The birth control issue and the Catholic Church: the real basis of what should be a "NON-issue"?

Openmind

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Just as a matter of curiosity, I decided to go explore through the web what significant events may have brought us to today's "crisis" about the very innocuous "birth control issue."

I fell onto this article, that far preceeds any of today's events, but seems to demonstrate that, EVEN CATHOLICS have had concerns about the new path (including the definite gain in influence from the Vatican into American politics) taken by the American Catholic hierarchy.

For those of you who care enough about REALITY and subtle influences in our country. . .OR/AND who cares about the Constitution and the first amendment, this may (if you are honest) be an intriguing eye opener.

Election of Archbishops Dolan and Kurtz Signals Increased Vatican Influence in US Politics​

Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/17/2010 - 16:31
News Release​

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Catholics For Equality Says Election of Archbishops Dolan and
Kurtz Signals Increased Vatican Influence in US Politics​

WASHINGTON - Catholics for Equality is concerned about the anti-equality direction of the U.S. Catholic bishops in their election of Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York as the new president, and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville as vice-president, of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This election broke the long-standing tradition of elevating the current vice-president.​
Catholics for Equality Board member Rev. Tony Adams said, "following their tradition would have meant electing a noted social justice champion, Bishop Kicanas of Tucson, to lead the Catholic Church in America. Instead, the bishops chose two outspoken opponents of pro-equality civil rights measures." Both men are leaders against civil rights equality in their states and across the country.​
Board member and political strategist Aniello Alioto said, "this election broadens the gap between the people of the Catholic Church in America and the increasingly uncharitable demands of the Pope in Rome. It also threatens the broad American consensus that began with the election of President John F. Kennedy, allowing American Catholics to contribute more fully to the common good as both Americans and as Catholics. We are concerned that this election will result in a shift from the pastoral nature of American Catholicism to efforts to politicize in America the will of Rome."
Concern is amplified by the election of Archbishop Kurtz as the new USCCB Vice President. Archbishop Kurtz, as head the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, has led the Catholic hierarchy's national campaign to deny marriage and family rights to gay and lesbian citizens. That campaign has been financially assisted by the national office of the Knights of Columbus, most recently through the production of videos that demean and discredit gay and lesbian relationships, as well as single parent and extended family households. Adams said, "American Catholics are alarmed when tax-exempt church resources are diverted from charity, education and parish work into political campaigns and veiled candidate endorsements."​
"In his report from the ad-hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, Archbishop Kurtz makes it clear that our bishops are waging a new political campaign to change the laws in our country" Alioto said. The Committee's report compares court challenges to Proposition 8 in California and the federal Defense of Marriage Act to Roe v. Wade and the battle over reproductive rights. This results in a new "pro-family, pro-life" messaging strategy that harms all non-traditional as well as LGBT families. It contributes to the climate that permits bullying and harassment of youth from such families who become at higher risk for depression and suicide.​
Catholics for Equality calls upon our bishops to pledge full transparency in all efforts to shift funding from our national charitable, pastoral and educational efforts into the Pope's interference to deny freedom and fairness in American politics. It calls on all Catholics of good conscience to monitor and challenge the priorities of our bishops.​
 
Werbung:
So. . . this thread is too risky to take away your righteous "defender of the constitution" stand on birth control. or to resort to the "moral issue" about birth control?

Did the cat cut your tongue? No defender of the constitution and the first amendment feels the need to express any concern about the VATICAN's plan to interfere with US politics and US government. . .to establish AMERICAN LAWS based on the Pope's wishes?

And. . .pretending that you didn't see it, or didn't read it would be not only hypocritical, but useless, as I know how many people and whom has viewed this thread.
 
Well, it seems that I am being accused by our dear General to not consider other points of view. . . but obviously, no one else is willing to do so!

Just the same, I will post this one too:

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articl...urch-hierarchy
The Gender Conflict in Catholic Church Hierarchy
Priests, bishops should not dismiss nuns on healthcare reform or sexual abuse scandal

By MARY KATE CARY
March 31, 2010
The vote on the healthcare law showed a new gender gap, not between Demo(*)crats and Republicans but within the Roman Catholic Church. Before the vote, the all-male U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged American Catholics to contact Congress and ask that the bill not include federal funding of abortions, saying politicians should "fix the flaws or vote no." Surprisingly, the organizations representing 59,000 Catholic nuns broke with the bishops and endorsed the legislation. Not since pro-choice Catholic Geraldine Ferraro's nomination in 1984 has there been such a split with the church hierarchy over politics.
 
No defender of the constitution and the first amendment feels the need to express any concern about the VATICAN's plan to interfere with US politics and US government. . .to establish AMERICAN LAWS based on the Pope's wishes?
From the OP:

Catholics for Equality Board member Rev. Tony Adams said, "following their tradition would have meant electing a noted social justice champion, Bishop Kicanas of Tucson, to lead the Catholic Church in America..."
Would you be complaining about the influence of the Catholic Church on American politics if it were promoting Social Justice? Would you have a problem with their tax-exempt status if the Church were pushing for all the same government policies that you advocate?
Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution.
Catholics for Equality is a partisan group of Leftists who want only the Left-Wing agenda promoted in the Church and the article you posted is nothing more than them throwing a temper-tantrum because people who did not share their Radical Left-Wing views were given positions of power within the Catholic church.


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Has anyone ever asked Obama what he believes "God's will" to be?
 
And I thought all this time you were an ardent defender of the Constitution.

This is one part of the constitution that I absolutely believe in: TOTAL separation of the Church and the State. . . A WALL between them. NO political advantage for Religious institutions, and NO support/donations from religious institutions to Political parties.

While you are correct that I would obviously prefer that the Church I belong to be more intested in SOCIAL JUSTICE than in GREED AND CAPITALIST POWER, (and it is obvious which side Jesus would have been on), Religion should have NO Power to influence politics, and especially not influencing the laws.

And the fact that the US Catholic Church is being manipulated by the current Pope to increase its influence in the US politics is WRONG.

But, obviously, since the "puppets of the Pope" agree with YOUR point of view, you don't consider it an attack on the fist amendment!
 
Werbung:
And I thought all this time you were an ardent defender of the Constitution.
I am.
This is one part of the constitution that I absolutely believe in: TOTAL separation of the Church and the State. . . A WALL between them. NO political advantage for Religious institutions, and NO support/donations from religious institutions to Political parties.
I have seen no examples of legislation respecting the establishment of religion. If I do, you can rest assured knowing that I'll oppose it and point out that it is unconstitutional.

As for politicians and political parties getting political and monetary support from churches, I have no problem with that. They should be free to express their opinions just like every other organization. They should be free to support candidates and policies they agree with, just like other tax-exempt entities like Media Matters and the Unions.

Silencing the voice of any individual or organization would be a violation of their first amendment rights to free speech. Additionally, if you silenced their opinions on the basis of their religious beliefs, that would be a discrimination, a violation of their 14th amendment rights.

Now I have a serious question for you... Should religious people be allowed to hold public office?

If you really believe in a TOTAL separation of church and state, then your answer is NO, religious people should not be allowed to hold public office because their religious views might influence, or otherwise corrupt, laws that should be entirely secular.
 
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