Why The Church Does Not Take Sides on Candidates
Please see the link below for the full statement of Miami Archbishop John Favalora. He responds to a stunt organized by a right wing group to have ministers endorse political candidates from the pulpit in order to win a change in the IRS rules prohibiting using church funds for political campaigns.
The Archbishop writes "When church leaders speak on issues such as immigration, poverty, health care, abortion, war or embryonic stem cell research, we are not telling people how to vote. We are reminding them of the moral teachings that should inform their lives, and as a result, their votes."
He said the church "will speak in support of legislation that we consider to be morally sound and beneficial to the whole community" regardless of party or candidate.
"That is our duty as teachers and successors of the apostles," he said.
"Your duty as Catholics is to listen to those teachings before making rational, informed, conscientious decisions regarding whom or what to vote for."
15 comments:
It's coming, Kate. Get ready. It is all about to explode. ACORN......get ready. It is all about to come down on Barry's head! Turn on the t.v. Don't miss it!
Katherine,
I'm so glad you pointed this out and Archbishop Favalora heeds the teachings of Pope Benedict (who has said "The Church forms consciences but stays out of politics" frequently and in no uncertain terms.)
I called my church, and my very Republican mother called her church (both Catholic Churches in GOP-pockets of Maryland) to see if we would be greeted tomorrow with yet another campaign ad. We were both happy to learn that no such campaigning was to take place in at least our own churches.
It's funny though. My (GOP-lovin') mother also doesn't want to hear about Pope Benedict's further instruction on staying out of politics, while making sure we push for progress. (For instance, he calls for Rich nations to cancel the debt of poor states so the poor countries might grow their economy and care for their people. Mom doesn't want to hear anything that takes away her money -- from the Pope or otherwise. ;)
I just hope that priests will seriously pray over and change any decision to discuss any particular candidate tomorrow. As a Catholic, I think this can only bring harm to The Church as a whole.
It's funny...the ONLY time I heard a Catholic priest talk about voting for a particular candidate was in the 1990's. Our associate priest indicated it would be a good idea to vote for Clinton.
Actually, I have no legal or religious objection to a minister or priest, speaking as an individual, endorsing a candidate. The certainly have the right to do so under the First Amendment. Many ministers, priests, rabbis, deacons and religious have already made personal endorsements announced outside of any act of worship.
The Archbishop is correct that the Church does not endorse candidates. This applies to the Church Catholic and should apply to individual Catholic parishes and Protestant congregations. Church funds should never be used to promote or oppose the election of a candidate.
The Alliance is playing a little game. While they prent to be bold and defiant, they are leaving it unclear if the minister in the pulpit is speaking personally or in the name of the Church. They really are cowards more than anything else.
anon,
I'm aware of the problems at ACORN.
Kate
Actually, this was spoken FROM the pulpit.
ELLA SAID: Mom doesn't want to hear anything that takes away her money -- from the Pope or otherwise. ;)
Ella, your mom's a liberal.
Actually, this was spoken FROM the pulpit.
And I would agree with you it was inappropriate. Priests (best those who are not pastor of a parish), religious and deacons in their private capacity could endorse candidates so long as no church funds are used. But from the pulpit is not good.
Katherine, I see your fear is promoting your censorship and suppression of free speech.
First you won't allow comments on Kmiec articles. Why is that Katherine??? Now just why would a liberal Democrat try to protect a "conservative?"
Oh, I wonder if he's not conservative?
Second, you have stop comments on the article about "Obama Winning the Catholic Vote." Getting nervous Katherine? Can't stand the light of truth can you?
When it gets right down to it you prove that liberals don't really believe in free speech, they just talk about out in public, but in private they do everything they can to suppress it.
What IS the fear Katherine? Afraid Joe McCathy is watching you?
Afraid somebody is going to figure out that Kmiec is really a Marxist?
"...representing his Catholic faith openly in the White House."
Now tell us, just what did Kmiec do to represent his Catholic faith? C'mon, don't BS us. We want to hear it.
NEXT:
KMIEC ASKS: Can there be a reverence for life that embraces a larger set of values?
