The following October 24 story appeared on the Human Life International World Watch.
In a recent video interview with Catholic News Service, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said that the position of the Democrat Party on abortion has “gotten worse” over time because Catholics within the party haven’t taken a strong moral stand and shown a willingness to abandon the Democrat Party.
“I think many of the Democrats have [taken] Democrat Catholic votes for granted because they’ll go with them no matter what the party position might be on abortion,” Archbishop Chaput said. “That’s why the position of the Democrat Party has gotten worse, and worse, and worse as time goes on because Catholics haven’t abandoned them as they’ve moved in that direction.”
Chaput said that in the earliest days of the abortion debate in the United States, most people probably thought that the Republican Party would’ve “easily embraced abortion,” and that Democrats would have been the political party standing for the defense of life because of the large number of Catholics within the party.
“Catholics have been historically part of the Democrat Party in great numbers, and I think really could’ve stopped that great development movement if they tried, but they didn’t in order to accommodate people from the other side of the issue,” he said.
The Archbishop also said that you can’t always trust the Republican Party to stand for the defense of life either.
“You know you can’t trust the Republicans to be pro-life 20 years from now. You can’t let any party take your vote for granted,” said Chaput.
Archbishop Chaput called on Catholics in the United States to put their Catholic identity ahead of their political party, and even their American citizenship, to stand united with the Church’s moral teaching opposing abortion.
“We’re Catholics before we’re Democrats. We’re Catholics before we’re Republicans. We’re even Catholics before we’re Americans because we know that God has a demand on us prior to any government demand on us,” he said. “And this has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries.”
“[Abortion] is a very serious issue that requires absolute adherence on the part of Catholics,” the Archbishop said, “and if we don’t stand united on this issue we’re bound to failure—not only in the area of protecting unborn human life but in maintaining our religious freedom.”
To read original story, click here.
No argument from me here. Unfortunately, the Republicans have gotten worse as well. Until Catholics want to embrace the totality of the faith, and express it politically together, we will get the anti-Catholic leaders of alternating parties, we deserve.
What do you mean the Republicans have gotten worse regarding INTRINSIC EVIL? Please provide evidence for your statement.
Reminder – – – – In recent history it does matter morally who is President – – – –
The Mexico City Policy, is an intermittent United States government policy that requires all non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive federal funding to refrain from performing or promoting abortion services as a method of family planning with non-US government funds in other countries.
The policy has not been in effect since January 23, 2009 (when it was rescinded by Democrat Obama).
Since 1973, USAID has followed the Helms Amendment ruling, banning use of US Government funds to provide abortion as a method of family planning anywhere in the world.
The policy is a political flashpoint in the abortion debate, with Republican administrations adopting it and Democratic administrations rescinding it.
1) The policy was enacted by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1984,
2) rescinded by Democratic President Bill Clinton in January 1993,
3) re-instituted in January 2001 as Republican President George W. Bush took office,
4) and rescinded January 23, 2009, 2 days after Democratic President Barack Obama took office.
The murder of Terri Schiavo (euthanasia) was actively opposed only by Republicans.
Tell me again that the Republicans (although not perfect) have gotten worse. And please back it up with facts we can check.
Sure, these are some facts to show that the republicans have gotten worse over the years. 30 years ago they pledged to support “pro-life” justices, that morphed into “no-litmus test” for judges, and now consists of claiming to prefer “strict constructionists’. Predictably, Republican-appointed judges wrote the Casey decision. 30 years ago, the republicans promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, that has morphed into pledging to make no changes to current law.
Brian S please stop….it doesn’t compare to the likes of the Democratic party. Whether certain individuals betray their Republican party platform then that is another story! The platform for the Republican party is pro-life, pro-family and less taxes, less government etc etc…
It’s like our Catholic faith, it is always pure and loyal to Christ but you always have traitors in the church who will add their sinful stains to it and bring forth confusion!
That you compare the Republican party to the Catholic Church betrays more about your attitude than you should find attractive.
