarding educating Catholics in his Diocese since some voted for euthanasia.
blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/05/washington-passes-initiative-1000-legalizing-physician-assisted-suicide/
 
My suggestion is that all Pro-Life efforts in Spokane, WA, flash mob outside of their diocese cathedral for all their 40 day life vigil. The church needs these prayers more than the abortion clinics, as the church is the moral leadership gone awry in these secular times.
 
This is just an excuse for some members of the adminstrative side of the diocese to distance themselves from the pro-life position in advance of the elections.

I am incredibly sad that any Bishop, priest or deacon would work to discourage prayer against abortion or specifically against the 40 days for life campaign. 😦
 
This move does seem hard to understand. Perhaps he was misinformed about what exactly these 40 Days for Life vigils entail.
 
The biggest confusion that I have with this story is whether or not one as a Catholic from the Diocese of Spokane is duty bound to honour the wishes of the Bishop in this case, as a matter of obedience. I have the same issue in my local parish. Around election time, our parish priests have discouraged us from demonstrating across the street with our Vote Pro-Life signs. Not endorsing a named political candidate or office being sought, but a generic Vote Pro-Life sign or other message about the call to make abortion illegal. I feel duty bound NOT to obey their wishes, especially due to the lack of Pro-Life messages coming from the pulpit about voting Pro-Life. Fortunately, I have never heard it as a “Do Not” but more of a request.
 
wynnejj said:
The biggest confusion that I have with this story is whether or not one as a Catholic from the Diocese of Spokane is duty bound to honour the wishes of the Bishop in this case, as a matter of obedience. I have the same issue in my local parish. Around election time, our parish priests have discouraged us from demonstrating across the street with our Vote Pro-Life signs. Not endorsing a named political candidate or office being sought, but a generic Vote Pro-Life sign or other message about the call to make abortion illegal. I feel duty bound NOT to obey their wishes, especially due to the lack of Pro-Life messages coming from the pulpit about voting Pro-Life. Fortunately, I have never heard it as a “Do Not” but more of a request.
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The USCCB seems totally divided on political issues and Catholics duty to participate in them. Archbishop Chaput seems to be on a totally different plane. The USCCB needs to get their act together and get in conformance with the magisterium.

First the issue with Father Pavone and now this…
 
wynnejj said:
The biggest confusion that I have with this story is whether or not one as a Catholic from the Diocese of Spokane is duty bound to honour the wishes of the Bishop in this case, as a matter of obedience. I have the same issue in my local parish. Around election time, our parish priests have discouraged us from demonstrating across the street with our Vote Pro-Life signs. Not endorsing a named political candidate or office being sought, but a generic Vote Pro-Life sign or other message about the call to make abortion illegal. I feel duty bound NOT to obey their wishes, especially due to the lack of Pro-Life messages coming from the pulpit about voting Pro-Life. Fortunately, I have never heard it as a “Do Not” but more of a request.
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As far as I can tell, Bishop Cupich has issued no public statement on this that would bind all Catholic faithful not to participate in such pro-life activities.

It appears the basis for the story is information leaked to the media from some of the priests and seminarians in the diocese. As of right now, it seems to me that the bishop has asked his priests to do this (or rather not do this). As they have made a promise of obedience to him, they really don’t have any wiggle room in that regard.

But unless the bishop issues a statement which makes clear he is asking this of all his flock, then I don’t see why a Catholic could not participate in such efforts.
 
Abortion and Public Policy — by Blase J. Cupich | September 11, 2006
americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=4947
Spero News also reports on the matter:
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…cannot pray outside of Planned Parenthood, promote or organize peaceful protest outside Planned Parenthood in their parishes (naming 40 Days for Life specifically), or allow pro-life material to be distributed in their parishes unless it is published by the Washington State Conference of Catholic Bishops or the USCCB (which does support 40 Days for Life). “The reason he gave for his decision is that he does not want his priests being identified with ‘extreme’ pro-life persons”[v] such as those who “demonstrate with large, graphic photos of aborted babies.”[vi]
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See: tiny.cc/5s54q
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gakroeger said:
I always have trouble with people who call prayer outside of abortion mills “extreme”. What in the world does they believe abortion is?

This sounds like a good place to ask “What would Jesus do”? Some how I don’t think he would avoid abortion mills for fear of being “extreme”.
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One wonders if those who seek social justice for the poor consider as ‘extreme’ the pictures of emaciated young children with distended bellies. No question that such pictures are very disturbing as are the pictures of aborted babies. Does one not associate with those in prayer to end hunger because some advocates for the poor show disturbing pictures of poor, malnourished children?
 
wynnejj said:
One wonders if those who seek social justice for the poor consider as ‘extreme’ the pictures of emaciated young children with distended bellies. No question that such pictures are very disturbing as are the pictures of aborted babies. Does one not associate with those in prayer to end hunger because some advocates for the poor show disturbing pictures of poor, malnourished children?
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One can make a reasonable argument against the graphic images. My bishop here had a great concern that these poor babies were being used as sideshows or objects contrary to their inherent dignity.
 
