Pelosi calls Bishops "lobbyists"

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So if people complain enough to their representatives about wanting a law changed, does that make them lobbyists?

Aren’t the bishops just doing their jobs not even as bishops but what they believe to be right as responsible citizens?

Honestly considering how much money the Democrats and the Republicans take from lobby groups, I find her statement to be completely hypocritical. She must have a two by four stuck in her eye…

I wonder how much such money she has taken in the past or still continues to take? I mean considering that the corruption in the US Government is now pretty much an open secret, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was on the payroll of a couple special interest groups. Until she takes herself off that payroll, there’s no way I can take anything she says in this regard seriously.
 
She is a devout politician who lost her way. Someone send her a copy of the Catechism of Church. She needs to be brought to shame.
 
Alan55 said:
The U.S. bishops (USCCB) and other Catholic organizations are not only lobbyists, but also very active and effective lobbyists, seeking to influence legislation on the federal and state level.

religionnews.com/index.php?/gibson/2011/12/gods_lobbyists_fewer_than_reported_by_pew/
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120399270
huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/the-men-behind-the-war-on_n_1069406.html
democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1612449

You may hate Nancy Pelosi, but the fact remains that Pelosi is correct that the U.S. bishops lobby for legislation that conforms to pro-life and other moral positions espoused by Catholics.
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And what exactly is wrong with that? 🤷:confused: What do you expect them to do, stay completely out of politics so that the government can pass more and more immoral laws? Would you be opposed to the bishops lobbying against a law that forbade the practice of Catholicism? :confused:
 
  1. Pelosi has issues.
  2. Bishops should be lobbying a lot.
  3. All Christians should be lobbying if they can.
  4. Church leaders standing up for constitutional freedom of religion are no mere lobbyists.
  5. It takes an idiot and/or an abusive tyrant to deny conscience clauses.
 
Rep. Pelosi is correct, the US Bishops are lobbyists. However, I fail to see the problem with that…
 
NewEnglandPries said:
Rep. Pelosi is correct, the US Bishops are lobbyists. However, I fail to see the problem with that…
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Quick note here, if a person spends less than 25% of his work time lobbying, he is not a lobbyist by definition under federal law, and is thus not required to register with Congress.

We all know that she stretches the truth for political gain, but she is really lying in this case. She knows the rules.
 
bearer said:
Quick note here, if a person spends less than 25% of his work time lobbying, he is not a lobbyist by definition under federal law, and is thus not required to register with Congress.

We all know that she stretches the truth for political gain, but she is really lying in this case. She knows the rules.
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“Stretch” Pelosi stretching the truth. Imagine that.

:yawn:
 
I wonder what she considers the Pope to be then…

“The Big Lobbyist?”

Sad, Very Sad. Through the prayers of the Mother Of God, have mercy on us and save us.Amen. :(:rolleyes:
 
bearer said:
Quick note here, if a person spends less than 25% of his work time lobbying, he is not a lobbyist by definition under federal law, and is thus not required to register with Congress.

We all know that she stretches the truth for political gain, but she is really lying in this case. She knows the rules.
Click to expand...
Its not a stretch at all to call the USCCB a lobbyist group when it comes to interaction with the government. Yes, they spend less than 25% of their work lobbying but that doesn’t negate the fact that they do indeed act as a lobbyist group when interacting with members of government. I fail to see either Rep. Pelosi’s problem with that fact or in using the word lobbyist to describe the USCCB.
 
NewEnglandPries said:
Its not a stretch at all to call the USCCB a lobbyist group when it comes to interaction with the government. Yes, they spend less than 25% of their work lobbying but that doesn’t negate the fact that they do indeed act as a lobbyist group when interacting with members of government. I fail to see either Rep. Pelosi’s problem with that fact or in using the word lobbyist to describe the USCCB.
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I don’t think Pelosi has a problem with our Bishop’s lobbying, when they lobby in her favor. It’s only on when they lobby on the issues she disagrees with Church - abortion, gay marriage, etc. Then, the Bishops lobbying/teaching is an inconvenient truth.

