Ok, the Casey thing in particular is alarming. What groups did he get money from?

Thank you for this article. I had no idea. And thank you to Mrs. Correnti for compiling this information.

Truly nauseating. They tout their religion to get into office, because you need to have some religion to get elected in America, and then take money from groups like this. They are a bunch of users.

And the bishops can't even speak out and request that these people not to present themselves for Communion?

The named politicians are NOT Catholics; But, heretics for which a better solution was set in the Age-Of-Faith.

James, they are sinners, as are we all. I've posted this before from Guardini's "The Lord" and here it is again.


"Woe to me if I say: 'I believe' and feel safe in that belief. For then I am already in danger of losing it (see Cor 10:12). Woe to me if I say: 'I am a Christian'---possibly with a side-glance at others who in my opinion are not, or at an age that is not, or at a cultural tendency flowing in the opposite direction. Then my so-called Christianity threatens to become nothing but a religious form of self-affirmation. I 'am' not a Christian; I am on the way to becoming one---if God will give me the strength. Christianity is nothing one can 'have'; nor is it a platform from which to judge others. It is movement. I can become a Christian only as long as I am conscious of the possibility of falling away. The gravest danger is not failure of the will to accomplish a certain thing; with God's help I can always pull myself together and begin again. The real danger is that of becoming within myself unchristian, and it is greatest when my will is most sure of itself. I have absolutely no guarantee that I shall be be privileged to remain a follower of Christ save in the manner of beginning, of being en route, of becoming, trusting, hoping, and praying."

How can one say that accepting money from pro-choice groups makes one not pro-life? There's more to being pro-life than that. There's more to being pro-life than supporting abortion criminalization. In fact, I think we've all established that the best way to be pro-life is to oppose criminalization. And take money from abortion advocacy groups.
Right?

peace,hope and change,

Commonweal/America bloggers and writers

when you lie with dogs, you have to expect to get up with fleas

Who is the "we"? It certainly doesn't include me, or most people I know who care about this issue. The "we" in this context sounds a bit imperial to me. Perhaps you should ask if there is general agreement before assuming we belong to your "we."

Pax!

I took Matt as being very sarcastic here, Deal. The peace/love/change quip and the signature from America and Commonweal clued me in.

If I'm wrong, than these groups need no parody other than their own statements.

These politicians don't care what we think of them, or how the Church views these actions. They're so busy trying to please people that they don't even know what they stand for. Empty, hollow, hypocrites... but with money!!

Stay firm people - St. Peter doesn't accept bribes...

Yada-yada-yada... Ooooooooooohh... A powerful public statement by Cardinal George... Yeah, that'll do it! Folks - the supposed 'Catholic' politicians know they can ignore Cardinal George with impunity, and couldn't care less about what he says.

Folks - in my whole lifetime, and despite the hard and honest efforts of a small percentage of serious Catholics - the Church has adamantly refused to take on the abortion issue seriously, and to make consequences for collusion with evil. Pro-aborts get Communion, they make speeches at Catholic colleges, they are 'friends' with bishops, etc. etc. etc. If some pro-abort gets excommunicated, I'll be amazed. Bishop Wuerl can't find the strength to really take on Nancy Pelosi. How weak.

We have tons of cardinals and bishops who consort with pro-abort politicans (Hey, Obama the infanticidilist was just feted at the Al Smith dinner...) Cardinal McCarrick dissembles (lies) about a letter received from Cardinal Ratzinger about the duty of refusing Communion to pro-abort politicans. Virtually ALL of the 'Catholic' colleges are replete with pro-abort dissenters. Very, very, very few priests will homilize directly and regularly about the evil of abortion, or even explain it to parishioners. ONly a few percent of Catholics actually have a Biblical worldview, etc. etc. etc. Over half of Catholics voted for an infanticidilist, and have made themsevles complicit with a grave evil - but yet - wait - tons of bishops and priests are nattering on about how 'wonderful' it is to have a black man as president (thus making the man's skin color have some significance - which it doesn't). That's right, the skin color is far more important than whether this man thinks letting born babies die is dandy.

It never ends. You have a few bishops and priests stand for something, but most of the time, they are shushed by the powers-that-be in the church.

In my fourteen years, we had ONE homily on abortion - from a deacon! He was promptly attacked by many in the pews - and was told by the pastor and several priests to never, ever to that again.