As a Spokane Catholic, I am shocked! I could see the problem if this was a loud protest. However, as I understand it, the 40 days for life is a prayerful, quiet protest. Don’t understand.
 
Dave_Noonan said:
I’m wondering whether the two are somehow related.
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Some non-canonical reactions to Fr. Pavone’s latest statement
In the Light of the Law ^ | 9/16/11 | Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD

Read all of both articles. This is looking worse and worse as time goes on.

canonlawblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-non-canonical-reactions-to-fr.html

The consolation is that there are things I can do to stop this holocaust…

Noooo, the consolation of a priest (well, of every Christian, but especially of every priest) is God. One can’t just continue, as you seem to do time after time, blowing past such key points.

I’m sitting here in Amarillo right now because I’m a faithful and obedient priest, as I promised to be long ago.

Golly, is that supposed to make Amarillo Catholics feel more loved? Seriously, your remarks about the Church in Amarillo have never been very gracious, and now their parishes face offensive picketing by a group that you advise and endorse. I don’t see what Amarillo Catholics have done to deserve such mean treatment. I hope you will disavow that action proposed in your behalf very soon.

canonlawblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/cbrs-plans-to-aggravate-fr-pavones.html

CBR’s plans to aggravate Fr. Pavone’s problems
A group called “The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform” has decided to intervene in behalf of Fr. Pavone. I know little about CBR, but if their goal is to aggravate the Zurek-Pavone dispute, they could hardly have chosen a better array of inflammatory, indeed outrageous, methods.

“Until Bishop Zurek releases Fr. Pavone from what amounts from [sic] ecclesiastical house arrest,” proclaims a press release from CBR, its activists, carrying large color photos of aborted babies, will soon picket many Amarillo Catholic parishes and at least one Catholic middle and high school. CBR also plans to launch “a fleet of large billboard trucks bearing signs which will depict aborted babies” and has arranged for “aircraft towing large aerial billboards which will also bear aborted baby imagery and exhortational text messages.” All of this apparently meets CBR’s definition of “respectfully asking” Zurek to “FREE FR. FRANK!” and allow Pavone to resume his pro-life work outside the Diocese of Amarillo.

Really. I’m not kidding.

About the only doff of the cap to sanity I see in CBR’s announcement is its plan to post “parental warning signs…as a courtesy near targeted churches, to caution parents of small children that they may wish to attend Mass elsewhere.”

Riiiiiight, like parents are supposed to arrive at church on Sunday morning with a carload of kids and, rather than see them horrified by pictures of dead babies, pile everybody back in the car and drive to the next parish (what time is Mass there, dear?), arrive and, Great Scot!, there’s a CBR picket here too!, oh for crying out loud!, where’s the next parish, honey? etc., etc. Meanwhile, just what are parents of students at Holy Cross Academy supposed to do? Drop their kids off at the next school?

Father Pavone is a board member of CBR.
 
Miriam1947 said:
Some non-canonical reactions to Fr. Pavone’s latest statement
In the Light of the Law ^ | 9/16/11 | Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD

Read all of both articles. This is looking worse and worse as time goes on.

canonlawblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-non-canonical-reactions-to-fr.html

The consolation is that there are things I can do to stop this holocaust…

Noooo, the consolation of a priest (well, of every Christian, but especially of every priest) is God. One can’t just continue, as you seem to do time after time, blowing past such key points.

I’m sitting here in Amarillo right now because I’m a faithful and obedient priest, as I promised to be long ago.

Golly, is that supposed to make Amarillo Catholics feel more loved? Seriously, your remarks about the Church in Amarillo have never been very gracious, and now their parishes face offensive picketing by a group that you advise and endorse. I don’t see what Amarillo Catholics have done to deserve such mean treatment. I hope you will disavow that action proposed in your behalf very soon.

canonlawblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/cbrs-plans-to-aggravate-fr-pavones.html

CBR’s plans to aggravate Fr. Pavone’s problems
A group called “The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform” has decided to intervene in behalf of Fr. Pavone. I know little about CBR, but if their goal is to aggravate the Zurek-Pavone dispute, they could hardly have chosen a better array of inflammatory, indeed outrageous, methods.

“Until Bishop Zurek releases Fr. Pavone from what amounts from [sic] ecclesiastical house arrest,” proclaims a press release from CBR, its activists, carrying large color photos of aborted babies, will soon picket many Amarillo Catholic parishes and at least one Catholic middle and high school. CBR also plans to launch “a fleet of large billboard trucks bearing signs which will depict aborted babies” and has arranged for “aircraft towing large aerial billboards which will also bear aborted baby imagery and exhortational text messages.” All of this apparently meets CBR’s definition of “respectfully asking” Zurek to “FREE FR. FRANK!” and allow Pavone to resume his pro-life work outside the Diocese of Amarillo.

Really. I’m not kidding.

About the only doff of the cap to sanity I see in CBR’s announcement is its plan to post “parental warning signs…as a courtesy near targeted churches, to caution parents of small children that they may wish to attend Mass elsewhere.”

