Catholic Democrats Chide Pope

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Catholic League) - On January 29, nearly 50 Catholic Democratic congressmen sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI stating their concerns over Bishop Richard Williamson�s comments questioning the historical record on the Holocaust. The bishop belongs to the St. Pius X Society, a group which recently had its excommunication lifted by the pope. The congressmen implored the pope to denounce the bishop�s views.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue spoke to this issue today:

�The congressmen�s letter to the pope smacks of posturing and hypocrisy, and is factually wrong. They begin by saying �we are writing to express our deep concerns with your decision to reinstate Bishop Richard Williamson to communion with the Catholic Church�.� The fact is that the pope did not reinstate the bishop to communion with the Church�he merely lifted the excommunication of the group to which he belongs. In order for the group to be fully reinstated, it would have to express its fidelity to the teachings of the Church, as well as the norms of Vatican II. In other words, the letter is based on a false predicate.

�Facts aside, this kind of posturing is a disgrace: for American congressmen to lecture the pope about an event in which he was personally victimized, and about which he has long condemned, is nothing short of arrogant.

�The hypocrisy is mind-boggling. They beg the pope to �publicly state your unequivocal position on this matter so that it is clear where the Church stands�.� How ironic that most of these very same Catholics fail to speak with clarity about what the Church teaches on abortion. Of the 47 signatories, the majority have a 100 percent NARAL score (meaning they vote with the radical pro-abortion group on every issue). The leader of this group, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, never agrees with the Catholic Church on abortion�her NARAL score is 100 percent.

�One more thing: they addressed the pope not as a head of state but as a �spiritual leader.� Didn�t they ever hear of respecting separation of church and state?�

Please contact Congresswoman DeLauro at her website - delauro.house.gov/contact_form_email.cfm.

I approve the chiding, but I also chide these Obamanite Catholics for their anti-life and especially pro-abortion view and actions.

The Shoah and the Holocaust are undeniable historical events - there are still victims and witnesses alive who attest to them. There is also tons and tons of evidence in written, audio and visual media. The Pope may have been misinformed about Bishop Robinson, but he's the man with the Keys - he has a responsibility to be informed.

As for the Obamanites - they have much to which they must answer. Yes, Pope Benedict gave a kind of seal of approval to this traditionalist bishop who denies that 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis; yet these Obamanite Catholics too deny a holocaust and have even willingly participated in it - the murder of about 50 million children in the USA alone since 1973.

Bishop Williamson has at least made some public effort at apologizing to the Pope for his remarks on the Shoah and the Holocaust of the Jews - though I doubt his sincerity. I have yet to hear any words begging for forgiveness or apologizing to the Pope and all Christians from these pro-aborts on any level on their denial and participation in this even greater Holocaust.

Mike Drabik | 2/3/2009

With all due respect, Joe, there is no fallacy in this criticism of these congressmen. They disregard and misstate Church teaching when it suits them and advances their political career, all the while wearing their "faith" like a lapel pin in order to appease the ignorant. Yet now they have the audacity to publicly scold the Holy Father and they don't even have the brains to understand that they have no valid complaint against him. They don't understand what our wonderful Pope has actually done. They are supremely arrogant.

As for the face of American Catholicism, one could easily say the opposite...seems many American Catholics have helped amplify the voice of Democrat politics and the pro-abortion powers in our country. Either way, it is not always easy to find the real face of Christ, but He is still present in MANY of the faithful.

Jennifer | 2/3/2009

The hypocrisy of these representatives is astounding. They turn their faces and forget what the Church teaches when it comes to abortion but are immediately ready to criticize an action that the Holy Father takes at reconciliation. Mr Donohue clearly outlines how they clearly off base they are. I would also posit that they need to go back and see how much this Pope has written, said and done in recognizing the dignity of our Jewish brothers and sisters as well as condemning the atrocities committed against them. Shame on all of these Representatives! However, I trust that one day they will need to give an accounting to their Creator for the murders of the unborn that they so clearly ignore. I wonder what they will say then. God forgive them.

+Anthony T Farr | 2/2/2009

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