The Republican party platform is not some Divinely-Ordered thing stained by the multiple nominees, including the Presidential nominees Romney, McCain, Bush, Dole, Bush I, and Ronald Reagan who have ignored it. It is merely cynical election posturing intended to gain the votes of righteous people.
Perhaps that it has escaped your notice that a Senatorial candidate was cut-off of Republican party support precisely because he voiced support for the platform position?
Brian S I don’t care to be attractive, if I wanted to do that, i would post my picture on here with my red lipstick, JK….aside to trying to humor you, I find it uncharitable because I only added an example of the church so you can see where you went wrong by throwing the whole Republican party under the boss with our comments. I didn’t know more was going to be read into, I am comparing people to people whether they be in faith based or not.
To give you an example of that in hopes that you will see that the platform is simply what it is for the Republican party but humans always add stains. Never mind, I can’t seem to explain my self to you, in all humility, I suck at conveying lately as I have stepped away from my many ministries, I am a busy mum, but as you can see our Church is also run by sinners and well…the church has it’s traitors too to the real faith! But the faith is always perfect, pure and genuine in Christ but man is not.
I am not saying that the Republican party is a divinely order, it is not but it is a secular party and with worldly values that also include faith based ideals (can’t say that about the Democrats, they defy our faith values with their platform values)….the church added because it finds traitors too in itself and as you have given notice to give us that information about that senatorial candidate was cut off it just exposes what I am trying to point out. I know that good priests were also cut off or silenced for speaking up and defending the faith. Just gives comparison of scenarios, not comparing divinity. Thanks for your time….
But, Brian S., the Republicans are structured in readiness to move ahead with the plan to strike a death blow to Roe v. Wade … They are waiting on the bishops to step up to their reason for being instead of playing the games of administrators. When the bishops mostly begin to command their flocks to stop abortion, then it will happen. But until then the bishops apparently enjoy the carnage accruing to their eternal accounts. If not, then why do they not act to stop it?
JLS – We get mailings for donations from Priests for Life weekly. I always tell my wife that until there is a Bishops for Life that Fr Pavone is just spitting into a headwind. Until many bishops become Frank Pavone clones there will be no chance. The HHS mandate came out last January, right? I heard a pastor at Mass, a week after the HHS mandate came out, angrily complain about the FINES that would be imposed by it, nothing else, just the MONEY angle. In the 9 months since then, at 3 different parishes, I have heard NO MENTION of this mandate, NO MENTION of abortion, NO MENTION of homosexual marriage. There has been NO MENTION of these intrinsic evils published on the front page or anywhere in the diocesan paper with condemnation by the local extreme liberal bishop. A friend in a diocese far away has heard her pastor mention the HHS mandate at Mass several times. One priest with his brain connected to his soul and not to his pocketbook!
There is no republican plan to “strike a death blow” to Roe.
If there was ever a plan, it foundered on the failure to confirm Robert Bork, who was the last Supreme Court nominee to assert opposition to it.
In the 25 years since, no republican-appointee has committed opposition, and every republican president has hedged his support, used his wife and other surrogates to assure pro-abort voters, until now the candidate himself has openly declared his lack of intent to seek changes to the law.
So, is the Republican party marginally better? Perhaps – but with full majorities in both houses and Bush as President, the Republicans didn’t de-fund Planned Parenthood, so how can you take seriously their agitation about it now? You are simply being played for suckers.
Brians S.
You conveniently omit the many things that Republicans have done to minimize abortions, such as the Mexico City Policy which your Party choses to eliminate by so called Executive Orders.
Is the Republican Party perfect, no, but it is a heck of a lot better than your Demoncrats.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Brian S. is obviously a democrat. As such he cannot be persuaded by facts. Roe v Wade was given to us by liberal judges. Democrat presidents usually appoint liberal judges. Republican presidents usually appoint conservative judges. Therefore, if you want to rescind Roe v Wade, you increase your odds by voting for the republican presidential candidate in anticipation that he will fill court vacancies with conservatives. It’s no more complicated than that. Even Brian S. should be able to comprehend the logic of this argument. Since he evidently doesn’t, he remains beyond reach. If Obama should be reelected (God forbid!) he will have a chance to appoint at least two additional liberal judges. That alone will prolong the holocaust another decade or more and should scare anyone sincerely opposed to the legalized slaughter of millions of the unborn. Are you REALLY opposed to Roe v Wade, Brian?
