Another excellent job of reporting by InsideCatholic. We need to monitor and expose the Catholic left. Their deceitful use of terminology is particularly instructive. Thank you, Deal, for keep us abreast of the liberal efforts to equivocate on fundamental Catholic values such as defending life and protecting marriage.

No surprise the Catholic left didn't talk about abortion. They are embarassed about it and run away from it. They are pathetic and should be ashamed of themselves. Wonderful, superb report.

Their actions are deeply disturbing. Catholic democrats turned into overwrought self-parody.

Whenever I see anyone who claims to be Catholic and then acts in distinctly un-Catholic ways, I can't help but be disgusted--literally, as in a queasy feeling in my stomach.

May God grant them the mercy of truth immediately and the mercy of salvation eternally.

Re. Excellent Report, Deal -- "Another excellent job of reporting by InsideCatholic."

What?! An entire article based on the testimony of some unnamed informant? Please, let's not construe Mr. Hudson's piece with anything resembling objective "reporting".

To be sure, folks on the radical Catholic Left commit an UNCONSCIONABLE sin of omission by ignoring the plague that is abortion, but the attitudes of the radical Right are no less Satanic. It boggles my mind that Mr Hudson expresses supercilious disdain for an agenda that includes "universal health care, ending the Iraq War, eliminating poverty, and stopping global warming."

How can folks on the Right be concerned with nothing beyond abortion and stopping the gays? When we humans unwittingly bring about the apocalypse in the next half century -- through neglect of global climate change and/or a total meltdown in diplomatic relations with the Muslim world -- abortion will be a mute point entirely.

WOW! Looks like you were once again, one step ahead of the Catholic Left. The fact that abortion and marriage were never brought up at a CATHOLIC convention is scary. Keep up the great work. I have to wonder, how does Alexia Kelly and all others like her sleep at night? I look forward to your next report.

You really wrote this article by talking to one college student? You weren't even there. Why didn't you actually call Catholics in Alliance or Network to get a report or quote from them?

You even admit your own bias when the event was first being planned, then turn down the invitation not to go, and then criticize it without even knowing what you are talking about.

A true partisan at heart calling out others as partisan....how hypocritical.

There is something cheering in the spectacles of Catholics in both parties. There is nothing deadlier for the Church than to tie itself to one party or tendency. The slow destruction of the Church under the Ancien Regime shows what happens when the Church becomes an instrument of government or of those holding power at the moment.

It is very troubling to see Catholics tie themselves to one party, Republicans, in the forlorn hope that they will outlaw abortion. We have had seven years and a half of such empty promises, and in the meantime they have delivered the wrong war (which they finally acknowledged moving troops to Afghanistan where bin Laden is), an economic crisis, a mortgage crisis that has left thousands of families homeless (wonderful pro-family policy), and gas at $4.00 a gallon, which empoverishes families.

I recall what a liberal speaker said, mocking the claims of the Right "You kids are in Iraq, you are out of job, you lost your job, and the price of gas has gone up again, but I got good news: gay marriage is still illegal".

It does no good to the Church to be tied to the tagline of a GEICO ad. It does not good to the Church to be mocked by the bumper sticker "what it is that you hated about the 90s, the peace or the prosperity?"

There is a reason why the Bible enjoins us not to put our thrust in princes. Since being completely apolitical is not a viable option, we should spread out and not be tied down to anyone, and make both parties undestand that they cannot take Church support for granted.

By the way, I would like to know if at that conference they mentioned mine safety, and how many men died after they decided in Washington that enforcing safety statutes was too expensive and that it placed an undue burden on business. That is an issue that hightlights the value some people place on human life.

Adriana ,

YOu are so right President Bush or the GOP did nothing on abortion., Oh besides keeping the Mexico POlicy, and oh Partial Birth abortion, and keeping the bully puplit away from Pro-Choice voices, and givng us two Supreme Court Justices that at least might hollow Roe out, or speak up for life as for stem cell, or givng as US Ambassador to the Vatican one of the most Catholic Legal minds to support life who also spoke up for it and fought for it at the UN. What a horrid seven years.

I mean can we take a lesson from the gun nuts at the NRA that realized that they were being used by the GOP that never delivered and that Supreme Court after decades never delivered on promises to proclaim the RIght ot Bear Arms a Individual Right. I am glad the NRA and the Gun folks relaized that the GOP was only using them and they never would really do anything so the Gun folks would keep voting for them.

IF we had a real Pro-life President he would had sent in the CIA to off Justice Steven and Ginsburg so he could appoint 4 justices to the Supreme Court. At least have Karl Rove find some dirt on Justice Kennedy to perhaps get him to become more Pro-life.

Yeah we are being used

Just couldn't resist responding to you. Those of us who keep Abortion and Gospel Marriage/Family clear in our scope is because a peaceful green world that kills its babies, and complacently tolerates complete defiance of our CREATOR is an impossibility to realize!! We must stay on the RIGHT side of the battle for the soul of this Nation!

Deal,

The best part of the article is where you reported that the majority of the conference was basically old, angry feminists.

The Catholic Left breed is dying. They are aging and are not finding anyone to replace them. The once Catholic universities that they run have turned secular and their students don't care about their faith, and don't care about Catholicism.

However, faithful Catholics are having plenty of children to replace them. They will be future leaders of the Church and of the pro-life movement.

Look at places like Franciscan University of Steubenville, which is getting bigger and bigger every year. Every year they go there, they are building a new dorm. They just closed a major land deal with the city, and more and more apply there each year.

