Opinion: Pulpits Are Thundering for Life As Election Day Nears
Doug Kmeic and others can say what they want. Many pulpits in America are thundering the real truth – as Catholics we must stand for life when we vote.
Advertisement
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) – Sunday our pastor finished his homily to the sound of applause from the congregation gathered. It didn’t just happen in one Mass, either. Basically, Father William Saunders just preached the truth and presented the clear teaching of the Church concerning the issues of life and the issues of the election. Some were uneasy, I’m sure; but the truth had been proclaimed and the enthusiasm was electric. He had touched a major chord in our hearts.
Standing on the shoulders of so many courageous Catholics across the centuries, we, as the Church, are called to stand for the truth and represent the faith that we are called to affirm when we exercise our citizenship. We are challenged to stand for life.Frankly, I am weary to the point of disgust with all the finger pointing currently taking place, that so-and-so is not standing strong enough for truth. Accusations concerning perceived sins of omission are easy to pontificate.
Could we be doing more? Absolutely! I know of no one who can say that they are doing all that could be done to affirm the stand for life in this election. Certainly some a more bold, while others appear timid or silent. There are even some whose actions may cause some to turn away from our message of life.Could more bishops and other clergy speak up about these issues with greater courage and fortitude? Certainly! Would that every one of their voices proclaimed it from the housetops. Nothing breeds hope in the heart like a courageous message from our diocesan and parish leaders.
Still, as Catholics, we must celebrate the boldness of our Church regarding the issues of life in this Presidential election. Let’s affirm the prophetic voices that have been speaking loud and long, trying to wake up the frog that is starting to boil in the kettle. Without these voices, the cries of the unborn and the infirm may never have been heard at all.
Throughout the entire campaign process voices for life have been heard everywhere, in both parties. Whether it was a Giuliani, a Biden, or an Obama, the warnings were coming from the very beginning.As the field narrowed, the issue of life was certainly a major point of division between the two parties both in platform and presidential candidates.
During the conventions this past summer the voices became stronger. A number of bishops condemned “Catholic” politicians who were mutilating the Magisterium. It was an immediate correction, loud and strong.
Right now, nothing separates our two presidential candidates more than the issue of life. While there are many other important differences between the two, when we view each through the lens of our Churches teachings, this position stands out significantly.
As momentum continues to gather toward Election Day in November, Catholic voices are thundering even more loudly. The voices are coming from across the entire tapestry of the Church. Bishops, like Martino, Finn, and Chaput are calling upon the faithful to be faithful.
In Texas, Bishops Kevin Farrell of Dallas and Kevin Vann of Fort Worth said that they seek to "dispel any confusion or misunderstanding that may be present among you concerning the teaching contained in" the U.S. bishops document on faithful citizenship.
"As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America, limiting it as much as we can until it is finally abolished."
Bishop Gracida has recorded and made available a radio ad, declaring that Catholics must vote for Life and cannot vote for a Pro-Abortion Candidate. He then stated that Barack Obama was a Pro-abortion candidate.
Further, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) has now singled out Bishop Serratelli, of the Diocese of Paterson (NJ), as their newest target. They have requested an investigation by the IRS for his vocal opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act and his staunch defense of Catholic Teaching on Life with regard to the election.
Randall Terry, a recent convert and founder of Operation Rescue – the leading voice in the Pro-life movement for the past three decades, observed, “Like millions of the faithful, I have been thrilled by the sudden and forceful rise of various Bishops’ voices against the errors decimating the hearts of the Faithful in this election cycle.”
Fr. Saunders is only one of countless priests in all our dioceses that are proclaiming the truth from their pulpits and teaching their parishioners what the church means regarding a properly formed conscience. Deacons, like Catholic Online’s Deacon Keith Fournier, are declaring a message of life when they teach, preach, and minister in their parishes.
The Church has also empowered a massive choir of prolife voices among the laity. From veteran Pro-life leaders like Randall Terry to brothers and sisters in ...
