How False News Statements Linger On – Influencing How Catholics Voted in Election 2004
As usual, the MSM is doing a lousy job of reporting facts in the matter of Joseph Ratzinger and the US bishops at their USCCB Meeting in Denver, CO – June 2004. [US Conference of Catholic Bishops – USCCB ]
Using small bits of facts, stretching it into a story that can be readily consumed by the agnost, and the reporter at AFP is satisfied to get enough readers who agree and lash out at the person of Joseph Ratzinger and the Catholic Church.
AFP headlines yesterday:
New pope intervened against Kerry in US 2004 election campaign
Just spending some minutes to search for the facts on Internet, leads to a complete opposite view of what happened in Denver …
… and how the MSM and other conservative voices, misinterpret the issue to push forward their own agenda to smear Senator John Kerry as a pro-choice and pro-abortion politician. Any denial of Communion was and is extremely exaggerated, and part of the introduction of fear for the practising Catholics in their voting behavior. The extreme opinion was supported by a very small number of Catholic bishops.
See my earlier comment, on Kerry, Vatican and Abortion and Cardinal Francis Arinze in April 2004. Pro-choice is not the same as free-abortion as a political statement.
On BBC Radio this week, and in the British press, a view on denial of communion to John Kerry, is repeatedly and falsely levied at Joseph Ratzinger. During the election campagne, the media had picked up on some comments from Rome, but mostly carried within the US by several archdiocese. NOT an official statement from the Vatican Office on Doctrine, headed by Ratzinger.
Vatican City – April 23, 2004 — Cardinal Francis Arinze told a Vatican news conference that pro-abortion Catholic politicians such as Mr Kerry were “not fit” to receive communion.
But, across the Atlantic, an unabashed Mr Kerry said women’s rights “are just that: rights, not political weapons”.
The clash has refuelled the fiery debate over abortion in the US. US bishops have discretion in deciding who should receive communion, and several bishops, led by Archbishop Raymond Burke of St Louis, have warned they will not give Mr Kerry communion.
Source: BBC News.
As I recall, the Vatican released a statement that it was not any formal view from within the Holy See. Clearly taking no political position in the run-up to the US election.
Press release Catholics in Political Life – USCCB Meeting held at Denver, CO. – June 21, 2004.
In addition a link to Colorado Matters – Radio interview on July 13, 2004 with Archbishop Charles Chapot. In addition, Chapot speaks on issue of Iraq war and capital punishment.
Interview Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis, the new ‘John Fisher’
DENVER – Aug. 9, 2004 — Archbishop Raymond L. Burke is disappointed that Cardinal McCarrick and Bishop Gregory withheld Cardinal Ratzinger’s Memo at the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishop’s June meeting in Denver.
An activists website:
Women for Faith and Family — Catholics and Political Responsibility
CONCLUSION:
Yes there was a letter send to US Bishops by Joseph Ratzinger, but with NO specifics on denying Senator Kerry Holy Communion, on the contrary. A MEMO, theological letter of guidelines, with judgement to be made by local church authorities within existing Canon Law.
If one believes the conservative website, six extreme conservative Bishops would recommend withholding Communion, but none apparently took that position formally.
If anyone is keeping score, and I am, the tally goes as thus for denying manifest, obstinate, persistent persons in grave sin: Six diocesan heads for denying the Eucharist, 189 diocesan heads against denying.
The six good men are: Burke (St. Louis), Bruskewitz (Lincoln), Vasa (Baker), Donohue (Atlanta), Baker (Charleston), and Jugis (Charlotte).
Registrant of website – Domains By Proxy, Inc. in Arizona.
Vatican City – October 25, 2004 — The questions came at a news conference where Vatican officials presented a 524-page compendium of the Catholic Church’s doctrine on social issues including war and peace, the death penalty, globalization, the free market and workers’ rights.
[…]
When a reporter asked if Catholics could vote for a politician supporting legalized abortion, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the “Holy See never gets involved in electoral or political matters directly.”
Issues at the Conclave and Election of Pope Benedict XVI
Summary after first interview with Cardinal Simonis of the Netherlands —
The topics that were discussed, and of importance in their choice of a new pope:
- spiritual leadership – a scholar in theology
- communicator and listener as Dean of Bishops since 2002
- decentralization and autonomy of local churches
- implementation of synod Vatican Council II
- address the youth in the world
- social justice high on agenda
- wealth of Western world vs poverty in Third World
- war and peace.
I clearly miss the more liberal opinions in the western world: women in the church, sexuality, contraception and birth control.
Pope Benedict XVI will travel to his native Germany in August, to attend the World Youth Conference at Cologne between August 16-23. He will NOT be a globetrotter like JPII due to an ailment, his physician will not allow him to make long intercontinental flights.
As Dean of the College of bishops, Joseph Ratzinger has met his colleagues on many occasions. Many show amazement over his deep knowledge of theology, his ability to listen. On all occasions, Joseph Ratzinger indicates on modern issues, the universal church of the continents has the responsibility to be a teacher for Rome.
On ecumenical cooperation, indications are his ability to work well with the christian orthodox churches, perhaps the discussion with the Protestant Reform churches will be more difficult.
Benedict is the patron saint of Europe.
Rome – December 1984 — The German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Faith, previously the Holy Office, the highest doctrinal authority in the Church, after the Pope, has spoken out strongly against the results of Vatican II. In a long interview conceded to the weekly “Jesus”, he speaks of the urgency of “restoring” the Church, he criticizes the episcopal conferences and the American theologians; he calls some non-christian religions “reigns of terror”. He also warns against the danger of an African council, and admits that a real personal devil exists. These statements by the so-called “gendarm of Pope Wojtyla”, have had a strong impact in the Vatican, especially in the more progressive circles who are inspired by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Casaroli.
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The Vatican’s Enforcer of the Faith – Georg Ratzinger
Yahoo News Related to Papacy and the Vatican – Full Coverage
Included link to VIDEO of Joseph Ratzinger and homily for JPII at St. Peter’s Square.
The chosen name is of some importance, as it’s a model for Joseph Ratzinger to follow! Link to comment: Benedict XV – as model for Ratzinger?
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE COLLABORATION OF MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD
by DuctapeFatwa with excellent review added by Janet Strange
Just found this site —
News Portal – Catholic Sources in Europe and US
APPENDIX: MUST READ!
Women for Faith and Family — Catholics and Political Responsibility
Registrant of website:
Women for Faith and Family
PO Box 3286
St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone: +1.31486383
Listed as Ave Maria University Florida
Board of Trustees
Mrs. Helen Hull Hitchcock
c/o Adoremus
PO Box 3286
St. Louis, MO 63130
AMU ECCLESIAL ADVISORS
Most Reverend John J. Nevins, D.D.
Bishop of Venice
P.O. Box 2006
Venice, FL 34284
His Eminence Christoph Cardinal Schonborn
Archbishop of Vienna
Rotenturmstrasse 2
Vienna, Austria A-1010
His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze
Congregation for Divine Worship – Palazzo delle Congregazioni
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Città del Vaticano Italy
CONCLUSION:
Apparently in the US Catholic Church there are groups working outside the hierarchy, similar to the NeoCons in the political arena. Perhaps even links with Opus Dei, I haven’t been able to check this out.
Therefore it is most important to verify sources of news items, to see if it has merit, or is for propaganda purpose and another political agenda.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
