Voting for a supporter of abortion rights amounts to endorsing “homicide.”

[IndianaGreen]

Catholic Church is riven by election politics
Liberals, conservatives skirmish over church’s teachings on war, racism

In Scranton, Pa., every Catholic attending Mass this weekend will hear a special homily about the election next month: Bishop Joseph Martino has ordered every priest in the diocese to read a letter warning that voting for a supporter of abortion rights amounts to endorsing “homicide.”

“Being ‘right’ on taxes, education, health care, immigration and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life,” the bishop wrote. “It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice.’ ”

In response, a coalition of liberal lay Catholics is pushing back, criticizing the bishop’s message for neglecting other aspects of “life” talked about in Catholic social teachings, like concern for the poor.

To underscore the point, a nun is collecting the signatures of prominent Catholic leaders there for a newspaper advertisement reminding those who may be wary of voting for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic nominee for president, that the church also considers racism a sin that threatens the dignity of life.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27023915/

[ulysses]

1. tax the diocese.

Now.

[Barack_America]

2. I agree. nt

[kestrel91316]

3. And when they can't make the payments, seize their assets and shut them down.

[thunder rising]

4. Yep, they are welcome to play in the political games ... they just have to pay. Just like my

deductible contributions. It's the price you pay to have an opinion.

[ulysses]

5. you don't have to pay to have an opinion.

I pay taxes whether I have an opinion or not.

[Patchuli]

8. An opinion, no

but preaching politics from the pulpit should make those churches forfeit their tax-exempt status. That's worse than if I took advantage of the fact that working in a school, I can unduly influence young adults to vote my way but I don't and would not. It's taking an unfair advantage. Secondly, that bishop needs to get his rosary out of our ovaries!

[krawhitham]

6. Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran (eom)

[Chloroplast]

7. If there are any other Catholics here, PLEASE speak up!

Our church hosted a priest from another parish one Sunday and he asked us to pray for legislation against those that 'wish to kill innocents in the womb'. I was seething and went straight to our parish office after Mass and told them I didn't appreciate political statements during a homily. If churches want to sway votes, give Uncle Sam his share of the collection plate.

[BattyDem]

9. What about voting for a supporter of war? Or a supporter of the death penalty?

:eyes:

[Bubbha Jo]

14. Those don't involved sex. The fundies don't pay attention unless it does.

[Fran Kubelik]

10. Abortion is too polarizing. We should have Obama come out against choice.

Just kidding. Thought I'd give y'all a taste of what your gay friends were facing here yesterday. Well, every day. Just more yesterday than usual.

[Fran Kubelik]

11. Sorry if I killed your thread

:(

[NorthernSpy]

12. the Catholic Church has NO business pointing fingers in the name of the children...

Their hierarchy's massive, decades-long pedophilia coverup speaks far louder about their REAL attitude toward REAL children than does this melodramatic hand-wringing over the fate of some blastocysts.

[LiberadorHugo]

13. Hey Bishop...

Thank you for taking time out from you even more disgusting acts.

[and-justice-for-all]

15. Those fucks are Pro-Life and Pro-war...slight contradiction.

they just do not want women to be able to make the decision themselves, because they would rather abort your young adult son/daughter in a meaningless war.

Obama is not Pro-abortion, no one wants any one to get an abortion, but is not a decision that is open to the public. The Government has no place in ones private decisions like having an abortion or the right to die issue.