Standing on the shoulders of so many courageous Catholics across the centuries, we, as the Church, are called to stand for the truth and represent the faith that we are called to affirm when we exercise our citizenship. We are challenged to stand for life.Frankly, I am weary to the point of disgust with all the finger pointing currently taking place, that so-and-so is not standing strong enough for truth. Accusations concerning perceived sins of omission are easy to pontificate.
Could we be doing more? Absolutely! I know of no one who can say that they are doing all that could be done to affirm the stand for life in this election. Certainly some a more bold, while others appear timid or silent. There are even some whose actions may cause some to turn away from our message of life.Could more bishops and other clergy speak up about these issues with greater courage and fortitude? Certainly! Would that every one of their voices proclaimed it from the housetops. Nothing breeds hope in the heart like a courageous message from our diocesan and parish leaders.
Still, as Catholics, we must celebrate the boldness of our Church regarding the issues of life in this Presidential election. Let’s affirm the prophetic voices that have been speaking loud and long, trying to wake up the frog that is starting to boil in the kettle. Without these voices, the cries of the unborn and the infirm may never have been heard at all.
Throughout the entire campaign process voices for life have been heard everywhere, in both parties. Whether it was a Giuliani, a Biden, or an Obama, the warnings were coming from the very beginning.As the field narrowed, the issue of life was certainly a major point of division between the two parties both in platform and presidential candidates.
During the conventions this past summer the voices became stronger. A number of bishops condemned “Catholic” politicians who were mutilating the Magisterium. It was an immediate correction, loud and strong.
Right now, nothing separates our two presidential candidates more than the issue of life. While there are many other important differences between the two, when we view each through the lens of our Churches teachings, this position stands out significantly.
As momentum continues to gather toward Election Day in November, Catholic voices are thundering even more loudly. The voices are coming from across the entire tapestry of the Church. Bishops, like Martino, Finn, and Chaput are calling upon the faithful to be faithful.
In Texas, Bishops Kevin Farrell of Dallas and Kevin Vann of Fort Worth said that they seek to "dispel any confusion or misunderstanding that may be present among you concerning the teaching contained in" the U.S. bishops document on faithful citizenship.
"As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America, limiting it as much as we can until it is finally abolished."
Bishop Gracida has recorded and made available a radio ad, declaring that Catholics must vote for Life and cannot vote for a Pro-Abortion Candidate. He then stated that Barack Obama was a Pro-abortion candidate.
Further, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) has now singled out Bishop Serratelli, of the Diocese of Paterson (NJ), as their newest target. They have requested an investigation by the IRS for his vocal opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act and his staunch defense of Catholic Teaching on Life with regard to the election.
Randall Terry, a recent convert and founder of Operation Rescue – the leading voice in the Pro-life movement for the past three decades, observed, “Like millions of the faithful, I have been thrilled by the sudden and forceful rise of various Bishops’ voices against the errors decimating the hearts of the Faithful in this election cycle.”
Fr. Saunders is only one of countless priests in all our dioceses that are proclaiming the truth from their pulpits and teaching their parishioners what the church means regarding a properly formed conscience. Deacons, like Catholic Online’s Deacon Keith Fournier, are declaring a message of life when they teach, preach, and minister in their parishes.
The Church has also empowered a massive choir of prolife voices among the laity. From veteran Pro-life leaders like Randall Terry to brothers and sisters in ...
Rate This Article
1 - 10 of 18 Comments
Leave a Comment
More Politics & Policy News
- E.W. Jackson Wins Nomination as Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
- News to ruin your morning: IRS official who targeted conservatives for audit now oversees your Obamacare compliance
- Culture of Corruption, Obama pays Sarah Ingram extra for her harassment of conservatives
- Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong
- Rubio: Obama's intimidation of tea party groups 'not in isolation'
- Editorial: Is the Scandal Ridden Obama Administration Becoming a House of Cards?
