Everyone was asking the same thing, “Where is Biden’s name? It’s not there!”
In case you missed the debate, at the end the moderator asked each candidate, both Catholic, to say something “personal” about their faith and the abortion issue in particular. Inevitably, the topic of the HHS mandate came up, and Vice President Biden told a whopper of a lie — that the mandate will not force any Catholic to pay for contraception.
The USCCB statement quotes Biden verbatim but does not mention who the statement is intended to correct, Biden or Ryan. It begins, “Last night, the following statement was made….” Anyone reading this press release, unless they were familiar with last night’s debate, would be left in the dark regarding just “who” misrepresented the impact of the HHS mandate on religious institutions, a stark violation of religious liberty.
That the USCCB went to the trouble of correcting a seemingly anonymous debater defies common sense, but those of us who have been through several political seasons are used to surprises when it comes to the conference, chanceries, parishes, and a presidential campaign. We’ve already dealt with the problem we’ve seen in state conferences issuing alphabetical voter guides — they contradict what the bishops themselves wrote in the “New Introduction” to “Faithful Citizenship”.
Is there a good reason why the USCCB statement would leave Biden’s name out? There is certainly precedent for bishops’ publicly correcting Biden, both as a senator and as vice president. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, wrote an article for Newsmax entitled Ryan, Biden and the Bishops listing 15 bishops who have publicly corrected Biden when he has misrepresented the Catholic faith.
Yet, here Vice President Biden had an audience of 51 million people for his debate with Paul Ryan. Biden’s lie about the HHS mandate potentially has a huge impact on how Catholic voters view the Obama/Biden ticket and the record of their first term.
Biden’s appearance in 2008 on “Meet the Press” was seen by approximately 3 million people, and 15 bishops publicly corrected him. Forty-eight million more people saw and heard Biden deny the violation of religious liberty that the bishops themselves devoted two full weeks to in the summer with their “Fortnight for Freedom”. Yet, the USCCB cannot bring itself to utter his name.
Perhaps there will be other bishops who will fill the void and speak his name aloud saying, “Vice President Biden did not tell the truth about the HHS mandate, and while I am at it, he also spoke incorrectly about the proper role of the Catholic faith in public life.”
But, there is an even stronger reason why the USCCB shirked its responsibility by leaving out Biden’s name. Biden is the Vice President of the United States. He is the second ranking member of the Obama administration, an administration that announced a policy violating the religious liberty of Catholic institutions, causing more than forty of those institutions, including a number of dioceses, to bring law suits against the government. (When Ryan asked Biden about those law suits he was promptly interrupted by moderator Martha Raddatz.)
Biden, as vice president, should have to face the consequences of lying about the policies of his own administration, rather than being protected by the very institution — the Church — he has conspired to hurt.
It means simply that whoever authorized the USCCB statement is lying also. Is there nothing the bishops will not do to defile the Church and slap God in the face?
Ridiculous assertion really. Why does the bishops´ statement need to explicitly state from whom the comment was made when eveybody knows from whom it came? Are you even a real Catholic with your disrespect for our spiritual leaders?
Because maybe it would show some courage on behalf of those who supposed to be shepherds of the Faithful. It would include calling out a liar by name…
Jonn, the answer to your question why should the bishops mention Biden’s name is stated succinctly in the final sentence of the article:
“Biden, as vice president, should have to face the consequences of lying about the policies of his own administration, rather than being protected by the very institution — the Church — he has conspired to hurt.”
And to assert that the Church is “protecting” Biden is ludicrous in the face of it. For those who pay attention, for those who are mindful of who and what they vote for, for those who think there is absolutely no need to explicate what is SO abundantly obvious. We do not need someone to hold our hand and show us what is so plain. Many of us do not need to be patronized. Please.
john, ever heard of a. common sense, b. intellect, c. what Jesus says over and over in the Gospels, d. fear God and not man, e. Jesus never guaranteed bishops, only the Church, f. history shows us that not infrequently bishops are worthless and worse?
john, respect to whom respect is due. Why would you respect those who lie, deceive, tear down the Church, waste spiritual resources on trivial things such as the death penalty, and pay no more than lip service to primary things such as holiness … now, they do not even discuss holiness even in light of what the Pope told them to become. john, why don’t you read what the Pope says? And, again, only a fool would respect the unrespectable.