The Church is run in America by cowards, and those who simply like popularity more than doing what is right.

Overall, the Church has the power to change the world, but it doesn't have the will.

James

Correction to above post: (In my fourteen years at the parish in which we have raised our children...)

James

"In the end, Correnti found that a number of the 162 Catholics in Congress have taken money from pro-abortion groups -- to the tune of more than $9 million."

is said in the article. The petition says more than $100 million. This is not clear. Which is right?

Hi, Mary -- I think the edits here might have made it unclear. For Catholics currently in Congress, the number is $9 million. For all Catholic Congressmen since 1990, the number is $100 million.

I'll make that clearer in the article. Thanks.

In my mind, one of the most effective ways to proceed with regard to the evil of abortion is to evangelize Catholics. Yeah really!

For instance, over half of Catholic college students do not believe abortion an evil - and they look to all sorts of dissidents around them to confirm their views.

The Church (especially in America) has shown that it will not lead very much on this. Many of the 'leaders' of the American Catholic Church are dissenters on all sorts of issues, and many of the others are cowards. It's gonna have to come from the laity, I believe.

We have had two Confirmation groups of 12 teens for two years each. When they arrived at our doorstep, fully 75% of each group believed abortion to be fine and dandy. After two years, virtually all of them believed the opposite - and had become passionate about it. What changed them? We used many arguments, examples, information, etc. etc. to change their minds. We were successful. Some of their parents complained - but oh well, they know what the Church teaches.

I notice that many of you here flee to orthodox parishes, which are not afraid to name abortion for the evil it is, and to explain to parishioners why it is evil. You should resist that temptation - and dare to place yourself among dissenters and sinners on this issue in weak parishes. Why? Because that is what Christ did. He went among sinners to preach God's loving truth.

We belong to a mealy parish, where the priests are afraid to discuss any difficult issue. I am routinely accosted at Catholic get-togethers at our parish from all sorts of dissident Catholics, because I dare to stand up for difficult truths of the faith. Many people get upset with me, but they respect that I don't back down. I've helped form a men's group, which is requesting that our pastor deal with some very difficult issues (in today's society) - like abortion, homosodomy, pornography, divorce - hell. He doesn't want to, but he also doesn't want to be seen as a coward. We will see what happens.

If most Catholics refused to vote for pro-abort politicians, they would disappear. If most Catholics were not afraid to deal with dissenters in a forthright and loving way, parishes would be a lot stronger.

I've come to believe that it's time to almost start over, parish by parish.

James

Tim - last (gotta run) -

The Book of Proverbs tells us: "As iron sharpens iron, so does man sharpen his fellow man."

Any true serious Catholic is interested in understanding and promoting God's loving truth for us - including, of course, the bishops. Yes - there are ALWAYS some bad apples (and occasionally, a bad crop of apples), but for the most part, most bishops are devoted to God and to Christ, and seek to live lives devoted to God's love in this world. It is the serious Catholics, at all levels, who have sustained the Church - the body of Christ - through the ages.

And yes, even priests and bishops are susceptible to wrong ideas, and to wrong understandings, and to cowardice. Sometimes it is the duty of the laity to question or confront - but only, of course, if the lay person is truly devoted to knowing the truth, and resorts to arguments based on God's revelation to us through Scripture and Tradition.

Arguments you hear on blogs like this are cases where, among those truly committed to Christ - man is sharpening his fellow man. That's as it should be. Yeah?

Best,

James

Sorry, sorry, above post meant for another thread. Will try to be more careful.

Like this blog. Interesting.

James at No. 10 seems to be ranting a bit but it might be time for ranting from the laity. The politicians of Canada and the U.S. have probably gotten used to occasional mutterings from Catholic bishops as part of the background noise of political life.

Only two things will affect them: Being publicly turned away from the Communion line, and an election loss that is clearly due to the Catholic vote's going the other way.

These people continue to be catholics and refuse to repent of their ways yet still get to be part of the communion. During the Roman persecution of Christians the church had a hard time allowing apostates back into the church. These apostates were under threat of death, turned away but came back and were forgiven of their apostasy because they truly regretted their mistakes. These politicians are unabashed in their support of abortion. They are modern day apostates and need to be excommunicated. It has been going on for years and the Church has given them plenty of time to repent.