- Obama asks for more money, Marines to protect embassies
- President stands ground against Republican critics
- Eric Holder says he will investigate the IRS for Obama
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
Most Popular
Editorial: Is the Scandal Ridden Obama Administration Becoming a House of Cards? Read More
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Did God make junk? Scientists say 98 percent of human genome is junk Read More
Sex In Uniform: Why the Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military? Read More
Why Pope Francis Doesn't Give Communion Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Acts 2:1-11
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
Bless Yahweh, my soul, Yahweh, my God, how great you are! ... Read More
Gospel, John 20:19-23
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the ... Read More
Reading 2, First Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
Because of that, I want to make it quite clear to you that no ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Celestine
May 19: When the father of this Italian saint died, his good mother ... Read More
Latest Videos
May 19 - Homily: Pentecost & The Marian Civilization of Love View Video
May 19 - Homily: Heroic Cooperation with the Spirit View Video
Sanctify my Lowliness - 2 Pillars #30 View Video
May 18 - Homily: Friar Felix View Video
Meet Your Mother - Dr. Miravalle: Mcasts198 View Video
Marketplace
Catholic Revival Prayers
These 32-page booklets will help your prayer group support the ... Read More
Saint Francis Bronze Canvas Print
Saint Francis Bronze Canvas (MADE IN USA) - Printed on truly museum ... Read More
If funny when prolifers take on the role of the person having an abortion, they make it seem as little an issue as deciding what flavor ice cream to order. Have you ever spent time at Planned Parenthood in poverty stricken areas to actually LISTEN to what is going on with this kids? Do you think people WANT to have abortions because it's convenient?
And let's talk about war...lets talk about all the men and women who VOLUNTEER to protect our country.....now do you think they wanted an idiot president to make up a fake war and put their lives in danger when they signed up? No, they are doing their duty because they are honorable...and they are leaving it up to the people who have control over their safety to make the right choices, not pretend like they're playing a board game using soldiers as their pieces. Our soldiers have honor, our government does not. And the people who volunteered for National Guard aren't even supposed to leave the country, thus the name, but again, the people who volunteered did so with the confidence that the government wouldn't send them into harms way without exhausting all options, and they also expect the American people to be their sounding board...which we will be, in three days.
By your logic, we can wage lies of wars all over the world, lets bomb this place, lets nuke this place...and let's call is 'protecting ourselves' and lets call the deaths 'casualties' so that we dont' have to face the truth, that we are murdering innocent civilians AND innocent soldiers to feed our need for power and destruction.
If you kill without reason it's murder, fair and simple...if you declare war on Hawaii, go in their guns blazing and they shoot back at you then you call it self defense and shoot back and are without sin...really, is that the way it works?
Again...no one wants the unborn to die, and no one wants the born to die either...or do they? Because if you vote for war-mongers, you are voting for the born to die...and by calling them 'volunteers' and 'casualties of war' you are removing yourself from the problem.
Let's stop aborting the children in the womb, let's stop killing the children outside the womb, let's vote for the candidate who will ACTUALLY do both, and if we know USING OUR BRAINS that one candidate is going to stop a b.s. war and not stop abortion, and the other is going to add more war...and yes, not stop abortion, then what choice do we have than to put the one in office that will at least see SOME life as sacred, rather than just say anything to get into office.
Maybe someday YOU'LL understand the sanctity of LIFE means all life, living and unborn...or is that just more of that 'material' stuff that us liberals keep spouting off? If you want to stop abortion...guess what, so does everybody else, but we understand that it's not a government issue...its an educational, community, moral issue...and until you attack the root of the problem, which is Americans are hurting morally, economically and educationally, you're not really addressing the problem.
And if you are so willing to give the government CONTROL OVER OUR BODIES...are you going to dutifully obey when they tell you that abortion is being mandated like in China? because that's what you're doing...you are giving them control of our bodies, and if it swings one way, sister, it can swing the other...so we're not only voting to protect our rights, we're voting to protect YOURS.
