The following comes from a September 17 LifeSiteNews.com story.
As the November general election approaches, America’s Catholic bishops have been walking a fine line as they strive to avoid appearances of partisanship while at the same time they wage a high-profile battle against the Obama administration over religious freedom.
Earlier this month, one of the leading lights in the U.S. episcopate insisted he “certainly” could not vote for Obama, while not specifically endorsing his Republican opponent Mitt Romney.
Asked whether a Catholic could vote for Obama in good faith, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia replied: “I can only speak in terms of my own personal views. I certainly can’t vote for somebody who’s either pro-choice or pro-abortion.”
In a wide-ranging interview with John Allen, Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, published Friday, the archbishop drew a sharp distinction between a candidate’s “prudential judgments” about how we care for the poor, and his position on an intrinsic evil like abortion.
Responding to concerns over the budget proposed by Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, which some Catholic bishops and other critics had called immoral because it cut programs to the poor, the archbishop pointed out that people of good faith can legitimately disagree over the role of government in providing aid to the poor.
“Jesus tells us very clearly that if we don’t help the poor, we’re going to go to hell,” he insisted. “But Jesus didn’t say the government has to take care of them, or that we have to pay taxes to take care of them. Those are prudential judgments.”
“You can’t say that somebody’s not Christian because they want to limit taxation,” he continued. “To say that it’s somehow intrinsically evil like abortion doesn’t make any sense at all.”
The archbishop, while noting he is a registered independent, said he has “deep personal concerns about any party that supports changing the definition of marriage, supports abortion in all circumstances, wants to restrict the traditional understanding of religious freedom.”
To read entire story, click here.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput, a real Native American, for speaking out for all American children and traditional families.
I’ll bet his parents chose to have him, so I guess that would eliminate them from his vote.
God bless you Archbishop Chaput. The Lord continue to use you for His awesome work, God’s strength and courage be upon thee!
Thank you and God Bless you Archbishop Chaput for making that public statement. You are climbing up the ladder of holy courage. The next rung up on that ladder is enforcing Canon 915!
Amongst the American Bishops, Archbishop Chaput is one of the better ones, but when is he going to obey the Vatican and enforce Canon 915?
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Did you read the interview?
Obama is NOT PRO-CHOICE, he is 100% anti-life, anti-God (the Real God), anti-American, and 100% pro-evil. Romney is a poor choice for president, but at least he is 100% moral and if we can pray him into the Roman Catholic Church and help him to find the real Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit, he could become a great president, especially with Paul Ryan to help him. We here in Mass. are facing Hemlock’s murder without dignity this Nov. and so far the Bishops are taking there time to waken the public about how evil and dangerous this law if it is voted in will be. The evil ones call it “death with dignity” and there are some “doctors” that think it is great, but, we all know that anyone that kills someone it is murder, no matter if the person is unborn or elderly and God has given us His Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT KILL!! Please pray that we can stop this once again as the public is blind on this and the polls show strong support for it. +JMJ+
I would not venture to say he is evil, he Just has not met Jesus the risen Lord.
He is difinately not pro life, or a friend of Christ and his true church, but its not out of malice.
Sorry Archbishop Chaput; I can’t vote for Romney. He is too slimy.
Bob, and Obama is not slimy? You are going to throw your vote to the Party of Death – the DemocratParty?
You do not have to vote for Obama just because you don’t like Romney. There are other candidates or you can write in someone.
If you are a voter in a “blue” state such as California, your vote for Romney will not count because of the Electoral College set up for a presidential election, repeat, for president, the delegates are already committed. Obama doesn’t need to campaign here, he comes only to collect money from Hollywood and Sod Francisco. Romney omits useless campaigning and expense in California and other utterly, hopelessly “Blue” states. Yes, we began as a republic but now are a “cracy” of somekind, pluto or whatever and anxious to continue spreading it worldwide. Our elections for president are NOT popular elections. So you might as well write in anyone else if you don’t want Obama or if you don’t want immediate continual war (killing people) promised by Romney. If you vote in a “Red” state, your Obama vote would not count either. What to do? Firstly learn your Civics. Secondly hold your party to the fire re their choices of candidates. Thirdly, change the U.S. to a parliamentary system, Congress has proven it doesn’t work anymore and will soon be continuing to demonstrate that, and anything to avoid two-year, or more, presidential campaigns, now just media events. A first term president spends virtually all his time fundraising from day 1 to stay in power in term 2 to really do what he wants.