Bishop Martino said about Biden, "I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church."

In Matthew 7:16 Jesus says, By their fruits ye shall know them." Well these politicians listed have gone rotten!

It's enough to make you sick. God help us,.... since only His grace can help us to resist this horror.

I am intending as soon as I finish writing this to sign onto that petition. Thanks for passing along this information, Deal. Keeping everyone informed helps to counter the dissimulation that is served up by many of our politicians.

Is anyone really surprised about this? Especially the Church's response from it's coward leaders? What are they afraid of, anyway? The smoke of Satan has already entered the Church. I think most devout Catholics get that. We fight and we fight, seemingly to no avail, but good wins out in the end. Keep in mind that evil makes a ruckus and not the truly good Catholic folk in the pews. That quiet protest called prayer, and confession, and adoration, etc., does way more than a couple of rabble-rousers in the Congress. It always does and it always will. God promised. Amen.

The Catechism is pretty clear.

If you are excommunicated for supporting an intrinsic evil, it occurs when and because you took such action. You excommunicate yourself. You don't have to wait for a bishop to notice and announce it in public. You put yourself out of communion by placing yourself outside the communion of saints.

First, I give thanks to Jesus Christ, for instituting the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I know many post-abortive women and they have been healed by the Grace of God through programs like Rachael's Vineyard. The tide is turning, we must continue to speak out and PRAY! Fast and Pray. Perhaps we can't, as human beings, solve this current dilemma, but if we unite in prayer (rosary, sacred scripture, Holy Mass) and live in the state of sanctifying grace, we can turn the tide. Are we doing this? Can we spend 3 hours a day in prayer or are we too busy trying to fix the problem? Face it, we humans can't. I urge all of us to hear the message of Medjugorje (don't squibble with me about whether or not it is really an event, LISTEN to the message!). Pray the Rosary, Fast, Read Holy Scripture, Confession once a month and Holy Mass. That's the Do List from heaven. I challenge you to Do and put into action. Things will change if you do!

Deal - thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I've linked to this post at my blog and am encouraging my readers to sign the petition.

Does it matter whether the law says abortion is legal or not? Why not try and touch those around you? Family and Community? Teach those around you about the dangers of abortion, pre and post. The abortion right stems from the privacy act and if it hasn't changed in over 35 years, then we need to look at other ways of teaching and instilling value. If you don't like abortion, don't have one and if you feel so strongly against it, then start a group, organization, whatever to teach, inform and instill value in those around you. Grassroots, right?
Another thing. Many times people are preaching to others who do NOT share the same faith or values. While these are still basically good people, they just don't believe the way we do. They're opinions won't change and until you stop beating them over the head with the issue and just show them how a Christian lives, i.e. lovingly, then you'll never reach them.
I get that miracles can happen, but the fact remains-35 years of a Rep majority and the abortion issue has only been used as a stump speech for them to get elected. Maybe it's time to try something new.
Keep praying, keep teaching in a loving and peaceful manner. Arm yourself with love and prayer and remember, women who choose abortion will need you afterwards, too.

I'ld just like to thank Bishop Martino for speaking the truth. I've recently begun my journey back to the Catholic faith, and for some time derided Catholics openly. Like alot of Catholics today I was Catholic in name only. I'm also an alcoholic in recovery. The first sober thought to enter my head was "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else will follow." Where does one "look" for God, I looked forever! He's in each of us. But the thing to remember about God is this, He doesn't abandon us and I don't believe He punishes us here, at least not the way we would usually think of punishing someone. When we walk away from God we walk toward darkness, literal spiritual darkness. We lose His protection. It's like Peter walking on water, once he took his eyes off of the Lord he sank like a rock, Jesus didn't sink Peter, he allowed himself to sink. I believe politicians that are Catholics and support abortion "rights" just aren't practicing their faith, they're not learning it. How many Catholics actually read the Cathechism? The Bible? We have to seek the truth. Faith and holiness is like working out, if you don't go to the gym there's no results. Religion is the gym of the soul. I went to Catholic school for 12 yrs. and had no idea what Catholicism taught. I never heard the truth. Remember this, these politicians that knowingly support these abominations are rebelling against God and they'll answer for it, if not now then afterward. If they are just immature christians then we can only hope their eyes are opened. As someone that has rebelled with full knowledge of my rebellion, the punishment inflicted was self inflicted, He only waits for the prodigal to realize it and come home. Sorry for going on.