The Catholic Left is taking its last breath, and this conference proves it

Without question, Mr. Hudson is America's foremost commentator on Catholic issues who is also a thrice-married former Baptist minister and who also had to step down as an advisor to the Bush 43 re-election campaign after the National Catholic Reporter noted allegations that he solicited an improper sexual encounter with an 18-year-old Fordham University freshman. (Hudson lost his tenured professorship.)

When all they can do is wage personal, hate-filled attacks.

This blog post continues to demostrate the Catholic left's unwillingness to come together on key issues such as abortion and key social issues which can easily unite us all. Instead we allow political rhetoric on social justice issues to politically divide the Catholic Church, even taking political issues as far as the United State Conference on Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

While the USCCB discourages "one issue voting", there is are other determinable factors that need to be weighed when choosing a candidate.

Catholics for McCain hopes to reach out more to the left on bringing these important issues home for all catholics to agree on.

But... in response to the personal attack on Deal, isn't there some sort of parable that Jesus said where only the sinless should cast stones?

Deal, Great article. Please continue to keep an eye on these people. They are going to try and pull all kinds of stunts during this election but they can only get away with it if nobody is watching them. I love how they hide behind the name "common good". What a joke.

Catholics United Calls on Senator John McCain to Remove Controversial Strategist from Catholic Advisory Committee

Deal Hudson Resigned from the Bush Campaign in 2004 amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Now Advising McCain on Catholic Outreach

Washington, D.C. – Catholics United today called on Senator John McCain to remove influential Republican strategist Deal Hudson from his position on the “Catholics for McCain National Steering Committee.” Mr. Hudson apparently continues to serve on the committee despite having stepped down from a similar position with President Bush’s reelection campaign when an alleged episode of sexual impropriety came to light in 2004.

In August 2004, the National Catholic Reporter disclosed that Hudson was forced to leave a tenured professorship at Fordham University over allegations that he solicited sexual activity with his 18-year old freshman student. According to the report, the encounter happened in Hudson ’s campus office after a night of heavy drinking.

Hudson has proven himself an invaluable member of McCain’s Catholic advisory team. In May 2008, according to the New York Times, he helped broker a meeting between controversial televangelist John Hagee and conservative Catholic political operatives to soothe tensions over anti-Catholic statements Hagee had made.

In addition to questions about his personal conduct, the thrice-married Hudson has a longstanding history of misappropriating Catholic teaching to advance a partisan agenda. In 1999, Hudson ’s magazine Crisis authored an influential study explaining how the Republican Party could achieve greater success at the ballot box by making specific appeals to Catholic swing voters, a move that prompted Bush strategist Karl Rove to invite Hudson into high-level campaign conversations. In 2002, Hudson established a White House Catholic Working Group, which – as he bragged in his recent book – deliberately excluded the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from policy discussions. Last year, Hudson publicly ridiculed a Vatican climate change initiative that didn’t fit his political worldview.

“If John McCain wants to represent a new kind of politics, then he and his Catholic committee would be well served by disassociating from divisive and controversial figures such as Deal Hudson,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “Many Catholics find it disconcerting that McCain would embrace Hudson, an individual with a history of questionable moral judgment, as a public face of his Catholic outreach efforts.”

Catholics United issued its request in the form of a letter to Senator McCain. It has also launched a national online petition effort calling for Hudson ’s removal.

While I would agree that relying on the reports of "plants" within their convention is dubious, I think that the so called "Catholic Left" does have to address its contradictions with Church teaching, which are gaping in regards to non-negotiables like Abortion, Euthanasia and Marriage.

As for the past sins of Mr. Hudson, I fail to see how that in any way negates the argument at hand. You are confusing people and ideas...a dangerous game, considering the dirty laundry and skeletons one could dredge up on the Left...more than a few of which would prove rather embarassing.

I find it ridiculous and uncouth (not to mention lacking in charity, sense and upbringing) to dig up bones about a man, especially considering it is something that has been addressed in the past...especially on the man's own blog. I don't always agree with him, or Todd A., or others...but hitting below the belt when an argument is being lost shows the desperation of the losing party. This isn't High School, people....grow up.

Continues to show its complete desperation by attacking Deal because they know they lose on issues!

I was at the convention and I am 43 and I witnessed a vibrant group of multi-aged Catholics -- many of whom were quite young. Certainly the attendees at the Convention for the Common Good were younger and represented a greater span of gender and racial diversity than the far-right Catholic convention of old white men that some call "The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast".

Is not very young, Lisa.. Hate to break the news to you.

I realize that I am represented the middle aged crowd at the convention, but to say as Deal Hudson's plant refers to, "almost all were over 60," is absolutely false. There were many college students at the convention, many from Catholic institutions.

What sort of Catholics go grave digging for skeletons (we all have them)? Obviously the same sort that vote for pro-abortion politicians.

Anonymous, to lift the sins of another already cast into the sea never to be recalled again by God..... for it shall surely be the condemnation of yourself.... forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us...... Jesus routinely chose imperfect, downright sinful vessels, who were willing to respond to His call. It takes more character to DO this WORK having your sins laid bare in the public square........ May God shower Deal with abundant blessings to sustain him as he courageously marches on to do this most important work! I surely hope you Anonymous, and in fact all of us, are doing our call with as much dedication... drop the stones,it is most unbecoming of you!

To David W, I noticed that stem-cell research has surprisingly dropped off the list of non-negotiables, hmmmm, could it be because McCain supports stem-cell research?

