Food for Thought
A Summer Series that invites your feedback! (Your turn to write. The pastor's on hiatus)
June 27, 2004
Read the Bishop's Statement on Catholics in Political Life!
The full statement and commentary, plus an excellent article from Peter Steinfels in 6/26 NYT, are here.
For more background material, visit the U.S. Catholic Bishop's website: www.usccb.org
June 30, 2004
Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cinncinati: It is possible a Catholic politician could be both loyal to the church's teaching on the immorality of abortion and convinced as a matter of prudential judgment that making abortions illegal would not work. Such a stance "does not necessarily indicate a break" with the Church's teaching. NCR May 21, 2004
What do you think?
Parishioner Response:
#1:
Thank God that we are fortunate enough, from time to time, to have leaders who are willing to forsake pragmatism and convenience for the sake of righteousness. Certainly many people felt that abolishing slavery would never work, as much of our nation's economy was based on that great evil. How many politicians knew in their hearts that that "institution" was wrong, but felt that it was too hard to change it? I have less respect for someone who knows the evil of abortion and fails to defend the innocent than I do for those who have been fooled by the propaganda of "reproductive rights" advocates.
No laws "work," if success means only that no one commits the offense. People still drive drunk, beat or neglect their kids, steal, etc. Should we then abolish all laws? People only break them, after all.
In truth I don't think either party has cornered the market on morality. But in any case I believe we should choose leaders who are prepared to defy conventional wisdom when necessary. I don't recall Jesus teaching that we should do what is easiest.
Do you?
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#2
I wholeheartedly agree[with Archbishop Pilarczyk]! A few years ago, I heard a sermon by a Catholic priest in Oxford, Mississippi, that bears on the question. His theme was that the loving, Christ-like approach to abortion is not to condemn or try to punish those involved, but rather to work to create a supportive, non-judgmental environment that will encourage women, including single mothers, to bear their children. His reasons were religious, but I believe they are practical as well.
Historically, Americans have been particularly unsuccessful in trying to legislate morality. When we make illegal that which many wish to do, we simply drive the activity underground, too often into the hands of organized crime. In today's society, it seems highly unlikely that any broad-based national laws against abortion would ever be passed, but even if they were and were effective in reducing the total number of abortions, many would still be performed.
Clearly, many women have abortions without recognizing their moral implications. Many others, however, only do so with great anguish in the face of what they believe are insurmountable pressures. My own belief is that widely available social services, including safe, affordable child care for working mothers, emotional support groups, parenting education, financial assistance, and user-friendly adoption systems would be far more effective in reducing the total number of abortions than protests, condemnations, and legal sanctions. For single women with unplanned pregnancies, loving, non-judgmental support of family and friends is especially important. Project Gabriel of our own Catholic Social Services is a wonderful example of such a Christ-like approach.
I agree with those Catholic elected officials who believe abortion is wrong but that making it illegal is ineffective and inappropriate, and I am saddened that some bishops have seen fit to censure them. Those same bishops seem unwilling to censure their fellow bishops who knowingly exposed children to sexual abuse, but anxious to cast the first stone at those outside the fraternity.
None of these thoughts are really new, but I hope they might be helpful. I just have to stay away from Colorado Springs!
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Pope John Paul II addressing President Bush last week
June 13, 2004
The threat of international terrorism remains a source of constant concern. It has seriously affected normal and peaceful relations between States and peoples since the tragic date of 11 September 2001, which I have not hesitated to call "a dark day in the history of humanity". In the past few weeks other deplorable events have come to light which have troubled the civic and religious conscience of all, and made more difficult a serene and resolute commitment to shared human values: in the absence of such a commitment neither war nor terrorism will ever be overcome. May God grant strength and success to all those who do not cease to hope and work for understanding between peoples, in respect for the security and rights of all nations and of every man and woman.
Full text of the Holy Father's speech
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June 6, 2004
Archbishop John Myers of Newark:
"From the perspective of justice, to say 'I am personally
opposed to abortion but' is like saying 'I personally am against
slavery, but I cannot impose my personal beliefs on my neighbor.'
Obviously, recognizing the grave injustice of slavery requires one to
ensure that no one suffers such degradation." Origins May
20, 2004.
Parishioner Response:
#1
Archbishop Myers' comment comparing abortion and slavery suggests some unawareness of history. Thankfully, there is enough consensus today about the evil of slavery to make laws against it, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, effective in our country.
It was not always so. Slavery was the most divisive issue in our nation's history, leading to a terrible Civil War and splits in several American Christian churches. The Methodist and Presbyterian schisms originally caused by disputes over the morality of slavery did not end until well into the 20th century.
I am not aware that the Catholic Church ever condemned slavery. There may be something on this in one of the Vatican II documents, but I can't recall seeing it. Certainly Pius IX, the Pope at the time of the U.S. Civil War, was silent on the matter, while he seemed anxious to condemn anything in sight that smacked of democracy, freedom of conscience, or religious pluralism. (I can't imagine how Isaac Hecker ever slipped the Paulists by him!) Until the arrival of large numbers of German and Irish immigrants in the 1840's and 50's, I believe the majority of American Catholics lived in the slave-owning states. Many of my own Catholic ancestors in Louisiana owned slaves, and some, I understand, became quite wealthy from their slave-operated sugar plantations. I still have the sword that my Catholic great-grandfather carried when he surrendered at Appomattox. My father's family proudly claimed a distant relationship to the Catholic confederate general, P. G. T. Beauregard, and I believe that confederate admiral Raphael Semmes, also a Catholic, is an ancestor of Sue Paulus. Fr. Abram Ryan, at one time pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville, was a poet and an ardent confederate supporter, and I can remember reading his poems, "The Conquered Banner" and "The Sword of Lee," in my high school English classes.
This is not to suggest that slavery is not a terrible evil, but rather that our understanding of its immorality has developed over time, doubtless through the work of the Holy Spirit. My main point, as before, is that in the absence of a broad national consensus, as exists regarding slavery, there are far more Christian and effective ways to reduce the number of abortions than laws, which will be largely ineffective and create many evils of their own.
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