I confronted our parish priest yesterday immediately after mass about his remarks about FOCA

[Gman]

This Sunday was the day they passed out the cards for the Freedom Of Choice Act to be sent to local congresscritters and senators. This is something the Catholic Conference of Bishops came up with and it's something they're supposed to be doing nationally. I have been anticipating this day, and when they didn't do it a few weeks ago when they did it nationally I figured, cool... they're gonna leave well enough alone. But, I breathed too soon.

Our priest has been here for less than a year and is the absolutely most conservative priest I have ever known. For the first time since like 1965, our church now has latin mass every day at 6:30 a.m. But that's no where near where it ends. At the retreat Saturday for kids that will make their confirmation in the spring, he was very upset. When he walked in he expected to find the kids all kneeling, praying and fasting and he made somewhat of a scene about the fact that they weren't. The kids were actually in groups making posters and working on their specific religion assignment along with other meditation and self-awareness stuff. The folks from the local Catholic university that put on the retreat told him what they were doing was perfectly acceptable. He didn't like it and left.

So then yesterday morning it happened. We teach the confirmation CCD class on Sunday mornings. My first sign of trouble was finding the FOCA cards in our basket to be passed out to our kids to fill out and turn back in. I refused to pass them out to our kids. My official reason was that when the church also passes out cards to be signed for the Employee Free Choice Act (union recognition) I'll consider it, but not before then. My secondary reason for not passing them out was because they were not printed by a union printer (no union bug) and I know the Catholic Church supports organized labor so it was obviously an oversight Our religious education director who is an excellent Democrat laughed and said "Good! I don't blame you."

Then we go to mass. This worm of a Republican that I can't stand and who I've had heated words with in the past was making the announcement about the cards as we walked in. Fine, asshole.

Then we get to the priest's homily. He started out blasting Democrats and saying that we should all be ashamed that Obama was elected. And now the most evil legislation, legislation written by Satan himself, was about to be passed. That's when I got up and walked out. A good friend and good Democrat was sitting in the aisle seat towards the back. When I got to him I leaned over and whispered semi-loud that I'm too good a Democrat to sit here and listen to that. He laughed and said "Now calm down...!"

Just as I entered the foyer area at the rear of the church I heard over the speakers in the rear area our priest say, "Obama is very evil!" I said in a loud voice, "I can't believe he just said that!" (My wife was the lector for this mass and was sitting all the way up at the front of the church next to the alter. I was in the very rear. When I told here what I said out loud she said "I thought I heard your voice!" If she heard me all the way at the front, I know half the church heard me.))

People were in shock. We're not used to this crap. Among the things he said were that we should all be doing penance and fasting for "allowing" Obama to get elected. Anyone that supports Obama cannot be a Christian. The entire homily was a complete rant against Obama, Democrats and the FOCA.

So, right as his homily is ending, I go sit back down. Now for the rest of the mass I'm praying that I don't go ballistic because I am going to talk to the priest after Mass. I cannot and will not let it go. I'm praying for wisdom and guidance because I know Jesus was a Democrat and the first true liberal.

Now mass is over. My granddaughter and I leave the pew and as we get to the sacristy in the rear, My wife who lectored during mass is standing in the door kinda blocking it from me with a huge smile. She knows what I'm getting ready to do! I say, "Ummm... "excuse me"... She smiles and says, "Oh... did you want by?" "Yes!" "Honey, don't..." "It's Ok, I'll be cool." Then she tells me again to be calm. I promise I will.

I start out by saying "Father, there are some things you need to understand." I said, "First, President Obama is not evil. As a matter of fact, he is a very good man and a very good Christian. What you did not mention and you are completely overlooking is the fact that just this past week he made it possible for people who are about to lose their homes and be out on the street to stay in their homes. Before that he passed his stimulus bill that will keep millions of people working and able to support and provide for their families. He is already laying the groundwork for everyone to have health care. Health care for children, for the elderly, for everyone." I looked at him sternly and said, "Father, these are life issues too!"

He said (get this!), "Well. Hitler had a fine plan too. People lived well and everything was going well too. But he killed millions of people just like abortion." I said, "Yes, they were doing very well, that is until they started getting bombed." I said, "But you know what? I can make the argument that Bush was as evil and maybe even more evil than Hitler because of what he did in Iraq, not to mention other things he did. But Father, let me tell you something. There is now a rule in debate called Godwin's Law. Godwin's Law states that the first person in a debate to invoke Hitler or Nazi Germany loses the debate. So let's leave Hitler out of this." I told him that he needs to understand that the Church should be looking at ways to remove the root cause of abortion: desperation. I said women have an abortion when they are desperate. I said that no one wakes up one morning and says, "Gee, I think I'll go have an abortion today." I said that's ridiculous and it just does not happen. I told him I've known several women over the years that have had abortions and not one of them was happy about it and not one of them didn't have some regret. I told him that the way to fix abortion is to remove the desperation that leads to an abortion. I said that's what Obama's stimulus plan does. That's what Obama's mortgage plan does and that's what his health care plan does and that those ARE LIFE ISSUES TOO! I said, "I can guarantee you this: After the next 8 year, and I hope Obama will be there for 8 years, check the abortion rate now, and check it again in 8 years. You will find the abortion rate will have declined significantly because people will have hope. They'll be secure and they can take care of themselves and their families."

He tells me then that the FOCA was written by Satan himself. The conversation gets to a climax when he stops and says, "I don't care about the poor or the homeless or anything else like that. I only care about abortion and murdering babies!" I was floored. I said, "Father, I know you don't really mean that because you need to care." He didn't answer.

'Bout that time someone walked up to him and started talking to him. I said, "Father, I want to continue this conversation later. I don't think we're finished here." And I left. I don't know how many people outside the open door heard our conversation. My wife said later that people were in the parking lot in groups and everyone was royally pissed. She had several people say they had had it, and this was the last straw for them and that they would no longer attend our church.

The fact is, I really kind of like this priest. He's happy and friendly in a goofy and disarming way. I know he is a good person. He's intelligent and he is also very devout. I had heard almost from the day he got here that he was opinionated. No shit.

So we'll see where this goes. My wife intends to write a letter complaining to the chancery office. I thought to call them and complain too, but I feel I'd be going behind his back and over his head after we talked about this face to face. I'm not like that. I'd rather talk with him. If we reach an impasse then I'll consider what to do next. But this crap will not continue.

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Please refrain from anti-Catholic remarks. And I am also well aware of the futility of arguing with fundies that are this nuts about it but I do it anyway. Maybe it's a character defect in me or something.