Lisa,

Your mocking question about McCain's support for embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) needs to be addressed. No, ESCR was not dropped off the list of non-negotiable moral issues. Rather, when you rack up the list of the five non-negotiables given by our friends at Catholic Answers, you will see how both candidates match up:

1) Abortion -- Obama is pro-abortion (pro-choice, same thing). McCain is pro-life.
2) Homosexual marriage -- Obama is pro-homosexual marriage. McCain is not.
3) Embryonic stem cell research -- Both favor it.
4) Human cloning -- Obama is in favor; McCain is not.
5) Euthanasia -- Obama favors it; McCain does not.

Catholic batting average: Obama is 0 for 5 (.000); McCain is 4 for 5 (.800). While neither bats 1.000 on the non-negotiables, I'll take the .800 hitter in my Catholic line-up any day.

If you read Evangelium Vitae (esp paragraphs 59-74), that's exactly how the late Pope John Paul II advised us to weigh the choice between two imperfect candidates: choose the candidate who is more likely to advance the culture of life and less likely to advance the culture of death. McCain is that man. Here's the link for your further education: http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02ev.htm. Incidentally it also discusses the proper nature of the common good.

JH:

Interesting comment you make using the NRA, though you got it backwards.

We are not in the position of the NRA, but of the anti-gun advocates. We are the ones threateing to take away from the public something that they think that they are entitled to, something that they decided the enjoy having. The NRA does not advance any moral teachings, just quotes the Second Amendment - same as the abortionist claim Constitutional rights based on Supreme Court rulings. The gun banners want to curtail the freedom of Americans. We want to curtail the freedom of women i.e. "The Right to Choose". Threats to regulate guns gets the NRA stirring the faithful and scaring the general population with images of jackboot thugs coming to take their lawful guns away. Is that different from the way Planned Parenthood reacts?

That's the way the debate is framed, and it does no good to model our tactics on someone who is the beneficiary of the terms of the debate when we are its victims.The same impulses that keep politicians from banning guns are the same that keep them from banning abortion.

That's why I distrust political solutions. Politicians are very good at giving people what they ask - not what they should have - and until people are convinced that they should not have abortion, they will get it.

We seem to be stuck in the "light at the end of a tunnel" mentality, that keeps us counting any small victory as if was the deciding one.

As for the President's bully pulpit, that one is singurlary ineffective these days, as less and less people tend to believe **anything** the President says.

As for the Church, it is finally recovering from the deep corruption and slow death inflicted on it by the Ancien Regime (it is instructive to learn how low the Chruch had fallen under Most Christian Kings), thanks to the harsh chastisement of the French Revolution. There is no need to put ourselves again in danger of falling under the power of seculara powers.

As long as the innocent are slaughtered, abortion will never be a mute point.

I was a participant last weekend at the Convention for the Common Good. I am not a particularly saavy person when it comes to politics, however, I am a faithful Catholic who loves the Church.

The article by Mr. Hudson is untrue, totally untrue! How can someone report truthfully on anything without being present at it?

The convention was extremely well organized and highly effective. The participants were engaged in every aspect of this convention. The speakers were fantastic, passionate and very faithful to Church teaching.

I left the convention feeling inspired, hopeful, and really on fire! The theme of the "common good" was threaded throughout the weekend in most effective ways, always remaining true to Catholic Social Teaching. There was nothing alarming ever stated or preached!

The meetings opened with prayer. The Mass celebrated on Saturday evening was just beautiful. The music throughout the weekend was amazing, helping us lift our minds and hearts to God.

Thanks to all who organized this event. Bring us together again,
so we can talk to each other. We need more talking, polite talking, with civility and kindness toward one another. We also need to listen. Sometimes we just do not listen well.

Our faith teaches us to work for the common good of all humnanity, not for our own self interests. Catholics truly living and working for the common good can change the world, spreading the Gospel to all corners of the earth. That is pretty powerful stuff!

I am so glad that I attended this convention. It was intellectually stimulating, extremely inspiring, and very well organized and attended. All that and very much a Catholic event!

No one would ever describe me as Catholic left ! That is funny! I loved the convention!

I love how no one even tries to debate the blatant partisanship of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Network. Its obvious that they are wolves in sheep's clothing. They defend their support of the pro-abortion and pro-homosexual rights politicians by using words like "common good" and "social justice" and yet they do very little or nothing to promote either.

I attended the Convention for the Common Good and want to clarify Deal Hudson’s mischaracterizations of this inspiring event.

First, Hudson says that “absolutely nothing...positive was said about the Republican Party, Bush, or McCain.” In fact, Charles Dougherty, a former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who spoke at the convention, had plenty of positive words for President Bush, Dick Cheney, Ronald Reagan and the Iraq war. For the record, Dougherty was a two-term Congressman, not one-term, as Hudson writes.

Hudson also says that Dougherty did not talk about abortion and that abortion was not addressed at the convention. The platform for the common good affirmed in Philadelphia addresses abortion in the second paragraph: “With the U.S. Catholic Bishops, we acknowledge that “we are a nation founded on ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ but the right to life is not fully protected.”

The issue of abortion also came up frequently in a forum discussion between Dougherty and John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress. At one point, Dougherty said, “I believe in the sanctity of unborn life,” and he received sustained applause. Sen. Robert Casey Jr., a pro-life Catholic, and Bishop Walter Sullivan also addressed the delegates about building a culture of life.

Finally, Mr. Hudson says that “The booths outside the meeting contained no materials from either the GOP or conservatives.” This is also false. There was a pro-life, anti-gay marriage organization outside the meeting that handed out literature which supported conservative positions and included criticisms of Sen. Barack Obama.

Mr. Hudson does not mention this, but instead focuses on the Matthew 25 Network, which has no affiliation with the convention and purchased the right to have a booth outside the main ballroom just as the conservative organization did. Certainly both organizations have an agenda, but it was made clear that these organizations were not affiliated with the convention itself.