I’m not a Democrat, Kenneth. Neither have I spoken in support of the Democratic party. Like your fantasy-land version of the Republican party your version of me is devoid of any attention to what I actually say.
So when is the Archbishop going to lead in putting our Faith first by enforcing Canon 915?
Good question isn’t it!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
yes, I’m REALLY opposed to Roe v. Wade, Anton. I’m so opposed to abortion that I want to pursue an effective strategy to end it.
Unfortunately, the Republicans have played folks for suckers so long, and so effectively, that any “strategy” other than voting for the Republican presidential candidate and hoping for a court case is ridiculed by folks like you unwilling to review the facts. Indeed, that is the “strategy” you insist upon as obvious. How about trying on a few facts?
Fact 1) – Roe v. Wade was the product of Republican-appointed judges. Blackmun (by Nixon), Burger (by Nixon), Brennan (by Eisenhower), Stewart (by Eisenhower), and Powell (by Nixon) joined the Democratic-appointed judges Marshall and Douglas. The dissent was from White (by Kennedy) and Reinquist (by Nixon).
Fact 2) In Webster vs Reproductive Health Services, a 5-4 decision, Reinquist (by Nixon) explicitly declined to overturn Roe v Wade.
Fact 3) – Casey vs Pennsylvania was decided entirely by Republican-appointed judges. In that case, O’Connor (by Reagan), Kennedy (by Reagan), Souter (by Bush I) Stevens (by Ford), and Blackmun (Nixon) formed the majority against Scalia, Rehnquist, Thomas, and the only Democratic-appointee, White.
Fact 4) Justice Roberts (Bush) just upheld ObamaCare.
Fact 5) Today, Roberts’ Supreme Court declined to even consider the denial of a fetal personhood amendment for inclusion on the Oklahoma ballot.
Finally as long as Republicans can mine abortion for votes, abortion isn’t going to go away. It is the only populist issue they have, and they aren’t going to let it get away.
There are Catholic Churches that invite baby killer politicians to speak at their parish. It’s been going on for years. About 15 years ago, pro-abortion Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez from Orange County California, was elected to Congress after speaking at several Catholic Churches. She still speaks in Catholic Churches. 15 years! When will this atrocity end? Why do the Bishops allow it to continue? How many dead babies will it take before our Bishops put an end to this?
Report this to the appropriate Diocese Bishop.
If that does no good, report it to the US Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC, and to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Congregation for Bishops in the Vatican.
Its time we start making all luke-warm Bishops do their job, or be replaced.
As if the higher up prelates have no idea what those they appoint are up to!
Andy – Won’t work when the person who is working hand-in-hand with the democrat party, Obama, the 2 local radical democrat congressmen, radical intrinsic evil groups, radical Alynskite groups, radical community organizing groups and accepting monies from radical foundations funding intrinsic evil and allowing Church funds to go to groups which promote intrinsic evil around the world all in the name of “social justice”, is the LOCAL EXTREMELY LIBERAL BISHOP (long sentence, eh?)! So what do you do, call the local extremely liberal bishop and tell him to go to the mirror, look at himself in it, and report himself?
Bless you for bringing this up, John Feeney! If we had resolute and pious bishops such outrages would not happen!
First,put a cross on your episcopal hat .
Second the Democratic party and process is their religion.JFK is their Saint Peter and the party platform is their catechism.Durbin,Pelosi,Kerry
Ted Kennedy,etc.are their cardinals and Obama is their current pope.
Keep the faith,baby.
Apparently now even Archbishop Chaput is one of the enemy.
