It annoys the hell out of me when Catholic bishops harass pro-choice politicians and threaten to deny them Mass. So, I probably should be annoyed by this, too.
More than 75 professors at Catholic University and other prominent Catholic colleges have written a pointed letter to Mr. Boehner saying that the Republican-supported budget he shepherded through the House of Representatives will hurt the poor, elderly and vulnerable, and therefore he has failed to uphold basic Catholic moral teaching.
“Mr. Speaker, your voting record is at variance from one of the Church’s most ancient moral teachings,” the letter says. “From the apostles to the present, the Magisterium of the Church has insisted that those in power are morally obliged to preference the needs of the poor. Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress. This fundamental concern should have great urgency for Catholic policy makers. Yet, even now, you work in opposition to it.”
Actually, this doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t bother me because these are professors, not priests, bishops, or Cardinals. No one is denying Boehner his right to worship, and it isn’t an interjection of the Church into matters of the State.
It annoys me? You know why? Because the asshats of the Catholic Church actively support Republicans. Which means they are going against everything the church is supposed to be for. They sold their souls cheaply for one minor issue.
Yes, but this IS what the church is supposed to be for.
I think it was Jack Kennedy who said he’d be more concerned about the fact that most of the bishops were Republicans…if it weren’t for all the nuns who were Democrats.
My guess is that that is still true.
How much was the Catholic Church, specifically priests and bishops, involved in stuff like the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960’s?
Yes, but is he going to cry about it? That’s the real question, right?
But seriously, good for these professors. I may disagree with them on the issue of abortion, but at least they seem to be consistent in their views on life. Disagreement I can live with, but rank hypocrisy is what really pisses me off.
OT
One in the queue for you to post later.
The US Catholic Bishops are hypocritical in that they hold too dearly an absolutest position on abortion and compromise too much on all other Church social teaching. It’s only lip service sometimes but the Bishops do put out statements on the other issues. They don’t get covered well in the corporate media or the blogoshere. And most tragically of all these positions are ignored by the majority of American Catholics:
On immigration:
May 10: “Congress and the President have a responsibility to come together to enact reform that corrects this humanitarian problem, respects the dignity and hard work of our immigrant brothers and sisters, and reflects America’s proud history as a hospitable society and a welcoming culture.”
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-096.shtml
On budget issues:
May 6: “Looking forward to proposals in the Senate for FY 2012, the letter cautions that “[a] just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons. It requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly.”
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-094.shtml