Finally, the convention closed with a talk by Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking. Prejean commended Sen. Obama, but also vehemently criticized him for his stance in favor of the death penalty.

Hudson calls the idea of the common good “high-minded language.” I believe Pope Benedict XVI would have disagreed with him when he said, “The responsibility of Christians to work for peace and justice, their irrevocable commitment to build up the common good, is inseparable from their mission to proclaim the gift of eternal life to which God has called every man and woman." To stand against poverty, environmental abuses, abortion, the mistreatment of undocumented immigrants, unjust war and a health care system which leaves behind the poorest among us is not “liberal” or “left.” It is Catholic.

Two quick thoughts:
In contrast to the characterization of indifference to abortion, your readers might want to know that it was extensively discussed at the Convention in the hundreds of small moderated groups. The consensus seemed to be that a Democrat was more likely to implement measures that would result in actual reduction in abortions; participants were generally contemptuous of Republican abortion talk that has actually done so little to help solve the problem.

Your opening sentence implies that a group called "Catholics Organize to Elect Obama" was a co-sponsor for the Convention, but this was not the case. The meeting was completely non-partisan, and the organizers declined to let any campaigns distribute literature or sign up volunteers.

I appreciate the occasional nods to civility in the posts on this blog. But the use of the highly insulting term "pro-abortion politicians" is really beneath the dignity of any Catholic. Is Deal Hudson a "pro-divorce" pundit, because he is not working actively for the criminalization of divorce--just as most Democrats do not support the criminalization of abortion, and indeed would expect it to be counterproductive?

Joe, thanks for adding you two cents worth on the convention. My source was only there for Saturday and obviously was not aware of the group handing out pro-life literature. As far as the discussion of abortion is concerned, I repeatedly question my source about this -- I'm surprised she missed hearty applause for Dougherty on the life issue -- he greatly impressed her. I am told by people who knew him in Congress that he was very committed to the pro-life cause, and I in no way intended to take away from that. She did make a recording of the entire day, of which I have only listened to portions. But thanks for you comment.

Life begins at conception.Obama is not willing to defend life in the womb. He is not willing to defend life following a failed abortion. His supporters, some of whom claim to be Catholic, must agree if they support him. Once you are willing to allow the murder of an innocent life the rest of the left's anti-lfe agenda must come easy. Children don't need protection from rapists and pornographers, so "virtual" child pornography is safe. Child rapists cannot be executed.Children don't need stable families, so homosexual "marriage" and adoption are allowed.The sick and elderly don't need protection, so euthenasia is "progressive."Can't defeat the moral argument? Legislate it away with "human rights commissions" and the so-called "fairness doctrine."Or just rake someone over the coals with ad hominem attacks.In the end, judgment, general and particular.

Well said, Joe! Thanks!

I didn't "mention it" because it is part of the Pro-life belief. You seem to assume I didn't mention it because I'm trying to give McCain a pass. Any casual reading of my posts on here will show I'm the last person to give a partisan politician slack in ANYTHING. I'm not voting for McCain this November, for the record.

I am glad that Joe picked up on the "Common good" comment. It is a basic element on Thomist philosophy, and should be considered far more than "high minded" language.

Why is it so easy for us to label others as Catholic this or Catholic that?

There is only one label that should be: a true Roman Catholic otherwise you are not Catholic at all.

We should fall into the trap of the devil. Remember, the devils loves to divide through lies and deceit.

If you are a true Roman Catholic:
1. Your stand for issues in this election would be the following:
a) anti-abortion
b) anti-Iraq war
c) pro-poor
d) anti-unjust laws which favor the rich
e) pro-environmental preservation
f) anti-gay marriage
g) believe in the dignity of labor
h) believe that the extremes of communism and unbridled capitalism are both evil
2. You would support the Pope. You would follow what the Pope has taught and set as an example. You would not be happy if your local bishop or priest is not obedient to Pope and the Church's teachings.
3. You would follow the ten commandments.
4. You would have a healthy devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5. You know that our life is here is transient and that our ultimate destination is to be with God in Heaven.
6. You would follow the Church's commandments like going to regular confession, attending Sunday mass and so forth.
7. You would know that we have to pray for our Protestant brothers as many of them have questionable beliefs and values despite their professed belief in Christ.


So let us keep praying for one another, our country and the whole world. In the end, it is our choice. God gave us free will, we choose where we want to go. We can continue disparaging and labelling other people. We can continue pointing the dirt in other people while forgetting to see our own dirt.

Or we can truly try to help people without letting our pride get in the way.

God bless everyone!

I'm not surprised that Bishop Sullivan was there. Of course, it is his former diocese that had the Catholic Charities workers provide the abortion for a minor girl.

b) Those of good faith can disagree on this one. There is plenty of room for arguement on Just War theory, both "ad bellum" and "in bello", for both Afganistan and Iraq. "Ad bellum" is now in the realm of academia for these. We should be concerned with "in bello". The fact is there is a war in Iraq and it must be fought properly.

c) Let's just stay with pro-human. We are to love both our poor and rich neighbors. This means caring for our poor neighbor and not envying our rich neighbor. It is not a sin to be rich. Envy is one of the 7 deadly sins though.

d) Anti-unjust laws. That is sufficent. There are plenty of those that go around that favor either the rich or the poor.

e) The world is our current home, and is in our care. But we mustn't get carried away. Eco-preservation should not come at the cost of humanity. We can obtain natural resouces without trashing the enviroment around it, and that includes oil, gas, coal, and lumber.