WOW, a true liberal question. I love that little line there--"a larger set of values." Another liberal pretending to be a Catholic and playing with semantics (i.e., doublespeak). Now tell us Katherine, what is this "larger set of values?" huh? huh? Out with it. We want to hear it.
Getting uncomfortable Katherine? Well just delete this. Suppress the truth. We all know anyway.
KMIEC ARTICLE SAID: "...challenging the partisan interests that provoke a false rift between the Catholic Church and the Democratic Party."
Now that's a good one. A false rift??? Just what is that false rift? More doublespeak?
KMIEC ARTICLE SAID: "Kmiec confronts those Republicans who benefit from setting Democrats and Catholics at opposite ends of the political spectrum, disproving the myths these Republican Faith Partisans perpetuate."
Whoa...is this a joke or what? Myths? Are you telling me that the Democrats are no longer pushing abortion? Are you telling me that they are no longer liberal? Are you going to tell me that liberalism is compatible with the Catholic faith? Are you going to tell me that the Democratic Party no longer protects communists? Are you going to tell me that the Democratic Party no longer promotes the use of marijuana?
Let's hear it Katherine.
KMIEC ARTICLE SAID: "Catholics cannot sacrifice the primacy of human life by remaining devoted to a 'single issue.'"
No wonder you won't allow comments about that article. It can't stand the light of day can it?
Let's talk about "single issue." Why would you bring up "single issue" know full well that the Democratic Party is a single issue party? Why do you think all the non-lunatics left the Democratic Party? It's because they cannot be pro-life and be a Democrat. So they all left and went to the Republican Party. The Republican Party is far from being pro-life, but at least it tolerates the issue.
BTW God is a single issue God. He said (in Scripture) that you can obey nine of the commandments and fail on one, you will suffer everlasting fire. So quit playing the idiotic "single issue" nonsense.
KMIEC ARTICLE SAID: "...Kmiec has not betrayed his faith but rather, he has run up against a group of Republicans who have peddled the vocabulary of the Catholic faith to further partisan interests."
REALLY??? You're kidding me, right? You mean that Obama's voting record is just the rhetoric of Republicans? They really used the "vocabulary of the Catholic faith?" Please explain that Katherine. Explain it to a non-Republican such as me, who doesn't pay attention to what the Republicans are saying. They haven't stood for anything Catholic lately, but you claim they are using "vocabulary of the Catholic faith?"
Do you mean that the Republicans have been saying that abortion is a sin? I am laughing my head off. You, Kurt, and Demo may fall for that, but any thinking person knows it's just nonsense.
KMIEC ARTICLE SAID: "Douglas W. Kmiec is the Caruso Family Chair and Professor of Constitutional Law at...blah blah blah blah ad nauseum."
Who cares? If anyone checks out that resume they will understand that those are all liberal institutions that fail when it comes to the Catholic faith and so does Kmiec.
BTW, I will be posting this in other forums and my own as well.
Rustler: "BTW, I will be posting this in other forums and my own as well."
Bloggers usually think it's a good thing when others do their marketing for them. It's great to see you on board, Rustler!
DUMBO SAID: Bloggers usually think it's a good thing when others do their marketing for them. It's great to see you on board, Rustler!
Yeah, but that not the case here. I am not sure what you're using for a brain. As far as being on board, I am not especially happy to be in a $*^%*^#@(*&$# like this. Just why would anyone want to be in the same room with homos, liberal scum, liars, non-believers, heretics, Marxists, traitors, racists, baby killers and infanticidal God haters?
I am here only because I don't want you getting away with your lies unchallenged.
First off, Rustler, I've been to your personal discussion forum. The discussions list how many hits they're getting. You're not getting much traction, are you Rustler? In fact, subtract the times you visited your own comments, and I would say your visitors are next to zero.
That should tell you, Rustler. Folks just aren't that interested in what you have to say.
Just why would anyone want to be in the same room with homos, liberal scum, liars, non-believers, heretics, Marxists, traitors, racists, baby killers and infanticidal God haters?
I rather be in the same room as a hot leather daddy like you Rustler. Yummy.
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