BRIAN…sigh…yes, you are right.
and poor old LARRY needs toclean his glasses because the archbishop’s “hat” (which catholics call a miter) has SEVERAL crosses on it already, which even I can see.
nowadays, every crackpot with a keyboard thingks he knows more than GOD himself…
except me, of cvourse.
max, I think it might correctly be spelled “mitre” instead of “miter”. If not, then it should be so as to give it a kind of dignity of spelling.
Brian S., why let any bishop slide? If they get burned by the fire of criticism, then hopefully what is left of them comes forth gleeming like pure gold, no? “Though I pass through the fire, I shall not be burned”: Daniel or David, I forget? “Like iron against iron, one man sharpens another” … and we all need to be sharp in the spiritual warfare that we are locked into by virtue of our following Christ.
Abortion is not “a very serious issue”. It is an INTRINSIC EVIL, and politicians who support it must be denied the Holy Eucharist as per Canon 915. When is Canon 915 going to be enforced, Your Eminence?
If it’s not worth protecting the Holy Eucharist from profanation by abortionist/homosexualist politicians, why does it matter who we vote for?
well said Juergensen…people neglect to acknowledge that we should expect the church to do right by Christ, why then are we expecting worldly politics to do what the church is suppose to do. We expect Romney to be perfect when we should actually expect our Bishops to enforce 915 because we are not suppose to be living worldly political correctness.
We need to vote in the way it is suppose to edify and lead people towards common decency and common good, we vote our values and we are to help increase pro-life efforts, if we elect a more moral president that does indeed seek to provide us less government, then we should head towards that goal so we can have the right to work with our faith and church to give out a stronger pro-life message so if we can’t end abortion laws, then we can certainly reach more folks to choose life, so we can in turn bankrupt Planned Parenthood, allow the people of faith to truly have a voice and a say to where our tax money should go. With the Obama administration, the liberals are the ones running the show and our religious freedom is not protected…
Jurgensen,
An Archbishop’s title is “Excellency”, a Cardinal’s title is “Emininence”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thank you Mr. Fisher, I usually don’t know how to address these titles because I don’t think my generation was taught the proper way, I usually forget too. I really appreciate you posting this.
I appreciate it, as well, Kenneth, as I was never taught such matters. Now, if I can only remember! ha
actually, KENNETH, a cardinal is addresses as “Eminence,” not “Emininence.”
the way you wrote it, with those extra syllables, it makes the poor guy sound like that singer, Eminem!
Always check each candidate’s voting records, public actions, and public statements – regarding each of the following –
ABORTION, EUTHANASIA, HOMO-SEXUAL MARRIAGE, and this year FREEDOM of RELIGION.
A good voters guide on the above topics is always helpful. (Always see who the voters guide was published by so there are no political tricks, and it conforms to teachings of our Faith.
History will show that the failure of Catholics to stand up to abortion–and to Catholic politicians that sponsor and enable abortion–is the root cause of the growth of organizations like Planned Parenthood, and the Culture of Death here. This is a sad story, and Archbishop Chaput is too soft in his description of the effect of being “taken for granted”. We all pay for the cowardice of Catholic politicians, like Nancy Pelosi, VP Biden, Senator Kerry, the deceased Senator Kennedy, and all the rest. And we all pay for the cowardice of Catholic voters, and those who work for organizations, like the USCCB, that serve in large part to enable moral evil (abortion, homosexual sex/marriage/adoption, and pornography, among others). But sin can be broken: stand up, vote Republican (or any party that supports life and is against homosexual marriage and the like), go to minority communities and ask them to also vote against Obama, notwithstanding their common racial heritage. Look at St. Peter — talk about a coward, but what a recovery!
With respect to the Archbishop: why weren’t his own predecessors saying this 30 years ago? Better late than never, of course: but why so late? His point that we are Catholics before we are Americans is true, but ought to be stated carefully to avoid giving our enemies ammunition. There’s nothing “American” about killing the unborn or destroying marriage.
Tom, we can not hold this Archbishop accountable for the sins of other Bishops.