I lived in England when Thatcher was elected. Her election brought virtually immediate total change to a country that was in utter control of a few big unions, i.e., the election really meant something. Their elections last six (6) WEEKS, no more, and the new PM moves into Downing Street, bag and baggage, after the loser is moved out, OVER the night of the election. I believe that all European elections are begun and completed in weeks as well. Now who was/is an empire?
Parliamentary systems are not the answer, either. The answer is holy bishops. Anything less is nothing but a return to devil fueled paganism. How hard is this to see? Without holy bishops Europe would never have become Catholic; without holy bishops the west will not return to Catholicism. Think about it: If nobody is leading the flock, then there ain’t gonna be no sheepfold. Politics does not have the power to replace what does not exist. So, why does God not give us many holy bishops? What are the biggies that God has always logged down through His prophets? A. Idolatry, B. adultery. How do you move the laity and then the public at large out of these two sins? Holy bishops. There is no other way to do it. I do not see Abp Chaput moving in the direction called for by the Pope. He seems to be afraid to do so.
Yet, the Archbishop’s quote could also be seen favorably … kind of like God saying, “I would not vote for an abortion candidate”. Thus, those who respect God would also not vote for abortion. Those who respect Arbp Chaput might “feel” like looking into the simple questions he poses. Maybe that is what he thinks is needed … to lead people to the drinking fountain, turn the water on for them, and let ’em go for it. Well, now that I’ve got two contradicting opinions in submittal, then what? The solution how to get moral politicians is not so easy. Now, if all the bishops would simply declare the 915 penalty for anyone who votes abortion whether their intention or not, then the wording could be harder and in less need of exploration.
Bob, “too slimy”? Really? Bob, just how old are you anyway? OOOOOOhhhhhhh! Romney is Sooooooooooooo Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Yuch!!! And the left thinks THEY are soooooo sophisticated. Wow!
Just wondering, Bob. Do you have any choice adjectives to describe Obama? That might be fun to hear as well!!!!!
John Allen Jr is spouting the liberal half truth, the Cyclops one eye view of reality: The Church has a greater obligation than to simply feed the poor or put them to work in chanceries … other religions do that much. Part of the devil’s pitch is half truths, so it is dangerous for Catholics to do the same.
The Bishop says he can only speak for himself. Wrong statement as the Bishop Job is to lead members of the Catholic faith. I cannot believe it when promoting the common sense of our faith is not done by our clergy which should include calling out the democratic political party because of it’s stand and promotion of anti-life lissues.
Excellent insight, Robert Lockwood!!! A bishop “speaking for himself” … Does he differentiate this from speaking for God? I thought the bishop was given the nature of head of Christ in his diocese? What does he mean by “speaking for himself”? Does this really make any sense? Or does it reflect the fallout from the dismemberment of clergy from Christ?
By law they can not endorse but they can use the language as stated, they can speak for themselves.
JLS, it means he is speaking for himself, not the Church. The question he was asked was “Do you believe a Catholic in good faith can vote for Obama?” He did not answer the question. Go to the NCR article and scroll down the comments to the one from Sept 19th called “Tom I don’t Know If you read.”
Thank you Archbishop Chaput, for understanding what this Administration is all about. We will lose our freedom of Religion, speech and way of life. I believe that the Holy Spirit is using you and a few other Bishops to remind us of what is God’s will and I praise you for speaking out on behalf of God’s morals and the morals we have been taught by the Catholic Church. God Bless you and please never back down.
JMJ
I don’t understand why they (the bishops) don’t come right out with it and say you cannot support any democrat today. Their party platform could have been written by satan himself. Pro death, pro homosexual and deviant behavior and pro redistribution of capital (stealing from the rich and giving to the poor). Full on communism so that the lazy can stay home, eat bon bon’s and the exercise of the day……going to the mail box to pick up their check. Food stamps for all. This is how the government takes over our lives. When they control our income and our healthcare they have the authority to tell us how to live. We are almost there and we will be lost if Obama wins re-election. It horrifies me that so many so called Catholics could cast a vote for him. Even the protestants aren’t that mis-guided.
The bishops support the Democrat Party because that is where they get their “social justice” entitlements.
“Social justice entitlements” … oh, you mean paychecks?
I agree, Romney is slime. I can’t wait to vote for Obama again.
Obviously, because he’s trying to turn the nation into a chicago bathhouse.
aw peter but he is already married but guess what? To a female.
Does changing his view from pro-abortion to pro-life in 2004 WHIILE HE WAS GOVERNOR OF A VERY LIBERAL STATE and adhering to that commendable position consistently ever since make Romney sleezy? Does contributing 29% of his 2011 income to charity make him look sleezy? Does advocating a review of entitlement programs with a view toward long-term survival (a problem which is irresponsibly completely ignored by his adversary) make him look sleezy?