Deal:

You ought to write an article on the issue of abortion and pro-choice nuns. That would be interesting. After all, they are the ones who have formed our pro-chocie Catholic politicans.

DJP

God bless you, Joe. My father, may God have mercy on his soul, never stopped drinking, left the Church and never returned, and led a most heartbreaking existence for many years before he finally died; he had lost virtually everything for the bottle. You probably don't realize you are doing something heroic.

Dear Fed Up, yes, of course it matters whether the law says abortion is legal or not. Western law has always provided a normative statement to its populace - and sometimes they back it up by paying for the brand new normative "service" .... This speaks volumes to our young people ... hey, it's legal and it's paid for!!!!!
Okay. Maybe you want to say, "We have to live with legal abortion." .... but that is a bold, commercially-fueled message - Planned Parenthood LOVES it since that's how they make their best money ... abortion services. Now, as PPH markets this "legal" option to our children, how do you propose that you and I will counter this perfectly legitimate, maybe-government-supported option? ... come on ...
All in all, what the law says makes all the difference in this Western World ... but, of course, not Beyond ...

"Is anyone really surprised about this? Especially the Church's response from it's coward leaders? What are they afraid of, anyway?"

Adam,
I have an idea...why don't we (laity) do what St Margaret Clitherow and many other lay people did when Catholics were being purged out of merry ol' England in the 16th century?
In spite of the fact that she had 3 young children, she didn't spend time whining about the fact that there was only ONE bishop in the whole country who stood up to Henry VIII. They killed her, of course, by squishing her between two plates, for sheltering priests in her house so people could go to Mass.
My point is this: "They" is us. Man up. Stop pointing a finger our leaders, who are obviously in disarray over this issue, & do what God is laying before us to do every single day. The chances for Faithful Witness will only be multiplied during 2009. When we stand before the Lord, it won't do to point your finger at the bishops. They're going to have enough to answer for as it is.
For example, instead of sarcasm, why not try signing this petition that Deal posted AND sending it on to ten other Catholics to sign? How hard is that?

Deal, thank you for this information on the abortion business. Keep working and praying. Ora et labora.

Thank you for this fine article.

This Wednesday, Dec 17, at 7:30 pm, I will be discussing the FOCA topic on my internet radio program "The Liberty Pole" on Plains Radio Network PRN www.plainsradio.com

It is an outrage that so-called Catholics deviate so strongly from Catholic teaching.

There is no peace in this world because there is no justice to the defenseless babies. The world is not worth for one life. Life is precious than the world. America was founded with Judeo-Christian principles and beliefs. It is fast eroded because of our materialistic greed. We are obssessed with "convenience" including killing babies. As if we are not "under God", we are under the devil. We will soon realize how evil is abortion. If we do not change and repent, America will melt!!! Thank you and God bless America.

While reading this, I'm reminded of the 80's, when Randall Terry was running Operation Rescue and doing things that were considered by many to really be outrageous. One example that comes to mind is when he brought a three month old fetus in a coffin to the Congress, or, he tried to. It was very unfortunate timing for the pro-life movement, because there was the beginning of changing hearts and minds for those not yet born. Prior to this particular incident, there had been many pro-life rally's, protests, and other organized events to make people aware of what abortion is really about and how it negatively impacts society, how it damages the mother, and how life should be a fundamental right that supersedes all others. Unfortunately this particular action received a great deal of negative publicity, as it should have, because you really can't claim to have the utmost respect for life and then parade around a corpse to prove a point.

When I see so many posts that attack our religious, our Priests and Bishops, I'm reminded and again dismayed by those actions of those who claim to be pro-life, but fail to treat those who are here now with respect. From the Catholic teaching, we are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and it is by our works (and words) that we will be known. The fight for the rights of those in the womb will not be won with hate, but love.

Christ set a great, and sometimes almost unattainable standard for us to imitate. We don't know what our Bishops are doing in this effort to protect life unless they publicly state it, what they truly believe or what they do in private to further the cause is only between them and God, as we have no idea what is in their heart.

I live in the Diocese of Reno, NV. The first full weekend of February will be when postcards that state our personal opposition to FOCA are handed out to all our parishioners so they can fill them out, and when all have been signed and collected, these postcards will be hand delivered to our elected representatives. And for those who are not familiar with what the USCCB is currently doing, this postcard campaign was created, approved, and promoted throughout the US by the USCCB.

