The following is by Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:
The Catholic bishops of the United States are facing a great deal of political pressure these days. We are told that we must pursue dialogue with those who disagree with the divine and natural law on the issue of abortion — or who agree privately as Catholic believers but decline to govern according to this moral teaching.
But here is my honest question: What precisely is there to dialogue about? It’s a question I’ve posed to politicians in the past.
Two years ago, I had the privilege of offering an address at the Library of Congress. To an audience of senators, representatives, lobbyists and Hill staffers, I spoke of the vocation of the politician. My interlocutors insisted upon the necessity of an ongoing dialogue between pro-choice politicians and the Roman church. I replied, “OK, I’m with you. In fact, the Catholic Church, though it opposes all abortions, would be willing to support legislation that sets at least some limits to the procedure. If you’ll give even a little bit, we’re happy to talk.”
I then commenced to test the waters. Would they, I asked, consider the banning of third-trimester abortions? Absolutely not, came the reply. Would they, I pressed, be open to restricting partial-birth abortion, the procedure by which a pair of scissors is inserted into the brain of a baby already in the birth canal? No way, they said.
All right, I wondered, would they be agreeable to supporting born-alive legislation, designed to protect the life of a baby who has miraculously managed to survive an abortion? No, they said. And lest you think this intransigence was peculiar to this particular group, recall that, just a few months ago, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) made a born-alive proposal, and it couldn’t muster enough votes to break the Democratic filibuster.
As I said, the church is happy to consider any proposal that would set some restrictions on the taking of unborn life. We’re willing to reach out. But if protecting the life of a baby struggling to breathe, after surviving a brutal attack on his life, is a bridge too far for pro-abortion-rights politicians, then I ask again, what are we dialoguing about? And let’s be honest, in regard to the baby under consideration, all of the standard justifications for aborting a child — he’s not really a person, he’s not capable of independent existence, he experiences no sensation of pain, etc. — simply fall away.
So may I offer a challenge to pro-abortion-rights Catholic politicians and may I be very specific? If you’re truly interested in dialoguing with the church on this crucial matter, show a little profile in courage and support born-alive legislation. If you can take this small step in the direction of protecting innocent life, I’ll know you’re serious about the conversation.
Full story at NY Post.
Get a clue, Bishop Barron: they have no intention of changing, which is why requests for dialogue are insincere. You need to publicly condemn their views in the strongest terms and publicly state that they are not to present themselves for Communion, pursuant to Canon 915.
Anything less than that is just you and other bishops insincerely stating your concern about their unwillingness to compromise or reverse their views. The time for action has been long past. How much longer will it take for you and other bishops to muster up the courage to live out the responsibilities of your clerical office? Are you really concerned or aren’t you?
What is taking so long?
Given the obvious left leaning politics of Bishop Barron, it’s a wonder he can pontificate on this topic with any expectation of authenticity.
Voting for democrats means voting for abortion, period.
Let’s dialogue about Barron’s personal voting record and see how serious he is about protecting the unborn by way of the ballot box, not just the pulpit.
Exactly. Many bishops vote for Democrats then sorta kinda complain about the radical Democrat position on abortion. It’s fake outrage and we all know it.
Deus Vult,
I could be just out of the loop, but why do you think that Bishop Barron votes Democrat?
How would you know how Bishop Barron votes?
What the actual heck, Bishop Barron? You are Caspar Milquetoast in a Roman collar.
Catholic Democrats. Now there’s an oxymoron.
I tried these same measures with the Democrats, but nothing worked. The more I gave the more they took. I then decided to go the way of Horton the Elephant, “A person is a person no matter how small.” Here I stand. I have not knowingly taken any injection from an a abortioed fetus, nor one that used such in testing. No pinch of incense on that altar to Baal.
Elijah the Prophet, you who stood against the prophets of Baal, pray for me and all like minded.
Good for you Anne. I understand your position and agree with it. You are not alone, and stay strong when they mock you for rejecting tainted vaccines.
I come from the kindergarten generation that replied, “I know you are but what am I,” or “It takes one to know one, ” when some other child mocked me. One can also tell the mocker, “Thank you.” No one can insult you, unless you let them.
In truth, no one has mocked me. Just some people who were concerned. Most people know that some of us cannot take some vaccines for various reasons, and I am careful not to do anything that would harm someone else.
Just as the repuklicans are worried about losing their base – hence all of the crazy conspiracy theories; the democrats are worried about their base – hence the willingness to go along with ghastly abortion procedures. Compromise is needed on both sides.
Compromise meaning just kill half the baby? Impossible to compromise with evil.
Barney, if you have children and someone wants to kill all of them, would you compromise and offer up some of them to be murdered?
There can be no compromise with intrinsic evil. This is not a matter of prudential judgment. We can accept incrementally protecting more and more preborn babies, but the goal of protecting all of them must always be in our vision.
And, tragically, Democrats today will not accept protection of babies, even at birth.
As you’ll see, not one of them will accept the bishop’s minimal proposal.
(My statement is not partisan, as I’m a former Democrat, coming from Democrat parents and grandparents. It’s a moral issue, clearly.)
God bless Bishop Barron for his insightful questions. They “separate the meat from the bone”, and rip the disguise off “pro-choice” politicians. For these Pharisees, there is only one choice—once a decision to abort has been made THE BABY MUST DIE. By whatever means, and even if born alive and screaming for its life.
I think we need a good old fashioned fire and brimstone revival.