There are serveral good Bishops in the USA, just as there are lazy ones who do not teach the Faith for their own political or sinful reasons.
We must hold each Bishop accountable for his own actions.
We should support our good Bishops.
We should correct our bad Bishops.
As individuals we can know for a fact whether a Bishop or Priest or Nun is following Church teaching by reading and becoming very familiar with the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
The CCC must be taken in entirety – not picking and choosing only certain paragraphs.
QUOTE: “ From a moral perspective, all issues are not of equal importance or urgency.
Some are more fundamental and deal with matters of intrinsic evil, such as abortion and euthanasia, which must always be rejected or opposed and must never be supported or condoned.
Let us share our values with a strong voice and use our votes to shape a society that will defend human life, promote human dignity, preserve traditional marriage and the family, and protect religious freedom.
As followers of Christ, we are called to build a more just and peaceful world and care for the weak and defenseless.
The Gospel command for us to not forget the least of our brethren is central to our rich and God-given faith. “ UNQUOTE
Published statement from: Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
Archdiocese of Miami; Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane
Diocese of Venice; Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
Diocese of Palm Beach; Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch
Diocese of St. Petersburg; Most Reverend John G. Noonan
Diocese of Orlando; Most Reverend Felipe J. Estévez.
Since from what I am reading and hearing the CA Bishops have been very weak in teaching.
As a gift to you, I am sharing my good Bishops with you, my dear fellow Catholics in CA.
God Bless you all.
Can not forget that: Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes Tallahassee Diocese also signed the published statement.
Much of this worn out agenda is infiltrated by the devil. The Church and the world need some new versions of the great bishops whom we find in history. There needs to be created something rational to replace this decaying once upon a time noble and charitable set of ideas. Sanity is not doing the same thing over and over and thus allowing your opponent to creep in and whack you. We need champion spiritual warriors in the episcopacy, and not the wimps that usually pipe up with insipid nonsense. Maybe there are a few good and righteous bishops among swarms and hordes of the other kind, and maybe this is why God has not eradicated the whole lot so the Church can start fresh with what God wants.
None of the Florida bishops stepped up to the plate when Terry Schiavo was being crucified by evil men. Have they redeemed themselves lately or something? In fact the only priest to even try to help her on scene has been hammered down by some other bishop, whose track record apparently is administration instead of holiness.
Your statement is false.
In addition with the exception of 2, none of the current Bishops were Bishops in FL during the Schiavo case.
Please check your facts prior to knocking any Bishops.
Dave, you have served well as the fact checker. But you missed the point, which is that no bishops and no other priests stepped into the room with Terry. So, your fact checking was ok, but your understanding of the truth needs a little bit of work.
JLS is right. No bishop or priest in Florida publicly came to the defense of Terry Schiavo. The only priest at her bedside and with her family was Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life.
One wonders if they have seen the statements of some of their Priest Pastors, such as Fr. Raphael Garcia, S.J., Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Albuquerque, N.M who wrote “The Complexity of Discernment for the Catholic Voter’? If so, why have they allowed such apologists for the Demoncrat Party to occupy space in their News Papers such as the “People of God” in Albuquerque.
Until I finally found time to read the copy of “People of God” that I had obtained while at the annual Catholic Media Coaltion meeting, I could not understand how, in a strongly Catholic State, I saw so many, far too many, Obamanation bumper stickers! I am told that you see many of these also in the Catholic Church parking lots and at the Chancery. But just a short scanning of that rag of a Catholic Newspaper cleared my understanding.
May God have mercy on America, Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Like the Bishop of Green Bay, where have the bishops of Florida said in the above statement that voting for politicians that support intrinsic evil could put your soul in jeopardy? Where does Arch Chaput say the same? They don’t! Chaput spends much of his statement saying that the Republicans can’t be trusted either, the old excuse “everybody does it”. Wrong Arch Chaput! I read his Caesar book and he is an old democrat party member who I would describe as “slippery”.