I hope this is not true. I doubt you really want it to be true either, unless you value political conservatism over faithful Catholicism.

There is nothing intrinsic in liberal thought that means a liberal has to be pro-abortion. As I have tried to point out to liberals before, being anti-death penalty and pro-abortion makes no sense. Further, it is hard to square the environmentalism of liberals with abortion. How can you care so much about saving the whales and look upon abortion with indifference?

The key is to be consistently pro-life. One can be pro-life and in favor of the environment, of universal heath care, of affirmative action, of gender equality in the workplace, of improved roads, schools, and highways.

And it is unfair, as some posters have implied, to say that pacifism is un-Catholic. I am not a pacifist myself, but pacifism is an extreme view of the sanctity of life. Remember Christ himself could have struck down his executioners. He didn't, because He respected their rights and freedoms more than they respected their own.

Remember also that Benedict XVI himself counseled against the Iraqi war. I suppose that makes him an infidel, too.

The trick is not to repudiate liberalism, but to remake it into a better liberalism. If you are going to argue that the other side of the political fence is unredeemable, you are arging a heresy, since Christ clearly teaches that no one is beyond redemption.

My advice: Stick to the Nicean Creed, and let God take care of everything else.

I attended the convention and found it to offer a refreshing and authentic dialogue between Catholic citizens, and between leaders and politicians from “both sides of the aisle”. The event was designed to focus on the role of our Catholic values in public life and to unify us as engaged Catholics despite party affiliations. The bi-partisan conversation was a respectful and fair representation of both parties and in fact, I found the words of the Republican Charles Dougherty (PA) to be the most profound when he mentioned his disgust with the personal attacks on individuals within the political system. He observed --with regret-- that this is what has been destroying civil, democratic debate and our ability to make progress as a nation.

Charles Dougherty's words were profound, but also should be heard by Deal Hudson. Deal is clearly a partisan with strong political leanings. But using character assassination on the individuals who sponsored the convention is not in the spirit of our faith and, frankly, not a smart idea for someone with his questionable background. It’s exactly what Charles Dougherty spoke against. Alexia Kelley was mentioned in Deal’s article and I know her personally. Anyone who has come in contact with Alexia knows that she is a light to those around her. She is a woman of deep faith and conviction. She believes more in the power of common good and the fundamentals of Catholic social teaching than she cares for which party that delivers it. If you read her recently published “A Nation for All” you will find this truth and you will also discover that she can back her position with insightful and factual information. Again, something that Deal could learn from.

Deal was invited to the convention and chose not to attend. Had he been there and able to speak from first-hand experience, it might have given him the credibility to write with authority. We are dividing ourselves as Catholics by choosing not to engage in civil dialogue with one another. Casting stones from a glass tower is unwise.

"It boggles my mind that Mr Hudson expresses supercilious disdain for an agenda that includes "'universal health care, ending the Iraq War, eliminating poverty, and stopping global warming.'"--Anonymous

Dear Anonymous:

Universal Health Care: Government takes over Health Care, i.e., Communism--with all the success, prosperity, innovation, and bliss that Communism has alway brought to anything it touches. WAIT--THERE'S MORE! The government becomes the custodian of EVERYONE's complete MEDICAL FILES! Just like the government's camera in your bedroom, this shouldn't bother you as long as you have nothing to hide, right?

Ending the Iraq War: It's already ending. And Barack will end it no sooner than John McCain. He's said so.

Eliminating Poverty: In America, among people who: 1) Finish high school before having a child, and 2) get married before having a child, there is almost no poverty. Close to zero. In America, poverty is almost entirely the result of serial fornication and stratospheric illegitimacy.

So--where is the Left-Wing campaign to promote the most effective way to avoid poverty?--finish school, THEN get married, THEN have children.

Global Warming: It doesn't exist. It WAS happening, for about century. (Latest report says that half of the Global Warming in the 20th Century was caused by CLEANER AIR.) But Global Warming stopped in 1999. BTW: What IS the "right" temperature for the earth?

Oh, yes! Such urgent issues! SO much more important than 50 Million murdered babies--and counting--1.5 Million each year!

Wow.

Um.. no.

He died because that's what He came to do. You know, dying to atone for our sins and all that.

"By the way, I would like to know if at that conference they mentioned mine safety, and how many men died after they decided in Washington that enforcing safety statutes was too expensive and that it placed an undue burden on business. That is an issue that hightlights the value some people place on human life."--Adriana

So, Adriana: Is the life of a coal miner worth an INFINITE amount of money?

When you bought your last car, did you buy the SAFEST car on the market? Or did you buy a cheaper car--one you could afford?

Relaxing safety standards that are causing bankruptcy makes sense. If a mining company is out of business, then miners are out of work, and there is no coal.

There is no comparison between accepting risks that make continued life possible--as in coal mining--and permitting deliberate, systematic, mass homicide--as in legal abortion.

"Valuing human life" is an equivocal phrase. You have used it equivocally. Making your point pointless.

When did this debate get out of hand?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with supporting the poor. In fact, since the Latin American bishops met at Medillin in the wake of the second Vatican council, they affirmed that the church has a preferential mission for the materially poor. So, no, Joshua, we should not just “stay with pro-human.” As Catholic-Christians, we must first look out for the poorest among us.

There is nothing wrong with protecting the environment. Our Pope has repeatedly called us to be “stewards of God’s creation.” The issue is not whether or not global warming exists. The issue is the environment. We must legislate in order to protect God’s creation. Doing so never “comes at the cost of humanity” because creating a sustainable environment is meant to uplift humanity.

