This is a bit old – the story is from January – but I laughed like a loon at this comment from the Roman Catholic Church about changes in legislation that would allow Catholics to marry the British monarch or his/her heir:
For its part, the Catholic Church said it “would be compassionate” to a Catholic who married a Protestant monarch and could not raise their child in the faith.
Translation: :mildly: we can wait.
Moe Lane
I think that it was SM Stirling who noted that the Roman Catholic Church is patient, and that she bides her time. It’s certainly true that she’s still around, which is more any number of her historical opponents can say…
And BOOM goes the Dynamite.
Here is something that needs to be pointed out (as Hot Air did): this poll on the public reaction to the Obama’s administration’s attack on freedom of conscience is skewed toward the liberal position in at least two ways. First, it polls adults, which traditionally skews things a couple points towards the Democrats; second, it took place after the administration/mainstream media blitz touting Obama’s compromise. And said poll still shows a majority of respondents opposed to the Obama administration requiring religious organizations from funding procedures that violate those organizations’ religious beliefs. 50/44 opposed/for, and anybody out there willing to take a bet on those numbers changing in the administration’s favor when it comes to likely voters? Or even registered ones? Actually, we already know; Rasmussen polled likely voters, and came up with 50/39 opposed/for. Pew polled adults, but also polled Catholics (48/44 and 55/39 for exempting religious organizations, respectively).
CNN is left scratching its metaphorical head at its own results, given that the poll results also show extremely broad support (81/17 for/against) for birth control among Americans, including American Catholics (77/22). Speaking as somebody who himself in opposition to the Church on this, let me explain the divergence between the two questions: yes, I and many other American Roman Catholics are functional if not formal heretics of the Church* over contraception. We are, in fact, engaged in a long-term and probably ultimately unresolvable conflict over the doctrine involved. Continue reading Administration on wrong side of CNN freedom of conscience poll.
I just saw this:
In August, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that health insurance plans, as of January 1, 2013, will be required to cover contraception, including FDA-approved emergency contraception. “These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need,” she said. The Catholic Church has been pushing the White House to allow Catholic hospitals to opt out of providing contraception that it considers the termination of a life, and many in the abortion rights community are worried that the president will grant that exemption. Additionally, many Democrats invested in President Obama’s re-election are worried that if he grants that exemption, he will alienate liberal women voters they will need come November.
…and I feel the need to explain something, here. The Roman Catholic Church considers ’emergency contraception’ – otherwise known as the ‘morning after’ pill – to be an abortificant. The Roman Catholic Church does not permit its hospitals to perform abortions. And the leadership (note the distinction) of the Roman Catholic Church is utterly indifferent to what taking a firm line on this might do to Barack Obama’s re-election chances. Continue reading #rsrh Obamacare, abortion, and the Catholic Church.
I am curious about how many times this administration plans to insult the Roman Catholic Church:
Vatican blocks Caroline Kennedy appointment as US ambassador
The Vatican has blocked the appointment of Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador, according to reports.
Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint.
You would think that after the Vatican made it so clear that Kmiec was unacceptable that he never even made it on the list the White House would take the hint and find a pro-life Democratic Catholic for the job; apparently not. You would also think that this language was clear: Continue reading Another pro-choicer rejected for Vatican ambassadorship.
Why, yes, that does sound like an egregious violation of various constitutions.
Chris Dodd must be annoying people all over Connecticut. The paper didn’t even try to hide political affiliations for this one:
After a priest stole $1.4 million from a church in Darien, state legislators have proposed a law that would regulate how parishes are controlled and operated.
The state’s Catholic bishops rallied opposition from the pulpits at weekend Masses.
The law essentially would strip the dioceses of all financial control of parishes and leave bishops and priests to oversee “matters pertaining exclusively to religious tenets and practices.” A board of elected laypersons would handle parish finances.
The bill, introduced Thursday by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, and state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, caught many Catholics by surprise. They heard about it during Masses.
(Via AoSHQ) Before we go any further, let me quote from Article Seventh of the Connecticut state constitution: “It being the right of all men to worship the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and to render that worship in a mode consistent with the dictates of their consciences, no person shall by law be compelled to join or support, nor be classed or associated with, any congregation, church or religious association. No preference shall be given by law to any religious society or denomination in the state. Each shall have and enjoy the same and equal powers, rights and privileges, and may support and maintain the ministers or teachers of its society or denomination, and may build and repair houses for public worship.” Continue reading Democrats attempt to take control of Connecticut Catholic Church.
Oh, to be a fly on that wall.
It’s always exciting when a notorious heretic meets the Pope. Particularly this Pope, who is quietly gearing the Church up for a long-delayed showdown with American Catholics over abortion:
In a move likely to stoke more controversy about whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are in line with the church, Pope Benedict XVI has granted an audience to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The Catholic News Agency confirmed Monday that Pelosi (D-Calif.) is to meet Wednesday with Pope Benedict XVI, who has said supporters of abortion rights should not receive Communion.
Pelosi, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, is on an official trip to Italy. The news agency said there have been contradictory reports about whether the Pope would receive her. The agency said the Vatican’s press office confirmed today that the audience would take place Wednesday. The Vatican reportedly made clear that the Pope is meeting with her as a head of state, since she is third in line to the presidency.
Continue reading Speaker Pelosi to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
