San Diego Catholic Diocese denounces parish that called voting Democrat ‘mortal sin’

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters

04 NOV 2016 AT 22:25 ET

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego denounced one of its parishes on Friday after its worshippers were told that voting for Democrats is a “mortal sin” that could lead to an eternity in hell.

The Diocese said the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in the neighborhood of Old Town made the statement in an insert to a weekly leaflet given to churchgoers on Oct. 16, calling abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and other political issues “non-negotiables.” “It is a mortal sin to vote Democrat,” the insert read, with the words underlined and bolded. “If your bishop, priest, deacon or other parishioners tell you to do so, you must walk away from them. Your immortal soul and your salvation are at stake.”

-snip-

Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy said in a statement that the parish, which will also serve as a polling place, violated its religious duties with the political comments. “It is contrary to Catholic teaching to state that voting for a Democrat or Republican automatically condemns the voter to hell,” the statement said.

“The Catholic Church does not endorse specific candidates, use parish media or bulletins to favor candidates or parties or engage in partisan political activity of any kind.”

-snip-



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/11/san-diego-catholic-diocese-denounces-parish-that-called-voting-democrat-mortal-sin/

[vlyons]

1. Quite a lot of comments on my FB feed about this church

So glad the Bishop stepped in to write a message about it, but the priest who tolerated it needs to be disciplined. Churches that engage in politics, other than to remind parishoners of their civic duty to vote, can lose their tax exempt status.

[kebob]

2. If You Want to Suffer in Hell, Vote for Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Plus

[forest444]

23. Not enough beer cans on the ground.

And where the F-series pickup with bullet holes, a confederate flag, and a deer hanging from the bed!?

[BumRushDaShow]

24. You're looking at a picture of the North Portico

All the reeeeeeeeaaaaal good stuff is on the South Lawn and shiiiiitttt!

[forest444]

25. There you go!

Don´t let me forget the pork rinds!

[homegirl]

3. When will the IRS

conduct a major investigation of these religious institutions for violations of their tax exempt status. Religion out of politics should be the mission of our politicians and our government. They never stop trying to control our laws.

[Gman]

4. Especially when everyone knows

You go to hell for voting for a Republican.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Excommunicate the pastor and be done with it.

He's been drinking too much of sinner Newt Getrich's koolaid by invoking the "scary Saul Alinsky" meme.

[Penn Voter]

7. No

the mortal sin is covering up for child rapists.

[dalton99]

8. Fascism is okay?

That priest is stupid and shoud be fired.

[milestogo]

9. I hereby denounce thee.

We really need more formal denouncements.

[dlk]

10. Violation of Tax-Exempt Status

There is no reason why churches that participate in political campaigning shouldn't have their tax-exempt status yanked. They are gaming the system and the American taxpayers are footing the bill. Freedom of religion is not freedom of political campaigning.

[Sunlei]

13. on the other hand, lets take the easier path. Start your own church or charity and live tax free.

[Mc Mike]

11. Our Pgh. Bishop, Zubik, told us the only non negotiable voting issue

was the candidates' stand on "pro-life" vs pro-choice.

We all ignored the asshole, and voted for Dems, in '08 and '12.

[Wuddles440]

20. The parish in suburban PGH...

that all members and relatives of my wife's family worship has been providing "Voter's Guides" to their parishioners for decades. Of course, their recommended candidates are always Republican due to the abortion issue - nothing else matters. The reality is that nothing has been done, and never will be, to prevent these violations of their non-profit status due to the influence of the catholic church.

[Mc Mike]

27. Zubik trotted out a big beefy deacon to inveigh from the pulpit during sermon time

right before the election last time, to dance as close to the line as possible in saying 'vote repug'.

[Sunlei]

12. was one person who stuffed the flier in their 'weekly paper' newsletter. Their diocese (church gov.)

has publicly corrected them.

I really think it's wrong for the American 'media for sale to other media' (Reuters) to crucify this person by creating "breaking news headlines" stories about them.

[Firestorm49]

14. Enough Already

It's time to start taxing churches. All of them!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

15. Only way to reduce/eliminate abortion - lets use our God given brains to

develop/make accessible cheap, affordable, effective contraceptive methods incl reversible vasectomies .... keeping sperm separate from egg is not rocket science. And then to take responsibility for our sexuality like adults.

I do NOT see anything remotely resembling this coming from the religious right and in fact I hold them responsible for creating the societal fears and confusion that leads to people not owning their sexuality and not taking responsibility.... thus leading to unwanted pregnancies - among the highest in the world. .

Well Im just getting myself psyched here for having a talk with my mom this weekend.... who I suspect is going to vote R even though she hates their nominee. I dont think itll change her mind because who is she to question what the priest says. I dont know what itll take to get through to her - God himself/herself coming down from a cloud and knocking her upside the head perhaps.

[Moonwalk]

18. Remind her what Trump said about the Pope and that the Pope has condemned Trump....

Who is she to question the Pope? That's what she'll be doing if she listens to the Priest, and that WILL get her condemned to hell. Won't it? Oh, and also, Kaine is a Catholic and if anything happens to Hillary, a Catholic will become president.

[SunSeeker]

16. "Vote Democrat" is only a violation of grammar rules. Vote Democratic. nt

[pablo_marmol]

19. And they wonder how this San Diego native and one-time altar boy............

.........turned into an atheist.

[allan01]

26. good for the san deigo catholic diocese

that one parish should loose its tax exempt status .

[mahina]

28. I yelped, hope you guys do too.

Unacceptable!