There is nothing wrong with speaking out against the Iraq war, a war that was unjust ad bellum and is unjust in bello, due to the lack of proper attention paid to the lives of Iraqi civilians. No war that employs the use of cluster-bombs can ever be just.

There is nothing wrong with wanting universal health care. Universal health-care does not mean single-payer health care, Fr. Joseph. Universal health care means affordable health care for all. Providing medical care for the poorest in our communities, those whose basic human needs are being lost in our current system, is not a communist notion. It is a Christian one.

Finally, simply to use the argument “….but abortion is worse” does not hold water. We cannot let divisive politics infiltrate our church. The common good is neither Republican nor Democratic. The common good is pro-life. The common good uplifts the poor, marginalized, and lowly. The common good promotes peace. The common good protects the earth for the future of our world. I encourage all Catholics to remain in staunch opposition to abortion, but never to forget the rest of our rich Catholic Social Tradition.

Father Joseph:

You act as if you had to choose between mine safety standards and ending abortion - that you can have one or the other but not both.

But if skimping on safety standards can be justified on economic grounds, then you can find economic grounds for abortion - after all a family might have enough to feed three children but not four and they decide not to have a child they cannot affort. Then you can make an economic calculation and then base your moral choice on that calculations

We cannot let economic considerations rule our moral choices, because we might find ourselves helpless when someone uses those same considerations against something we believe in.

The degree might not be the same, but callousness grows each time it is practiced. Same as kindness and respect for our common humanity grows each time it is practiced. A mine owner deciding that safety is "too expensive" and accepts that a few deaths are an acceptable cost to do business, even if he sees those men every day, will not have more compassion for an unwanted fetus that he does not see.

You are absolutely correct Joe in pointing the stand of the Holy Father in these many issues. You are correct that there is no right or left, just real Catholics or non-Catholics.

I can only pray for Joshua. He is rationalizing his beliefs even though it is contrary to the real Catholic stand. As Daniel pointed out, we can't let the devil divide us through half-truths and lies. If one insists on his beliefs which is contrary to what our Catholic stand is, then he simply is not Catholic.

Joe,

You're citing Bob Casey, Jr., who has voted in favor of several pro-abortion laws, and Walter "I had rainbow masses for active homosexuals in my cathedral" Sullivan as examples of why this was a good conference???

16 years ago, the Clintons started the "safe, legal and rare" garbage. "Catholic" Democrats fawned over them then, and they're fawning over Obama about the same garbage now. Certain "Catholics" who supported the pro-abortion Kennedyist Romney ("my religion has nothing to do with my political life") have turned to supporting Obama. So what?

Obama has promised NARAL that his first move as President would be to pass the "Freedom of Choice Act," rolling back all "incremental" measures that have been passed at the state and federal levels the past 30+ years (including Bob Casey, Sr's laws in PA).

Obama's "Catholic" supporters say they oppose McCain because of the war in Iraq and the potential war with Iran, yet Obama has specifically stated he wants to pull out of Iraq so we can invade Iran!

Obama has recently promoted a bill designed to "eradicate" poverty--something which Jesus Himself says is impossible, and which the Catholic Church clearly teaches in numerous documents, including the _Catechism_, is the mark of the spirit of Anti-Christ: millenarianism.

As for dredging up Deal Hudson's past, ever hear of St. Augustine?? Ever hear of St. Paul?? How about Bernard Nathanson?

The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints, and those who have repented from a certain sin are the ones most qualified to condemn it.

Catholic Democrats say they want to "reduce" abortions. That is not what the Church teaches. John Paul II called for Catholics to fight for an immediate ban on all abortions and artificial contraception. Period.

Why don't you condemn also people who work one on one on pregnant girls and dissuade them and help them choose life? After all, for every life they save, there are ten that they do not.

"Reducing" means acknowldeging that the problem is tougher and larger that we imagined and that it will take time. Sometimes you do not have the means to do all you want to do, so you have to be happy to chip away at the edges.

Have you ever seen a newborn baby lying in a cot in a homeless shelter? I have. A very tiny baby in a big cot, in the only refuge that his mother could find. There are economic forces pushing at women to get abortions, and some of them are quite large.

There are other reasons, traditional ones, that make women afraid to give birth - thanks God we do not have honor killings in this country, but we have been beastly and brutal in dealing with unmarried mothers in the past, and that record makes too many of them wary of trusting the Church (there is a terrifying movie that tells you how the Church pushed women towads abortion "The Magdalen Sisters", because if brutal slavery is what an unmarried mother could expect, then she was better off aborting and going off to live her life). We may say that this was in the past, and we are no longer that cruel, but not everyone will believe it.

So, think that reducing abortion is a realistic goal, while eliminating is beyond our means, and remember that the best is the enemy of the good.

Adriana,

John Paul II was very clear that to say "eliminating is beyond our means" is a form of the sin of despair.

I notice you say nothing about contraception in your post, but you do cite an anti-Catholic film to make your point.

Lastly, as for your ridiculous example, liberals want *no* efforts to reduce abortions. They do everything they can to sue, intimidate and shut down cricis pregnancy centers. Birthright has gotten to where they can only give out diapers, because of so many frivolous lawsuits filed by Planned Parenthood plants.

As I noted, Obama has promised to pass the "Freedom of Choice" Act, repealing federal and state partial birth abortion bans, parental consent laws, and all other laws that have been been enacted to "reduce" abortions.

Homosexuals claim they are forced into homosexuality by their DNA. Drug dealers and gangs claim they're forced into their sins by poverty. Politicians claim that they have to sell their souls to profit by the world, and if they actually act with morality, they'll lose their jobs. In the antebellum South, slaveholders claimed that the market forced them to own slaves, and they'd have to live in poverty without them. What is the difference?
As Mother Angelica said, "A sin is a sin and it stinks."