Sorry, I forgot.
We forgive you
That’s not showing the love of Jesus.
No? I seem to remember some table flipping? And, hard words for pharisees.
How has all the shouting and posting and letter writing worked out for us Catholics in the US? Progs and cafeteria Catholics just eat our lunch for is.
Time for some table flipping.
Yes it is because Jesus died so our sins could be forgiven and we don’t have to endure eternity in fire and brimstone.
What about life here and now?
It is better when you behave.
I expect little of substance from bishops these days regarding matters of faith and morals from classic Catholic teaching. I see the canceling of priests who do. I understand now why Catholics in the 1500’s felt left behind by clergy, protested, and looked to the scriptures for the answers rather than a declaration from church authorities. If a clergyman speaks of Jesus, salvation, and classic Catholic teachings, my ears perk up, my soul warms with enthusiasm. When I hear novelties of climate, race, sexuality, socialism, equality, green, solar panels, carbon, my ears shut out their noise, my soul turns to Jesus, the Bible, the classic teachings of church fathers who in former times proclaimed Jesus and salvation in Him as current clergy, like myself, should be doing. When clergy preach Jesus, my ears cannot help but open again to receive His message into my soul.
Profoundly wise, Fr. Richard. Thank you.
Bishop Barron is more concerned about his Word on Fire brand’s acceptability in the public eye than he is about being a bishop. Understand that everything he does as bishop is subordinated to and directed towards the higher aim of promoting his Word on Fire company. You’ve heard of the media-industrial-political complex? In Bishop Barron you have united in one person a media-ecclesiastical complex. Not good. Bishop Barron will never take a hard stand on anything because that would threaten his company’s sales and reach. The purpose of the company is to sell products, and that is subordinate to the church’s work of salvation and sanctification.
Can you read the bishop’s mind? Your accusations are slanderous absent any proof. Looks like you just make assumptions that favor your viewpoint without any evidence. Frankly, I’m surprised that California Catholic would print such defamatory conjecture.
How are things going in the Santa Barbara pastoral region for which Bishop Barron is responsible?
I placed Bishop Barron on Ignore a long time ago.
Can you tell me how to do that?
Fr.Perozich: Solar panels and going green are not incompatible with Catholic teaching. If one looks to the history of the church, it is apparent the Church has been open to innovation. Consider, for example, the great Cathedrals of Europe (Notre Dame and Chartes come to mind), the founding of universities and hospitals, or the establishment of monasteries to safeguard the faith during difficult times. The Church guided by the Holy Spirit, has responded to the circumstances in which she finds herself; she continues to do so in the present era. For God’s sake…have some hope.
Abortion will always be incompatible with Catholic teaching, even with the kind of pope or president we currently must endure.
Wilma,
Solar panels aren’t incompatible with Church teaching, but they also aren’t part of the Church’s mission. The purpose of the Church is to preach Christ, and Him crucified.
Installing solar panels will not save you. Bishops go wrong when they forget this.
One problem is that the parishes most excited about announcing they are installing solar panels and other green initiatives dissent in predictable matters of Catholic sexual morality. They’d install rainbow colored solar panels if they could get away with it.
Wilma: “Solar panels and going green are not incompatible with Catholic teaching. If one looks to . . .”
Hmm, no.
If Bishop Baron stood on the steps of the national capitol and yelled for all to hear that abortion is a sin, too many of the people on this site would criticize him for the color of his jacket. It continues in full force – no good deed goes unpunished, no good effort is good enough.
Then be glad you won’t have to sit at the Thanksgiving table with us. Personally, I would enjoy chatting with many of the people on this site.
Fr. Perozich: Yes I know about shutting my ears to messages. Whenever I hear about the National Catholic Register, the Napa Conference, Legatus, EWTN, Mother Angelica, Father Corapi (he is no longer a priest but the Rad Trads still love him), the Missal promulgated by St Pope John XXIII in 1962, Marian devotions, the Douay Rheims Bible and Una Voce, I just close my ears and think of the next Folk Mass at church on Sunday where I’ll hear the real Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, without all of the encrustments the Rad Trads worship.
I’m with you. This is the 21st century, not ancienty history.
You can worship at the alter of modernism and the embrace of homosexualist infiltrations into the Church, but understand that is what you are doing. Why a Catholic would object to praying to Mary the Mother of God, or reading the bible shows how far you are drifting from the faith.
True Definition of “Dialogue:”
The Good making concessions to Evil.
It doesn’t say that in my dictionary.
Then your dictionary is flawed and incorrect….
the first “dialogue”
was between Eve and the Serpent
how’d that work out?
“O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which won for us so great a redeemer.”
Bop: I love reading the Bible (The Catholic Study Bible) and praying with my Protestant friends outside of the local Planned Parent facility.
Try bible study with Catholics and pray the rosary while outside PP. Protestants will be amazed how biblical the rosary actually is.
Then your dictionary is flawed and incorrect….
Boop: surprisingly, hardly any other Catholics other than myself show up for the prayer vigil outside the local Planned Parenthood office. Also, we’ve never had a priest or parishioner from a nearby TLM parish join us. Go figure… too busy I guess.
Some of the traditionists go to the life chains and prayer services, either on line or in person, but many of them all along have been busy homeschooling, teaching classes, and driving miles and miles just to get to a traditional mass, along with other jobs. Many have more children, too, than the average new mass couple. Yes, I would say they are busy.