The same could be said about conservatives. When the Bishops lobby on behalf of illegal immigration issues, their efforts are derided by those Catholics who favor a different policy.
 
rlg94086 said:
I don’t think Pelosi has a problem with our Bishop’s lobbying, when they lobby in her favor. It’s only on when they lobby on the issues she disagrees with Church - abortion, gay marriage, etc. Then, the Bishops lobbying/teaching is an inconvenient truth.

The same could be said about conservatives. When the Bishops lobby on behalf of illegal immigration issues, their efforts are derided by those Catholics who favor a different policy.
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Not sure if I agree with that. I may or may not disagree with the Bishops on illegal immigration or govt. programs for the “poor” but I don’t deride them as “lobbyists”. I may call them misguided liberals or something similar, but I don’t begrudge them their rigtht to lobby on behalf of the Church.

I reserve my harshest criticism of the U.S. Bishops when they invite pro-abortion politicians to official Catholic functions, thus indirectly legitimizing the politicians’ support for abortion rights, and also undermining the Church’s efforts to promote the sanctity of life. When they invite a pro-abortion governor or senator because of their “expertise” on poverty issues, or immigration issues (for example) they are saying that abortion is just another issue among many and not all that important. And when we ask ourselves after every election - “why could so many catholics vote for the pro-abortion Democrat?” - this -the confusion sewn by the U.S. Bishops and lack of consistency is one of the reasons why.

Ishii
 
ishii said:
Not sure if I agree with that. I may or may not disagree with the Bishops on illegal immigration or govt. programs for the “poor” but I don’t deride them as “lobbyists”. I may call them misguided liberals or something similar, but I don’t begrudge them their rigtht to lobby on behalf of the Church.

I reserve my harshest criticism of the U.S. Bishops when they invite pro-abortion politicians to official Catholic functions, thus indirectly legitimizing the politicians’ support for abortion rights, and also undermining the Church’s efforts to promote the sanctity of life. When they invite a pro-abortion governor or senator because of their “expertise” on poverty issues, or immigration issues (for example) they are saying that abortion is just another issue among many and not all that important.

Ishii
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I should have said “some” conservatives. As a conservative myself, I was clearly not intending to maker a blanket indictment. There have ben some conservatives (Catholic and non-Catholic) who complain about lobbying efforts by the Bishops.
 
Nancy Pelosi should just be excommunicated from the Church.

You cannot claim to follow a certain religion and do the opposite of it’s teachings.
 
I fail to see what is so offensive about calling the bishops lobbyists. Lobbying is exactly what they are doing. While some may not like it, or find it distasteful, the Church is heavily invested in national politics. I see numerous posts on this website regarding political issues. Every Catholic church I have been in makes available, for free, prominently displayed pamphlets concerning politics.
 
MJE said:
…CNSNews.com) – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) on Thursday described America’s Roman Catholic bishops as “lobbyists in Washington, D.C.” …
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Even if true, so what? The basis for lobbying is redress of grievances. Jews lobby; atheists lobby; Protestants lobby; and Muslims lobby. Even foreign governments lobby. Why is the Catholic Church the only organization on the planet that should be prohibited from redress of grievances? If lobbying is such an evil activity as she implies, why does she participate in it? opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007360

Nancy Pelosi has no business being in government.
 
Alan55 said:
The U.S. bishops (USCCB) and other Catholic organizations are not only lobbyists, but also very active and effective lobbyists, seeking to influence legislation on the federal and state level.
religionnews.com/index.php?/gibson/2011/12/gods_lobbyists_fewer_than_reported_by_pew/
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120399270
You may hate Nancy Pelosi, but the fact remains that Pelosi is correct that the U.S. bishops lobby for legislation that conforms to pro-life and other moral positions espoused by Catholics.
Click to expand...
From your second example:
“But a “specific solution” is exactly what critics say the Conference of Bishops demanded when it insisted on anti-abortion language in the health care overhaul bill.”
The bishops are only exercising their rights according to the First Amendment:
“or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
 
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