I am so sick and tired of hearing liberals say that a woman is justified in slaughtering her own baby because of poverty or social oppression or some other lame excuse.

It is sad to see a baby in a cot in a homeless shelter. So it's OK to rip that baby's head off and toss the bloody corpse in the garbage????

I'm sure you'll also say that abortion is necessary to prevent the suffering of "defective" children like myself and my 6-year-old daughter??

Abortion is murder. Period.

PS--I recall reading, somewhere, the story of a teenaged girl who was given the choice of being pregnant out of wedlock, in a society where she would most certainly be stoned for it. She said "Yes." Then, despite her own crisis pregnancy, she travelled a dangerous journey to help out her middle-aged cousin, who was also pregnant. After a few months, she returned home, where her fiance considered whether or not to expose her to the authorities. He thought otherwise. They were out of town when her child was born, and her baby had to sleep in a feeding bin for animals.
Then they had to leave their homeland and live as exiles for several years in a foreign country.

I guess that Baby should have been aborted, too.

JC:

I try to explain to you how things happen. It is not the same as justifying them. Actually for the purpose of eradicating certain things knowledge is more useful than righteous indignation. Disease is not treated better because someone rants and raves as to how horrible it is, but because people in the lab do tissue cultures and other tests to find out what is going on (they do not need to be told how horrible disease is, they know it, or the would not be working there).

Believe me, a strong emotional reaction can only carry you so far. It may produce the first impulse to "do something about it" but to be able to do something useful you need a cool head, and you need to know what your resources are, and what you can expect reasonably to accomplish. And how to increase your resources and attract others to help you with your work.

You yourself noted that it is unrealistic to expect to get rid of poverty. Are you guilty of despair in that? Or do you acknowledge that there is so much that you can do (and that is no excuse for not doing the little you can do)?

I point out that the problem is bigger, and has a longer history than we may have suspected, and that there is plenty of blame to go around - and that knowledge of history can avoid making the same mistakes all over again.

Probably the movie was anti-Catholic. But were the facts denounced true? God knows that the Catholic chuch been corrupt and cruel many times in its history - and that it has needed straightening up many times. But believe me, no reform can come when someone accuses the Chruch of some misdeed, instead of acknowledging the problem and redressing it, they immediately question the motives of the denouncer.

REmember that the sex scandals would not have been so devastating if the Bishops in charge had not tried to cover them up, instead of taking firm, corrective action ("the sooner and in more detail you announce the bad news, the better" T. H. White's Chappaquidick Principle). As with Watergate, the problem is not so much the misdeed as the cover-up.

"Those of good faith can disagree on this one. There is plenty of room for arguement on Just War theory, both "ad bellum" and "in bello", for both Afganistan and Iraq. "Ad bellum" is now in the realm of academia for these. We should be concerned with "in bello". The fact is there is a war in Iraq and it must be fought properly."

There is no "room for argument" on the principles of just war theory, which are the necessary and sufficient conditions for determining whether a specific, concrete act of war is just. What you perhaps mean to say is that there is "plenty of room" for the evaluation of whether or not these conditions are met by a particular war (hence, war in general is not of the same moral status as abortion, which is an intrinsic evil). However, because each of these conditions is necessary, and no single condition is sufficient, all conditions must be met for a war to be considered just. In the case of the Iraq War, the past two Roman Pontiffs and the U.S. bishops in union with them have been unequivocal that not all these conditions have been met. On this official view of the Church, the Iraq War is not just, and there really is no "room for argument" on that point.

Ariana,

*Jesus* says we'll never eradicate poverty. I never said anything about emotional reactions. You're the one talking about emotions: "Have you ever seen a baby in a homeless shelter cot?"

You're the one telling sob stories about how abortion is OK because of all the horrible social circumstances that cause evil women to have abortions. Let's not forget that your examples seem to be dealing with women having children *out* of wedlock.

But, typical of those who put "the common good" above personal morality (the Church is very clear that Natural Law comes first, and that personal conscience trumps "the common good"), you probably see the words "sin" and "evil" as "emotional" words, rather than statements of objective fact.

You say the problem has a "longer history". You mean that abortion has been around forever and has always been condemned by the Catholic Church? You mean that "witches" were just the Planned Parenthood of the day, providing women with contraceptives and abortifacients?

I notice you haven't said anything about contraception, which is always condemned by the Popes in tandem with abortion.

Now you throw in the red herring of "The Scandal."
The Scandal happened for three reasons: liberal bishops cared more about psychology than spirituality and trusted the words of psychologists that these demonically possessed men were "cured". Secondly, the Church "got rid of" the Inquisition, opening the door to infiltration by gays and communists. There was a time when capital punishment was the penalty for priests engaging in homosexual acts.

I also notice that you're not replying to my example in my PS.

Policratus,

Can you produce direct quotations from either JPII or B16 condemning the war in Iraq as unjust?

I'm serious. I try to follow everything that comes out of the Vatican. I like reading the original documents and statements rather than just getting them through other people's lenses. The only direct statements I ever read from JPII were directed at Saddam Hussein, and the only direct statements I've seen or heard from B16 were praising our troops for fighting for liberty abroad (which would be a lie if he thought the war unjust).

Then there's Cardinal Ratzinger's statement in the "infamous letter to Cardinal McCarrick" that war is never an absolute matter, and Catholics are free to disagree about wars.

So where is the actual *evidence* for your position that the Popes have unequivocally condemned the war in Iraq and that we, as Catholics, should follow suit?