Obama taught the works of Saul Alinsky. Alinsky dedicted his book to Lucifer. The bishops support Alinsky connected social work organizations. But of course no doubt the good bishops are picking out the good and leaving the bad in the Alinsky system … while leaving the Gospel on the back shelf or giving it to the local library or museum.
Where are the other USCCB bishops voices? They should be ringing loud and clear this sunday from the pulpits. They should instruct their priests on following abp Chaput’s lead! The word has got to get out; otherwise grave harm will come to many souls, further murder of little innocents (infant genocide), and many abortionists, parents, accomplices, and political supporters. You know its been popularly said one person dies in every abortion. That is only half true! In reality a minimum of three people die in every abortion, the first is the little innocent baby’s body, and the second is the mother and the abortion team’s souls. Pray the rosary to end this henious murder. Abortion only makes a mockery of this nation’s claim of respect and caring for all peoples. We are the laughing stock of this world and that is why so many nations in the UN don’t respect us.
Bishop Ricken of Greenbay spoke even more strongly on this than Abp Chaput.
Answer, possibly: They are busy composing lengthy tomes of vague words to allow the emotions to experience a joy ride at the expense of reason.
True, Catholics should take action by leaving the abortionist, homosexualist Democratic Party.
But then, shouldn’t bishops take action too by enforcing Canon 915 against abortionist, homosexualist Democrats?
When are we going to see a bishop who backs up his words with action?
Indeed, there are two religions, one is sentamental Catholicism and the other is whole Catholicism.
Bishops tend to get down and wordy, and it would seem clear that this wordiness is intended to either inflate their egos or pull the wool over the eyes of much of the reading public. Reading public includes a portion of the voting public. Wordiness is lost on maybe two thirds of the reading public … Those readers who are actually literate can try this on their friends who are not accustomed to reading anything more difficult than advertising slogans. You will see, if you observe, that this large group of typically hardworking tradesmen, clerks, business people, merchants, professionals (other than lawyers) lose track of the context after the first two compound sentences or “if a and b, then c” sentence contructions. Why the bishops do this is perplexing, unless by their wordiness they enthrall their audiences with emotions and thus gain accolades for their heart felt mercy and wisdom, wisdom of the type that mesmerizes audiences … and often they excel at it beyond the efforts of typical pop music or ad lyrics bands. What if, suppose, a cardinal simply said to the voters, “Stop abortion”. Not quite as concise a sentence as Jesus’ “Jesus wept”, but it might have some great results … that is assuming that those reading or listening were not all incapable of empathy.
In the end all of us, including the modern bishops and priests will be judged on what we did do (but shouldn’t have done), and what we didn’t do (but what we should have done). The modern bishops and priests will be held to a higher standard as they supposedly know better. They were suppose to be the leaders of their flock and a great price will be paid for those modern bishops and priests who didn’t protect and guide their sheep. The modern bishops and priests have an opportunity here to right the wrongful direction modern catholics and christians are leading too. The modern bishops and priests in their capacity must be willing to stick their necks out for God to save their sheep; otherwise how can God justifiably save the modern bishops and priests own necks?
I assume no one will read this post but I have to get this off my chest. For 2 weeks I have been contemplating this article and Chaput’s comment “We’re even Catholics before we’re Americans”. Now that the election has come and gone I can say I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THIS COMMENT OF CHAPUT! Here’s why. The majority of Catholics? voted, like in ’08, for Barack Obama which means that massive intrinsic evils are being implemented. So what does it mean to be Catholic? these last 4 years? Mindless allegiance to the democrat party’s ‘social justice’ agenda lead by Obama/Pelosi/Reed? The culture of death and gay marriage being implemented by these democrats? If that is what the majority of Catholics? are bringing to the table then in the ’16 election STAY THE HELL HOME and quit destroying our beloved America. If this is voting Catholic? first then I will vote America first and the majority of Catholics? can have all the suppression of ‘religious liberty’ they can swallow! OPEN WIDE, THEY’RE COMING FOR YOU! ENJOY THE HHS MANDATE!