Having been the target of such remarks, I agree with you, Prodigal Son1. I have been told that, by virtue of my vote, I am a sinner–a mortal sinner. And not just once, but a number of times. It seems like many of the posters in CAF know the hearts of those who voted for President Obama. They have assumed that because of our vote we are “pro-abortion” or “pro-death” or “in league with Satan” and the “baby killer”. I think the most disturbing part of this is that the finger-pointers actually seem to enjoy doing the pointing. Why, I don’t know. All that I can say is to look to your own hearts before Someone starts writing **your ** sins in the sand.
We do have those ready to ‘cast the first stone’, while spinning what posters say, playing ‘coy’, antagonizing, and/or using ad hominems; none of which shows honesty in a discussion.
Some will point out a few men of the Church, placing them above other men of the Church. I’ve pointed out that there are over 170 Bishops in the US, yet it doesn’t seem 10% spoke out. Then there’s the article that states:
Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington, cites two reasons for the bishops’ decision not to revise the text. “First, they think their 2007 statement is a balanced, intelligent approach, which is faithful to Catholic teaching. Remember, it passed overwhelmingly,” Reese said. “Second, they did not want a bloody decisive debate exposing their disagreement with a minority of bishops who wanted a stronger attack on pro-choice Democrats.
If one doesn’t want to give credibility to the priest, they have to ignore other prominent men of the Church.
In 2008, Charles Chaput, then archbishop of Denver, complained in an interview that the document was “not very clear” regarding the necessity of not voting for pro-choice candidates. “We either ought to get rid of it, or say things much clearer,” said Chaput, who now heads the Philadelphia archdiocese.
During the 2008 election season, Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., interrupted a parish meeting where “Faithful Citizenship” was being discussed and claimed the document had no standing in his diocese. Martino, who has since retired, issued his own pastoral letter on voting in which he foreclosed the possibility of anyone voting for a pro-choice candidate.
Raymond Burke, archbishop of St. Louis until mid-2008 and now a cardinal leading the Vatican’ chief canonical court, agreed that “Faithful Citizenship” “led to confusion” among Catholics. “While it stated that the issue of life was the first and most important issue, it went on in some specific areas to say ‘but there are other issues’ that are of comparable importance without making necessary distinctions,” Burke told an interviewer in 2009.
When forming a faith formed conscience, the Catechism speaks of a conscience not well formed, through no fault of the individual. This is a perfect example, if indeed their consciences are not well formed.
I don’t understand why people continue to hold millions accountable, when it seems that it was a minority of Bishops spoke in favor of their own political view. Then they add in people did this with a malicious intent towards Church, and/or God, for partisan reasons. I see irony in the ‘partisan’ accusations.
I wonder why they deny clarification is needed, when there is evidence the authoritative men of the Church admit to confusion and not very clear? I would certainly think this would be enough to put their accusations in check.
It’s not right to pitch men of the Church against one another. There is ONE voice all Catholics answer too. It’s not a pick and choose thing.