While you may think something like this is ineffective, keep in mind that our elected officials are supposed to represent the will of their constituents, and when they recieve all these postcards, they will have to respect that, and pay attention to how many responses there are. If we act according to our conscience and faith, there should be a very large number. And this is just one action item.

So rather than take the religious to task for some perceived failure, take that same energy and focus it on something positive, something that will help win hearts and minds, something that will inspire others to step up and do what they can to respect life. This is how those who are not yet born will get the protection they so desperately need.

Tony S.

This is a positive example of what can be done.

Who are we to judge? or who among us are without sin? are we spreading hate?what are we doing to spread the word to our children? Did Christ turn away the sinner? Is abortion a polictical or religious issue?
Would like some answers.please

lucy,

We are human beings, created in God's likeness and image. We are fallen, but redemmed in Christ. We have free will and everyone of us has missed the mark (i.e., sinned).

But there is a big difference between my sin and me. My sin is not who I am. It is not hate to correct someone who is engaged in sinful or scandalous behavior. It is love to do so.

The behavior is not the person. It is not our job to judge a person -- that God's business. But it IS our job to identify and root out sin in our lives and to help our neighbors do so as well.

Calling wrongful behavior wrong is not judging the person, just the act.

I hope that helps answer your question.

Dear Mr. Hudson: I tried to post a comment at the National Catholic Reporters' website on the page that posted an article criticizing Catholic politicians who criticize other Catholic politicians over their abortion-supporting votes. It didn't make the grade, I guess. I simply asked the author if he thinks that only sinless people have a right to question pro-abortion senators and their votes. It's becoming obvious that the connection between sexual sins and the sin of abortion is (duh!!) so close. If abortion is to end, then so must end the number of casual sexual encounters that result in "unwanted" pregnancies. I think the NCR writer sees this, and is worried about next having to explain to the world that, if the time is nigh for abortion to stop, so must our society's flippant, frivolous use of sex to satisfy our bodies' craving for true connectedness in our often sterile and impersonal world. We see how cheap and degraded we've made the sexual other in our spheres. Perhaps this is why JPII's theme for our new evangelization was "Be Not Afraid." Be not afraid, senators, it's okay to be a sinner and still condemn abortion. It's okay to be a writer and condemn sexual improprieties. But it's not okay to condemn the sinner (and I don't think the senator was condemning his fellow abortion-supporting senators... I think he was admonishing them, especially in light of the authority bestowed on them as U.S. lawmakers). Why do we not condemn the man? That's because we all are sinners. So, sinners, be not afraid to find true satisfaction in this world (for it is NOT in the flesh--unless of course, you're married, and your satisfaction comes from the fruit of your flesh, which is your child). Be not afraid to look elsewhere. Perhaps we can all stand in front of an abortion clinic some day, all of us together, and say "let's not be afraid to close this place and see what true Life has to offer." p.s. keep up the good work here... perhaps our bishops and our Vatican have "dropped the ball" on dealing with abortion-supporting Catholic legislators. But we are not just a Church of the clergy or episcopacy. We are a Church made up of millions and millions of lay, life-loving, faithful brothers and sisters who sometimes have to work out their own problems when the father of our house is busy with other serious matters around the world.

While following the townhall meetings re: health care, a man asked a Senator,(Sheldon Whitehouse Dem,RI), if he ,knowing that all his constituents were opposed to the healthcare bill presently before congress, would he vote for it anyway. His answer was ,"Absolutely!". The other Senator from RI, Jack Reed, has voted straight Democratic party line on every single issue,including abortion-regardless of the fact that he was born and raised and still is a practicing Catholic. ( RI, by the way, at least on paper, is 86% Catholic).

My point being that regardless of how many people make their views known to their reps doesn't mean that the reps will actually pay attention. In today's government party is everything. So, while I agree with Tony S. that sending cards and petitions to congressmen is a worthwhile endeavor, I think that the only way get any results is to speak at the voting booth.

While here in RI we have strong leadership in Bishop Tobin, there is precious little visibility of the laity regarding political issues. So I stand convicted. Tony S, Ingrid, and Lenny G, thanks for sparking a call to greater action in consistent, logical and prayerful ways.