Obama will win in three days...vote how you need to...I'll have a better world and you'll have saved your soul..it's a win/win. It's funny that a doctor would have so much respect for the unborn and so little for the living...
In repsonse to "nice":
Abortion is murder, you are right, but to compare abortion to war is unitelligent.
First, abortion is a choice to kill an unborn child who is alive in your body. Conception = human life. Women abort mainly out on inconvienence. You don't play with the possibly of human life, then decide, heck, I don't want responsibility for this child - let's abort, and then I can get on with my life and do this once again. Very rarely is the mother's health in danger, and if it is, medical intervention can promote a healthy and safe pregnancy. I'm a doctor, I know.
As for the war, it is not fake. It is real, and the threat of terror is real. Our military made the choice to put themselves in harms way for the good of their country. They know the inherent risks with military life and they accept it. Nobody is forced into the military, it is a choice. To kill is wrong, but self defense is much different then killing an unborn baby for the sake of convienence. Nobody wants to see innocent people, but do you honestly think our military singled out whom they were going to kill? No. Our military is protecting us from those who want to kill us.
I'm not sure if you are a mother, but once you have a child, you can not imagine life without them. They are a gift from God. How can a person kill a part of them? It is sickening and morally irresponsible.
Maybe one day you will understand the sanctity of human life when you have a child of your own and will do anything, even give your own life, to protect him/her.
Vote McCain~!
Abortion is murder plain and simple.....hmm, so what's murder? You know, faking a war and killing millions of innocent Iraqi's??? and sending American's to their death???
oh wait...that's Casualties of War right?
Oh wait....the Bible says Thou Shall Not Kill...
hmm...wonder if KILL means murder? wonder if it counts in fake wars?
guess not...I guess we should actually be trying to get Bush back into office again....he's prolife, heck, he even talks to God according to him....so some people died for a fake war....it was only a few hundred thousand or maybe a million or more...that's only a million in like 8 years...that doesn't stand up to the MILLIONs of babies that died the last eight years...oh wait, he was voted in office to help stop that too....wow, you know, technically, abortions continued AND he killed a million extra people....that's interesting...seems we lost MORE of God's children that way....oh well, lets try again with McCain, he's TOTALLY different from Bush right...sure he is....so, McCain in 08...even if we don't end abortion, we'll only kill a million or so of God's OTHER children...but those are casualties of war...so I guess they don't count.
Too bad for them....hopefully God has a nice conselation prize for them when they get to heaven....maybe he can tell them, so you were killed for no apparent reason based on lies and deceit...at least you weren't Aborted!!!
While I agree with priests speaking against abortion from the pulpit, I wish parishioners would refrain from clapping after a homily.
Great article, it needs to be shouted from the rooftops in all churches.
I agree with Maggie, if they want to pull the separation of church/state status on churches, I am fine with practicing my faith anywhere (tent, yard, garage) but I can't follow a church that goes against its own teachings. And I am so thankful most Catholic churches are still preaching a pro-life message.
Unfortunately it takes a hotly contested election to bring these voices out again more forcefully and it does sadden me that many churches haven't done more for the those facing the possible decision of abortion. I have joined the Life Chain, picketed Planned Parenthood, talked with several contemplating abortion, donated clothing, taken in several who had no place to go, etc. but as Catholics we all need to do what we can to help even if only in ways that allow for your financial and time situation. If we lose to Obama and he does put in those liberal judges, does pass the Freedom of Choice Act (which he said in his own words on YouTube), does appoint liberal judges in the state courts, does repeal the Hyde Amendment, Mexico City Policy, Population Control Council, etc. etc. then all of our efforts for these last 35 years will basically be down the tubes. It could take more than 20 years to get people in power who would overturn all that Obama and many liberals will do in the months after his election.