If you practice what you preach (that is, to read what the Pope says) you will adhere to the Holy Father´s plain teaching against the death penalty. Respecting all of human life, including those of criminals, is a SIGN OF HOLINESS. Practice what you preach! I repeat that your repeated and tired false accusations against the leaders of the Church in the US are sad and pathetic, and downright un-Catholic. You have much to learn about appropriate Catholic ethos. Much to learn.
So sad for our church, but the bishops conference puts politics above faith consistently. They are weak and scared to lose political favor.
When the Bishops fail time and time again, and we wonder why the church is in the position it is. Some who are to lead the flock, there more interested in having a beer and joking with the most anti-life President ever.
No problem here — the American bishops want the Obama–Biden ticket re-elected. It does not matter that this same Administration is complicit in heinous actions against life and against the Church (and all people of moral value). Congressman Ryan was much too soft on this point, notwithstanding that he was interrupted by the moderator. He should have said that Biden was dissembling, lying through his fake teeth. This is a central point regarding the moral corruption of Democratic Party Catholics in office: power at all costs (God will understand). Of course, America’s bishops fully subscribe to this same principle — obey me and whatever I say about the Church, including fawning over homosexuals that wish to marry, adopt children, and sex outside man-woman marriage, and contraception, and abortion, and economic success, and all the rest of the tired, hippie-thinking that comes out of these guys. And, of course, the bishops do not like the Pope, or the power of the Pope (and Benedict, like JPII before him, fail to stand up to the bishops, regardless of the costs). These men are contemptuous and deserve to be dumped. Funny thing is, not many people seem to care; they either more or less follow along, or leave the Church. The absence of Catholic passion is, to many, a mystery. Only the traditional side of the Church seems to have a growing band of believers in what the Church and the Deposit of Faith actually stand for and direct. No one should give a penny, or a moment of time, to the USCCB.
The bulk of Americans left in the “obey bishops” category are the sodomites, the abortionists, and deceivers. There are yet many who give the bishops the time of day, not out of respect for them but out of respect for God. Jesus warns us to discern the spirits, and this is what we are doing. “God is no respecter of man” (St Paul).
Go ahead prove your point that those who obey the bishops are ¨sodomites, abortionists, and deceivers.¨ It´s time for someone to call you to prove the baseless allegations you consistently put on here.
“Why did the bishops omit Biden’s name?”
Because, as with its “Faithful Citizenship” document, the USCCB seeks to sow confusion among Catholic voters, leaving them with the false impression that a Catholic can morally vote for either candidate.
This strategy worked wonders in the 2008 election, with 52% of “Catholics” voting for Obama.
Interestingly, EWTN News Chief Raymond Arroyo stated after the 2008 election: “The bishops I spoke to say that maybe half of their brother bishops, if not more, voted for Obama.”
Sheep following their shepherds?
Left leaning bishops and some with a homosexual past. I doubt my comment gets posted, but I’m going to write it anyway. better that one person, the editor, reads this than no one. I believe that a good number of our bishops, maybe the majority of them, are politically left leaning, to begin with, but they still need to pretend that they are defending the faith. And, I’ve believed for some time now, that many of our bishops have a homosexual past, and some may still be active homosexuals, and are being bullied into silence by some in the democratic party and or even the Obama administration. If any of our bishops are or were engaged in homo activities, the Obama administration knows it, and I believe, would not hesitate to expose it if they see the need.
When in 2005 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – mere days before becoming the Successor to Peter – decried the “filth” in the Church, he may well have been alluding to all the sodomites.
I hope everyone reads the above article in entirety including all the links.
There is a new 10 minute video out called:
” CATHOLICS are PROHIBITED from VOTING for OBAMA / Educational Video ” by Catholic Answers.
It is correct, straight forward, and does not beat around the bush like the USCCB and their Staffers – and many (but not all) Bishops.
It’s true, Marcum. Our bishops are weak, most of them anyway. There are a few bishops with testicular fortitude, but they are in the minority.
