Why Do Some Catholic Leaders Attack Pro-Choice Pols But Not War Supporters?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0520-02.htm

Published on Thursday, May 20, 2004 by The Nation
Bishops vs. Kerry
Why Do Some Catholic Leaders Attack Pro-Choice Pols But Not War Supporters?

by John Nichols

Though it does not dominate the front pages in the same way that arguments about Vietnam medals and current war catastrophes have, one of the more bitter debates that has developed during the current presidential campaign involves the question of whether Catholics should vote for John Kerry, a Catholic, for president. The Roman Catholic bishop of Colorado Springs, Michael Sheridan, recently issued a pastoral letter arguing that Catholics ought not receive communion if they vote for politicians who defy church teaching by supporting abortion rights, stem-cell research or same-sex marriage.

Kerry does support abortion rights and stem-cell research. He's not for same-sex marriage, but he's otherwise supportive of gay rights initiatives. So, in Bishop Sheridan's view, voting for the presumptive Democratic nominee would, at best, be wrong, and, at worst, downright sinful. And Sheridan is not alone in griping about Kerry's pro-choice stance; a number of bishops have threatened to deny communion to Kerry and other Catholic politicians who fail to follow church teachings on abortion and other hot-button social issues.

But what about politicians, like President Bush, who violate church teachings with regards to launching preemptive wars and imposing the death penalty? Should conservative Catholic politicians who back the president and his war be denied the Eucharist? Should their supporters sanctioned?

That's the critical question for the bishops who are going after Kerry, Wisconsin Representative David Obey and other politicians who have not always followed church teachings on social issues but who hold views that are closer to those of the Vatican on economic issues, the death penalty and matters of war and peace.

Father Andrew Greeley, the sociologist and author who is one of America's most prominent Catholic thinkers, raised the question well when he noted recently that, "(The) Pope and the national (Catholic) hierarchy also have condemned the death penalty and the war in Iraq. Are these bishops willing to deny the Eucharist to Catholic politicians who support the death penalty or the Iraq war? And if not, why not? Moreover, will they tell Catholics that it is a sin to support an unjust war and to vote for a candidate who is responsible for such a war? And, again, if not, why not?"

[mmonk]

1. This part

"Father Andrew Greeley, the sociologist and author who is one of America's most prominent Catholic thinkers, raised the question well when he noted recently that, "(The) Pope and the national (Catholic) hierarchy also have condemned the death penalty and the war in Iraq. Are these bishops willing to deny the Eucharist to Catholic politicians who support the death penalty or the Iraq war? And if not, why not? Moreover, will they tell Catholics that it is a sin to support an unjust war and to vote for a candidate who is responsible for such a war? And, again, if not, why not?""

is what I intend to ask the priest from my church.

[baldguy]

2. They're politically motivated hypocrites.

[VelmaD]

3. because the church cares more about...

keeping teh womenz in their place and barefoot and pregnant and popping out more catholic babeeeeeez than it does about war...especially a war that isn't killing catholics.

[Bitwit1234]

4. I can't understand this either.

The real Jesus taught his followers to be peaceful and love their fellow man not kill them. And I don't want to start an argument but...until a fetus is considered developed enough to be a person I don't consider it wrong for an abortion. NOW that said. I think the Catholic church is just holding on to an argument started a hundred years ago when men were trying to control women.

I am Catholic but I walk out when the Priest starts about stuff like this. My brother is against abortion and is a wild eyed opponent of it, but he also gets upset and has walked out on several occasion and emails me and lets me know he is upset that the priest are trying to tell us what to do about abortion and then tell you to vote for the bush...this was when he was campaigning before the 2004 election. He got campaign literature from the republicans. And he talked to some of the other parishioners and they said they did also. He is such a hot head he went into the rectory, visited the priest and raised the devil. The priest said that the republicans had asked them to give them the names and addresses so they could mail so information. He said the priest did not say so, but he thought they church was paid. He said he told them if they ever gave out his name and address, church or not he would sue.

[Coexist]

5. its all about the fetus.

Just being sarcastic - its actually about keeping women in their place - having sex only in the confines of marriage or being shamed by pregnancy.

[Beelzebud]

6. Living babies grow up to be dead soldiers for God's wars.