Bernie Sanders says being pro-choice ‘absolutely essential’ to being Democrat
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders stated at a forum in New Hampshire that he believes it is “absolutely essential” for a Democrat to be pro-choice on abortion.
Speaking at the “Our Rights, Our Courts” forum in Concord on Saturday, the senator from Vermont was asked by MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle if he believed it was possible to be pro-life and a Democrat.
While acknowledging the existence of a few pro-life Democrats in Congress, Sanders nevertheless concluded, “By this time in history, I think when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that.”
In response, Princeton University Professor Robert P. George took to Twitter to denounce Sanders‘ comments, believing that the candidate was “officially excommunicating pro-life Democrats.”
Full story at The Christian Post.
Buttigieg doubles down on support for late-term abortion
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg emphasized this week his position that abortion should be legally permitted at any point in a pregnancy.
Placing any limits on abortion “should be up to the woman who’s confronted with the choice,” rather than to lawmakers, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana said on ABC’s “The View” Feb. 6.
Woman seek late-term abortions because of “devastating” fetal diagnoses, Buttigieg said, and thus government should not be making decisions for the mother.
The View’s co-host Meghan McCain asked Buttigieg if he supports policies that would deprive medical care to a child who survives a botched abortion, which she called “infanticide after a baby was born.”
“Does anybody seriously think that’s what these cases are about?” Buttigieg retorted, suggesting that there are not actually cases in which children survive botched abortions
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Prominent pro-life Democrat quits party
Catholic theologian Charles Camosy has resigned from the board of Democrats for Life of America (DFLA), writing in an op-ed on Thursday that the Democratic Party’s extreme support of abortion left him “no choice” but to leave his party.
“Anything even hinting that abortion is less than good now violates party orthodoxy,” Camosy wrote in a Feb. 6 column in the NY Post.
Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s refusal to limit abortion at any point in pregnancy was, for Camosy, “[t]he straw that broke this camel’s back.”
“If the [Democratic] party was willing to go all-in on the most volatile issue of our time with a position held by only 13 percent of the population, it was time to take no for an answer,” Camosy wrote.
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Camosy is correct. No practicing Catholic can be a member of the Democratic Party. That party’s support of abortion is poison to the soul of any Catholic, or Christian of any stripe. Nope, bishops, we know that you dearly love the Dems, but they are apostates and must be rejected.
Or, dear bishops, you can leave and go join the Protestants, et al., who would love to have you.
Can you inform us please—with exact quotes and citations— which bishops of the Catholic Church support the Democratic Party’s platform on abortion? I can tell you that there isn’t any; and that your ranting about bishops here is another instance of your anti-clerical/anti-bishop hatred/ “illness.” Stop. The. Hate.
Look at you jump in loyalty to the religious hypocrites! Boy, are you naive! A great many bishops support the main goals of the Democratic Party’s platform! Look at McElroy, Cupich, and many others! What are their primary interests?? Immigration, the environment and climate change, LGBT “rights” and privileges, feminism and women’s rights, Obamacare (which includes birth control and abortion)– and they put pro-life concerns last on their list! Hypocrites– don’t you get it?
jon, stop jumping to loyalty to religious hypocrites in power, in Rome! Follow Christ only– not the latest wolf in sheep’s clothing! Are you a Christian– or a Hypocrite who loves loyalty to power in society?? You so love yourself– and despise your neighbor! Hypocrite!
Why don’t YOU “rant” at those who are the Hypocrite Bishops– state how wrong they are, and how they must stop supporting Fr. James Martin’s infamous, “Pro-Gay Lifestyle Lectures,” stop championing “Open Borders” and tax-supported, contraception/abortion-poisoned Obamacare, stop championing Satanic anti-Christian Feminisn, with their Abortion Agenda! Stop ignoring Baby Killing!! Work for Christ– not His evil “Judases!”
As Christ predicted– there are always going to be “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among us, in clerical garb– just as Judas was a privileged Apostle– and a liar, thief, and betraying Hypocrite, for evil money! Don’t be fooled by the Devil in costume and false title!
Just for the record folks, none of these “anonymous” people (oh how courageous they are for hiding behind their anonymity while “speaking truth to power”), none of them have supplied any evidence pointing to our bishops’ support for the Democratic Party’s platform in abortion. None. Theirs is typical and sad anti-Catholic and anti-clergy ranting fueled by hate. Stop. The. Hate.
jon, why are you so critical of the anonymity of others, when you use such yourself? You are free to use your real first and last name here, as some do. Do you honestly not see your double-standard?
Please. There is no double-standard because I decry the lambasting of the Church by those under the guise of anonymity, not the anonymity itself. Plus I defend the Church, her teachings, and her ministers while relatively anonymous; whereas the others here tear her down. Therefore they don’t wish to back their own words; whereas my words in defense of the Church stand by its own merits and not by my name. I mean St. Catherine of Siena whom many of these folks consider their model of “speaking truth to power” was not anonymous. Carry on folks, carry on.