When I was in grammer school, I was told a riddle:” Why did the chicken cross the road?”The answer is “To get to the other side!” Well, if anyone wants to know why Biden’s name was not mentioned in the USCCB statement, the answer is just as obvious: MOST OF THE BISHOPS ARE DEMOCRATS, and their policies can be linked to the left wing of the democratic party. They will not discredit Biden, but they sure raised a strink about Congressman Ryan’s budget. Birds of a feather flock together, and the liberal bishops will never say anything negative about their own kind, but will persecute traditional Catholics who are loyal to the magisterium. The voting document the USCCB released is terrible nonsense, and is useful only as fertilizer for crops, since it is full of manure.
53 per cent of Catholics voted for Barack Obama – the most pro abortion person to occupy the White House. Catholics sitting in the pews must be instructed and enlightened on the evil of abortion and that it is an intrinsic evil. So it is no surprise that the Bishops did not mention V.P. Bidens’s name. Bishops, in general, have been derelict in their duty of telling the people of the United States how to form a correct conscience.
Get real! It is about the federal dollars they get to do “charity, social justice work”. Wouldn’t want to loose that!!!
Yes, Tony, that explanation makes sense. If it is correct, then it means that, for the USCCB, the “charity”, and “social work” you refer to, takes priority over the defense of unborn life, in contradiction to what the Church teaches. That seems to be the basic fallacy that pervades the USCCB today. Thus abortion must not be opposed in any effective way, while a pro life pretense must be maintained to blunt the inevitable criticism. It explains why Biden’s name was not mentioned. He supports the social gospel but adopts the “pro choice” position on abortion. His re-election chances must not be jeopardized.
It also explains why Biden’s declaration that life begins at conception but that he would not force that view on others went unchallenged in the USCCB’s perfunctory statement. I think that is a great scandal. Politicians who get away with the “personally opposed but I won’t impose my views” chicanery do great harm to the Church. Vigilant shepherds would seize every opportunity to counter it. A great opportunity (no an obligation) was presented by Biden in the debate, but it was ignored by the USCCB.
It also explains why Ryan (whose “plan” contains nothing in conflict with Church teaching) was attacked by the bishops. It was left almost entirely to his own diocesan bishop to defend him.
It also explains “Faithful Citizenship”, which confuses people and gives cover to those Catholics who want to vote for “pro choice” candidates, while it pretends to be pro life.
Maybe there is a more benign explanation of the USCCB’s perplexing behavior. If there is, please let the bishops explain it to us.
I do believe the USCCB is chaotic and speaks from both sides of it’s pious mouth. Then they continually stress the importance of evangelization of the faith by the laity! The laity isn’t too sure just what the faith is!!!! The USCCB needs to immediately come out with an explanation of some kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Except for John’s remarks to JLS, the 11 comments that were posted as of 12:33 Eastern time, were basically inane and very disrespectful for God’ Servants and even King David would hang his head in shame at what these so-called “catholics” are saying. Back to the Bible all of you and repent. +JMJ+
Yes, let’s continue “respecting” abortionists, sodomites, heretics, and those who enable abortionists, sodomites, and heretics. Jesus doesn’t want us to correct them, after all. He wants us to affirm them in their error and sin, right?
Sorry JMJ, but your logic would insist that clergy are beyond criticism by the laity, and that is a recipe for disaster. “Disrespect” also is in the eye of the beholder, and that is your second error. You rashly judge the intentions of those who have critical comments as “disrespectful.” Perhaps one of those critical comments may save a prelate’s soul some day. If there are problems with the USCCB, and the evidence clearly indicates that this is so, then the laity have a right and a duty to point this out. There is nothing “inane” about this. The last judgment you make, calling these laity who care about the travesties perpetrated by the USCCB, ” so-called ‘catholics’,” shows profound hubris on your part. “Back to the Bible all of you and repent” ignores the rightful concerns of the laity vis a vis our bishops, and you arrogate to yourself prophetic status. How sad.
JMJ, how do you figure that those who betray God are His servants? You obviously have never read much of the Bible, or you would not stick up for deceivers, wolves in sheep’s clothing. Or perhaps that’s all the depth you can see, the clothing.