Riiiiiight, like parents are supposed to arrive at church on Sunday morning with a carload of kids and, rather than see them horrified by pictures of dead babies, pile everybody back in the car and drive to the next parish (what time is Mass there, dear?), arrive and, Great Scot!, there’s a CBR picket here too!, oh for crying out loud!, where’s the next parish, honey? etc., etc. Meanwhile, just what are parents of students at Holy Cross Academy supposed to do? Drop their kids off at the next school?

Father Pavone is a board member of CBR.
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This blogger has obviously come down on the side opposing Father Pavone. I for one do not want to draw such hasty conclusions. Father Pavone’s work has helped compensate for the lack of homilies providing Catholic teaching on contraception and abortion to our young in many Churches in the world. I am sure that the devil is smiling at Father Pavone’s problems and the many who are ready to bring him down.

IMHO, the Church needs some other method of keeping celebrity priest at bay. Some USCCB or Vatican bishop that they report to rather than a local Bishop who has little knowledge or control over them. This may have also prevented the disgrace of another highly visible priest in Father Corapi. There is certainly the danger of them becoming too worldly with their celebrity and financial independence.

All of this criticism of graphic images of aborted babies, has me perplexed. How insignificant is pictures of aborted babies versus the actual act of abortion. As Father Pavone has often said America will not condemn abortion until it sees abortion. Too many people including Catholics are finding it too easy to look the other way when it comes to the savagery of abortion.
 
gakroeger said:
This blogger has obviously come down on the side opposing Father Pavone.
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Yet, Miriam illustrates the effect that the CBR’s response to Father Frank Pavone’s situation has on the sensibilities of many Catholics. There’s a time & place for everything. Graphic pictures of aborted babies at universities where the next generation of policy makers are being created is what the great work of CBR is about. Graphic pictures at other venues such as parishes on Sundays in large displays with no way to keep the kids away borders on public obscenity. It is this sense of obscenity when it comes to free speech that must be respected and not become part of the playbook for those who are fighting for just causes.

The bishop of Spokane may indeed have a legitimate concern for the misrepresentation of priests & seminarians as advocating obscenity, for example, if he felt that those who support the use of large displays of aborted babies, individually or organized group, would join the 40 Days for Life ranks.

In my opinion though, the need to have clergy supporting pro-life efforts in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil is more important than concern for religious being associated with those who display the inconvenient truth of abortion. After all, the abortion clinic is the venue where these atrocities occur!!!
 
ANNE_2 said:
Confusion as Spokane bishop asks priests not to join 40 Days for Life vigils

lifesitenews.com/news/confusion-as-spokane-bishop-asks-priests-not-to-join-40-days-for-life-vigil

Since when is praying anywhere against the Majesterium of the Church ?

Bishops are not immune to sin, or supporting wrong causes. Pray for them.

This Bishop has much work to do regarding educating Catholics in his Diocese since some voted for euthanasia.
blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/05/washington-passes-initiative-1000-legalizing-physician-assisted-suicide/
Click to expand...
I dont know why we have to go in front of abortion clinics to make an statement. We must pray to God and not be show offs to people. That is my opinion.

Any way this is not as bad as what happened in Florida in which Someone in the Diocese called the police to Catholics pro lifers who put panphlets on the perishoners cars.

This is a mission for the leaders of the Church to do by educating Catholics and call upon Catholics who supports the evils in the world.
 
wynnejj said:
Yet, Miriam illustrates the effect that the CBR’s response to Father Frank Pavone’s situation has on the sensibilities of many Catholics. There’s a time & place for everything. Graphic pictures of aborted babies at universities where the next generation of policy makers are being created is what the great work of CBR is about. Graphic pictures at other venues such as parishes on Sundays in large displays with no way to keep the kids away borders on public obscenity. It is this sense of obscenity when it comes to free speech that must be respected and not become part of the playbook for those who are fighting for just causes.

The bishop of Spokane may indeed have a legitimate concern for the misrepresentation of priests & seminarians as advocating obscenity, for example, if he felt that those who support the use of large displays of aborted babies, individually or organized group, would join the 40 Days for Life ranks.

In my opinion though, the need to have clergy supporting pro-life efforts in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil is more important than concern for religious being associated with those who display the inconvenient truth of abortion. After all, the abortion clinic is the venue where these atrocities occur!!!
Click to expand...
True, however, many Catholics need to have their sensibilities awakened. I would venture a guess that the same Catholics that are concerned about their children seeing images of aborted babies are not concerned about the images they see on TV everyday and in reality it is not their children they are concerned about but don’t want to be reminded themselves of their responsiblity to fight against abortion and all evil in our society.
 
gakroeger said:
True, however, many Catholics need to have their sensibilities awakened. I would venture a guess that the same Catholics that are concerned about their children seeing images of aborted babies are not concerned about the images they see on TV everyday and in reality it is not their children they are concerned about but don’t want to be reminded themselves of their responsiblity to fight against abortion and all evil in our society.
Click to expand...
How many active pro-life psychiatrists does it take to change a dead pro-life light bulb?
Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.
 
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