(I say this as a Buchananite, who wishes we were using our soldiers to protect our own country, on our own soil, and is strongly opposed to the Iraq War).

RC: I do not say that having a baby sleep in a cot justifies abortion, but that explain why anyone would choose abortion.

As Burke said, the conseils of desperation are rarely wise - nor moral, not anything we would wish them to be. So it behooves us to make sure that people are not pushed into desperation where they are **guaranteed** to make the wrong decision again and again (if you doubt of this very human tendency, do the following experiment: go to a crowded theater and shout "fire!"). Unwillingness to face the many ways that we may push pregnant girls into where we do not wish them to go should give us pause.

It is a fact that the Church in the past has answered the problem wrongly more than once, and it is time that it was acknowledged.

Following my example of sickness, if I had to hire someone to take care of sick people, what I would ask them is not whether they think that sickness is evil and needs to be eradicated, but if they believe in washing their hands before and after they handle each patient.

For a long time this was not so obvious, and while now it is accepted practice, it took a while for it to become SOP. The problem is that the Church has not yet reached the point where they recognize the evils of, metaphorically, not washing their hands properly (more native americans died from receiving communion from a holy friar who had been attending the ill at the dispensary than from any other causes). The brutal treatment of unmarried mothers, and the lack of compassion towards rape victims are a matter of record. And it takes a while for attitudes to change
(I wonder if this is the time to celebrate Saint Maria Goretti - for all her holiness - telling rape victims that they should have been like the saint, and that it would be better if they were dead is *not* the right message).

As for the scandal, the problem was not that it arose - corrupt priests have been all thourh the ages (and corrupt Popes, too - let's not forget who was Cesar Borgia's daddy). The problem was the unwillingness to clean house and confront the problem, instead of pretending that nothing was wrong. **that** is always lousy policy, and it does not requiere being conservative or liberal to do it - only incompetence.

To Rick,

Your comment: "I appreciate the occasional nods to civility in the posts on this blog. But the use of the highly insulting term "pro-abortion politicians" is really beneath the dignity of any Catholic" is misleading.

Is it uncivil to point out the truth that if a politician labels himself as "pro-choice" and either does nothing to further the pro-life cause or actively supports the practice of abortion, that this politician is in fact "pro-abortion?" The truth is the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it is for those who try to obfuscate it by the misleading label of "pro-choice." The Catholic Church, as possessor of the fullness of truth regarding faith and morals, has a duty and right to uphold and defend the truth.

Senator Obama has supported partial birth abortion, opposed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, and said he would enact the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" if elected President. This act would enact into federal law the unjust usurpation of constitutional authority from the individual states by the 1973 Supreme Court in the Roe v Wade decision. Sounds like pro-abortion to me.

Here are the sources you asked for from JP2, Benedict, and the USCCB on Iraq:

Benedict XVI (April, 2007):
"Elsewhere too, peace is sorely needed... In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees." (Zenit.org)

John Paul II (January, 2003):
"NO TO WAR"! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences....And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq?... War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations."
(zenit.org)

USCCB:
They have been very outspoken on the war. Rather than quote everything here, I will ask you just to refer to the USCCB Justice, Peace, and Human development website.

Finally, I would just like to note one thing. Neither Senator Obama nor Senator McCain are model political candidates when it comes to Catholic ethical thought. Obama is pro-choice and pro-stem cell research. McCain has reversed his opinions on things that he himself worked for such as the torture and humane immigration. McCain not only wants to continue the war in Iraq, he wants to bomb Iran, which would likely cause more civilian deaths. Neither candidate opposes the death penalty. Let's not trivialize any of these points in order to further a partisan agenda. Let's rally around the fullness of our Catholic Social Teaching in order to change republicans and democrats. Let's not let partisan politics affect us as a church. Let's unify our church, and make it so powerful, that we change our nation.

Liberal or progressive political ideas are not easy to communicate, can be embarrassing and will often be easily refuted. On the other hand, personal insults are fun and easy to do. This is done by both left and right. But the left is better at it as they get more practice and have less options, given the lack of reason and truth in their arguments

From your article: "The audience of about 700 was largely older, "Almost everyone was over 60; out of 700 only about 30 were any younger." When she asked one of the organizers about the lack of young adults, she was told, "It's quality, not quantity." " Right.

Looks like "catholic" activist liberalism is slowly but surely dying off. It is about time.

Now if we can just, with God's help, pry its enervating effects out of the Church.

Much confusion is being sown within our church and unfortunately, much of it is the result of cheap transitory politics. Political parties come and go. Many young people, if asked, could not tell you the name of the political party headed by Adolph Hitler in the 1930's. However, most of these folks can reference the horrors of the Natzi regime: the bad that men do does live after them.

Obviously, we as Catholics, should be united in faith to assist those in need. Most of us, I believe are. We may agree to disagree on some issues like what constitutes a just war or illegal immigration... and hopefully receive some moral guidance from the magisterium and/or the Holy Father to help form a good Catholic conscience. However, the murder of totally innocent life by its parent/parents is such a horrific evil that there is no legitimate debate within our church.

My son is a priest.. a good priest. His life as a priest is made more difficult by those who claim to be 'good Catholics' yet vigorously try and rationalize baby killing. Organizations formed and controlled by these 'good Catholics'(even nuns) whose actions have much more to do with cheap politics and winning elections... are shams that add to the Catholic confusion in our post Christian society. We, as Catholics, need to be the front line of defense for life... not play that it can be rationalized as acceptable for a faithful Catholic to promote.

http://www.usccb.org/bishops/FCBullInsert.pdf