Archb.Chaput is one of the good bishops.
I don’t Vote for anybody that is for infanticide.
I also don’t vote for communists whatever their skin color is.
Is it moral to give foreign aid and charity with borrowed money?????
This bishop who is overated, once again failed to inform or teach the laity. He quite simply without naming names or party could have said that Catholics should not sinfully vote period ,not ever, for those who advocate and promote the mass murder of the unborn and deviant lifestyles. For peter I can say to you and many others that you really do deserve a Caesar like Gaius Africanus Barrackus Obaminious. Hail Caesar! Long live the Empire!!!
If a bishop cannot vote for a pro-abortion politician how can he give the Holy Eucharist to pro-abortion politicians?
Juergensen,
GREAT QUESTION!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thank you, Kenneth.
I simply cannot wrap my mind around how a bishop can truly believe in the Holy Eucharist and at the same time allow abortionist homosexualist minions of Satan to receive Him.
Archbishop Chaput has spoken well, but it is still unclear whether he does or would enforce Canon 915. If he does not or would not, then his words ring hollow.
Paul Joseph,
His words RING HOLLOW! E-Mail him and ask him why!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Let us know what he says!
Most American Bishops words ring hollow. Why is he walking around in a business suit?
He is not on the (very short) lists I’ve seen of bishops who have enforced Canon 915 and ordered abortionist sodomite politicians not to be administered the Holy Eucharist.
I’d really like to see those lists. Where can I find them?
This online article – tinyurl[dot]com/DenyCommunion – is a bit dated, from 2008, but footnote 6 contains a list of the few (15) bishops who have publicly stated they will enforce Canon 915 and deny Holy Communion to manifest grave sinners. Archbishop Chaput is not on that list. Also, Judie Brown of American Life League has published such information I believe.
Laurette:
Maybe I’ll vote for Ron Paul. Romney is a flip-flopper always checking to see which way the wind is blowing. For example, when he was Governor he was pro-abort…..now, all of the sudden, he is pro-life. He doesn’t have a solid, principled foundation.
That is your right…. but be aware that a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Obama…. see the movie 2016 and you would never make that statement again.
Lets use logic now! Stop considering other runners, vote Romney and take votes away from Obama, vote for someone else then I’m afraid that you have given Obama a bigger chance!
That is simply not true, Laurette, and I’m really surprised at your harshness. Many protestants did not understand the truly evil nature of abortion until it was made inherently clear, because of the permissive teachings of most denominations. Once they understand they do not ‘flip flop’…they convert! That whole specious ‘fliip flop;’ nonsense is a despicable phrase the lying secular media promulgates so people that change on various issues don’t do it out of intellectual or spiritual growth but are made to sound like they’re just jello and indecisive. Let’s not fall prey to the manipulative and jaded journalistic fascism that abounds. And believe me, throwing your one little vote away on r.paul is not the answer. If EVERYONE doesn’t use their vote for Romney, you’re voting for obama, PERIOD.
PS, by convert, I don’t mean they become Catholics, but their hearts are converted to being pro-life. Also, anyone who votes for obama is voting for the end of everything we love about this country. You must be either incredibly ignorant or extremely sexually oriented to vote for such a liar, cheat and a fraud. Sad, sad, sad.
How come John Allen writing for the anti Catholic rag called the National Catholic Reporter gets all the choice interviews (Dolan, Chaput etc) and Tim Drake over at the real Catholic paper the National Catholic Register gets nothing?
By the way the best tactic the Church should take is to give up its precious tax exempt status and come out swinging. Gloves off and go after the culture of death and the Obamaites, Sodomites, and Pornographers.
The good bishop’s statement needs to be the official statement of the USCCB.
I love the quote – “I can only speak in terms of my own personal views”. How about speaking and teaching the views of the Catholic Church from the CCC? What is this “personal views” garbage? Isn’t that what everybody else is doing, speaking in terms of their own personal views? Is Arch Chaput proclaiming a “personal views” free for all?
The schizoid attitude of “personal view and ecclesial view” not needing to be the same is a severe character flaw especially for a bishop; it is what you get when you choose both God and mammon. The issue with these bishops is really boiling down to most of them have simply given up on the necessity of becoming holy, and are just diddy bopping along in the same drainage ditch as the lukewarm water that Jesus spits out of His mouth. Wonder if this nation will end up like England did when only one bishop held his holy ground and his holy name and even presented his holy head to the King?