“jon,” you stated, “Can you inform us please—with exact quotes and citations— which bishops of the Catholic Church support the Democratic Party’s platform on abortion?” No California Catholic Daily reader said any bishops did. One, who posted after your question, stated that many bishops supported the main goals of the Democrat Party platform. So, for that one reader, since it appears abortion is a main goal of Democrats, I guess your question might still apply. And, though not a British mariner, I will follow your advice, not change course and “carry on.”
jon, you have an incorrect notion that any criticism of a priest, bishop, or pope is “anti-clericalism”. Many of your posts contain this error, and you need to take off your blinders and see what is happening in today’s Church. Sorry there are such unpleasant things happening but one must become aware.
Calling “hate” so often is very snowflake of you!
Your criticism and the criticism of many here against the legitimate exercise of the ministry of the clergy of the Church are unjust and uncharitable. Therefore it is right to call your words and the words of many here hateful. Hateful!
Having just read all your comments. Since when is it “just and charitable” to call others “hateful”?
Dear “ann”: admonishing those who commit error, correcting those who express disrespect, and informing the ignorant are not only just and charitable actions but also spiritual acts of mercy. But let me ask you: when has the expression “go to the Protestants; they’d love to have you,” directed to a Catholic leader ever an expression of respect and reverence?
And priests who do not believe in climate change, will also be reduced to the rank of the laity!
If only the bishops would excommunicate pro-abortion (c)atholics…
Let me recast Mr. Buttigieg’s words by replacing the word “abortion” with “killing” to show the nonsense of his thinking.
“Placing any limits on killing ‘should be up to the killer who’s confronted with the choice, rather than lawmakers”
I guess that lawmakers shouldn’t interfere when a perpetrator has a choice to make.
I believe “murder” is really the correct term. After all these are innocent lives, ones who cannot defend themselves and are relying on us to protect them.
To put “pro- choice” into Shakespearean terms, “To rip the child apart or let it be, that tis the question”.
There should be NO SUCH THING– as an American political party, that has “Death to Preborn Americans” as a “requirement” for its members to wholeheartedly beliece in, and support! And so many Democrats– including Buttigieg– are (or were!) Catholics!
All Catholics should have already self excommunicated themselves from the Democrat party, the party of death. If you have still not made the break, what’s wrong with you?? No issue is more important than life, and Democrat policies DO NOT embrace life. Contraception, abortion, same sex “marriage”, the LGBT agenda, domestic partnerships, all are anti-life. The moral teachings of the Church are trampled on by the Democrat party. Again, why Catholic, are you voting God out of public life?
Kristin, let’s be honest. As sad as it is, the Catholic Democrats that I personally know don’t really give a hoot about the life of the unborn or anyone else’s life. The ones I know are mad at Republicans or a Republican president or congressman. They are kind of bandwagon people who don’t know very much about any issue. They just have some childlike thinking that Democrats are good and Republicans are bad. They are going to vote for any Democrat and will not vote for any Republican. They think of it like sports teams.
Much appreciated that you gave an explanation without giving cover (and you are probably right). Wonder what they say about themselves.
If you’re going to be consistent, you all, and that includes Kristen, should also be trumpeting the Church’s pro-life teaching that calls for the abolition of the death penalty. Otherwise you’re just letting your politics dictate your religion rather than the other way around. The Catholic Church is NOT the Republican Party in prayer; it is grander than American politics. Listen to the living Magisterium. Respect life!
anonymous “jon,” No one here said that the Church is “the Republican Party in prayer” or praised Republicans. It’s simply that many, like me, can no longer be Democrats. (That said, the USCCB used to be referred to at “the Democrat National Committee at Prayer.”). And, we should give credit where credit is due, even if to a Republican. We should vote for candidates who act most consistently with Catholic teaching, even if they have an R after their name.
As usual “anonymous clergy”, you keep missing the point. The gist of my last comment is to point out the necessary assent from all Catholics to the Church’s teaching against the death penalty which is a teaching opposed by many who comment here. I have observed that many here appropriately uphold the Church’s most urgent teaching on abortion; yet speak out against the Church’s pro-life message against the death penalty. How so? It’s not in the Republican Party platform. “Cafeteria Catholicism” exists among those on the left and on the right. Listen to the living Magisterium. Respect life!
“jon,” 50 million innocent unborn babies have been killed by abortion since 1973 (not to mention the damage to their mothers and others). Since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated, 1,512 people have been executed by capital punishment. I oppose both. Let’s be real and honest, though. The Catholic Church understands magnitude and gravity. So, if many Republicans are wrong 0.00003 percent of the time (on the issue of capital punishment), I’ll likely vote for them rather than Democrat candidates who, on the issue of life, are wrong 99.99997 percent of the time. You say, “listen to the living Magisterium. Respect life!” Did you not hear Pope Francis reaffirm that life is the preeminent issue, the fundamental human rights issue?
Let’s save as many as we can!
Indeed, “let’s be honest and real” as you said: a faithful Catholic who assents to the Church’s preeminent teaching against abortion will not neglect, but will also rather uphold, the Church’s call to abolish the death penalty. One cannot be a “cafeteria Catholic” on pro-life issues. Listen to the living Magisterium. Respect life!
Finally jon, you are right – the Catholic Church is NOT the Republican party.
Ending on a high note, bye now.