Bush wasn't perfect (don't see many presidents who were!) BUT he did choose a pro-life vice-president, has kept the Hyde Amendment, Mexico City Policy, etc. alive again after Clinton repealed them in his first weeks of presidency. He appointed 2 conservative judges and approved stem cell research on only those that had already been compromised. He has fought for life even within his own party and his mother and wife are not pro-lifers. More could have been done, but thankfully most of Congress (except Obama) voted to ban Partial Birth Abortion which had to be brought up several times during his presidency.
The churches are remiss in not having places for women who need help with this decision with a place to stay, adoption info, financial assistance. But then too I believe that you don't have to be pregnant to take care of the homeless and poor. It isn't a Republican/Democrat thing. I thought that all Americans should be helping out in any way we can. By the way there actually are many rich Democrats too under Bush's watch just look at all those in Congress, Obama, Oprah, Barbra Streisand, George Soros, the Rockefellars, Steve Spielberg, Tom Hanks, etc. to name just a very few.
I will vote for McCain, warts, cancer and all, but I feel it's not so much a vote for him but for a chance for more of our precious, little human beings to live.
Why is there confusion over this matter? Voting for Obama should not even be considered by Catholics. Abortion is murder, plain and simple. If you vote for a pro-choice candidate, you have blood on your hands and will have to answer to the 50 million innocent souls and counting.
I have been ripping our Catholic Hierarchy to get the priests to preach pro life. This coming Sunday is a perfect time for ALL OF PRIESTS to get up in the pulpits and in certain terms tell us that to vote for anyone who supports abortion is committing a grave sin, one so bad that they could go to hell over it. Could it be that they are not afraid of hell? Well, their eternal souls will know.
I was reading some posts as replies to Sarah Palins faith in God today and read the humanistic, spites of foolish men and women who do not believe in God but on a particular day, or moment when they are struck without answers and help. Not even in the class of Lukewarm, or tepidity, they are on the other side of the fence. God is not their soul purpose for life. And then the article states that Only Evangelicals believe one step further to hear and have a personal relationship with God. As Catholics who are not Lukewarm, or tepid it is already a Personal Relationship when one partakes of Holy Communion - Eucharist: means Holy Communion. When one receives Christ in Bread and Wine( Bread because He is the Bread of Heaven and Life) Wine because His Blood remits sins and cleanses the soul and body from the antigens of concupiscence, one had received the Personal God. Can't get any more personal than this to have Him infused into our very bodies. So these underknowledge people who think God is outside are very wrong.
Thus if one cannot receive Christ one is being deprived. Such is the case for ALL Those Who have been slaughtered, by buther knives of modern medicine.Namely the Unborn. Who could have been your best friend, your wife, your girlfriend, your nieces, your nephews, etc.,.
Then the work they could have contributed, their help in this life to become better people rather than Savages, beasts, murders, thieves, etc.,.
May God enlighten, dim-witted, dull people with Light and Truth.
Peace
Poor Ed is buried in bitterness. No one is defending Bush's blunders. He did appoint 2 new pro-life supreme court justices. Will you get that with Obama. Hardly. The first act as Pres. is to pass the Freedom of Choice Act that will prohibit any state from passing or enforcing ANY restrictions on abortion, including not saving born alive from botched abortions.
In his interview with Pastor Rich Warren he said knowing when life begins is above his pay grade, that he thinks Justice Clarence Thomas is a disastrous choice and unintelligent.
More fall out from BO's reign will be tax payer funded abortions for medcaid patients,
Catholic hospitals forced to provide abortions, Catholic institutions forced to teach the medical procedures for abortions,
and much more. But I think you get the picture.
Give me McCain and the very pro-life Palin, whose actual life reflects the pro-life agenda.
Wonderful article. It provides hope. Isn't it interesting that pulpits were forcibly silenced because of being told they would lose tax-exempt status if anything was said up on the altars. It is some weird law. Well, I'd rather go to church under a tent or in the woods or someone's house than not have the priest stand up and tell us the real truth on things. Forget the issue of money which should not make any difference when speaking homilies which impact upon how we are as Christian people of God. So speak up men of God, for the truth will set all of us free!