Our bishops missed the first opportunity to speak out 40 years ago against the Supreme Court decision to allow the unborn at all stages of their existence before birth to be killed. They have traded 58 million dead babies for one tax exemption. All the other evils that have stemmed from this decision of theirs, including not speaking out against contraception, same-sex marriage, cloning, euthanasia are the result of their monumental failure to lead the people of God to holiness after Vatican II. Not all are culpable but for many years the bishop-leaders have capitulated to the culture of death. Why would we expect them now to be specific in their condemnation of a vice-president? The bishops who dissented against Humanae Vitae made sure the Democratic party was “OK” with abortion. Now we are reaping the diabolical consequences of the few because the others did and said nothing to rock the boat. It is up to the laity now to save the Church with prayer, fasting, and speaking out against the culture of death. It is never too late…
Edit;
I was watching EWTN Mass offered for the start of 40 day novena of life and religious freedom, by Bishop E Lori, supreme knight of Knights of Columbus; when his homily started he went into full attack mode, hitting all the hot button issues.
Then I started getting Angry at him and his brother Bishops. As he spoke, I realized that these individuals were still considered Catholics in full communion with the church;
1. Kathleen Sebelius
2. Joseph Biden
3. Nancy Pelosi
4. Sister. Simone Campbell
I could not stomach the Hypocrisy of the Bishop and his Brother Bishops anymore. How is it that these people that are clearly persecuting Christ and His Church and the Bishops are asking us to oppose on the grounds of Catholic Moral teaching are still considered Catholic and not a single one of them (Bishops) will come out and ask them to repent in public or cease considering themselves Catholic?
Is there something we the laity do not know? Like a potential for blackmail against all sitting Bishops? Could they all be compromised?
Conspiracy theories are seldom actual. Bishop Lori is one of the most “conservative” bishops of the church in America. He was just appointed Archbishop of the Mother Church for the U.S.. He speaks out loudly about abortion, writes about it, and actively acts against it. He is commited to the Blessed Mother in his writings. If you think that he is not committed 100% to the teachings of the Church, you need to check him out further. He is the point man against the Obama administration, etc., etc.. He is not luke-warm on any of these issues.
Speaking the truth is not being disrespectul or inane. Cardinal Burke
has said much the same. Abortion is an intrinsic evil and when our Bishops do not stand up and proclaim this from the pulpit, they are not doing what they were ordained to do. We Catholics should be hearing this from the pulpit and we do not. Yet, so called Catholics such as members of the Kennedy family are allowed to put down the beliefs of our Church in a public forum and never a word is uttered that what they have said is totally wrong. Even when Sister Carol Keehan stood next to President Obama while he signed into law the Health Care Bill that will force Catholics to pay for abortions, not a word came from any of the Catholic hierarchy. Where is their voice? The silence is deafening.
Who says the American Catholic Church is not in de fide schism, has openily been since the lack of support on Humnae Vitae July 24, 1968? Why can we not just acknowledge that what started with Cahensyism in the late 1800’s, was addressed by Pope Leo XIII, then promptly ignored is still present today? Can we just not have some honesty here, speak the truth as to what is obivous, and allow Catholics who abide by the teaching of the Magisterium to get on with it? Please! Let us not continue to confuse the willfully ignorant! The burden will lie with us!
54% of Catholics voted for O in 2008.
I predict about 50% will in 2012.
But, in 2008, what percentage of ordained and religious, cloistered even, voted for O? Don’t look/ponder unless you want to be very sad.
BTW on Thursday there was a two sentence news item that Romney has declared he won’t touch abortion laws in this country, not that I expected him to.
Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy of San Francisco talked to a group of (about 50) parishoners of St. Dunstan (Millbrae) and neighboring parishes about voting your conscience last Saturday morning. He was at great pains to make clear that although abortion is the most important issue, we must not ignore the others mentioned in Faithful Citizenship. And he said we should ignore the documents from Catholic Answers and other “right-wing organizations.”
If you have any doubt about what wing of the political/religious spectrum he falls on, Google him.
Loraine, I believe you nailed it right on the head, the Chicago mob has everything they need to know on the Catholic Bishops, AND THEY WILL USE IT IF NECESSAY, and there are still far to many Bishops operating with two faces, one pious and Holy, the other the face of deceith to parishoners. Thank God we have a few Catholic publications like Cal Catholic we can turn to that will expose them. With the democratic platform loaded with intrinsic evils in all my years I have never seen the Catholic Church so quiet at election timE…MGB
Doesn’t it seem strange to you that many Bishops do not actively promote the reading of the CCC by all their Priests and by all within their Diocese?
Could it be to promote agendas that are not always in full conformance with the TRUE teachings of the Church ? ? ?
This is possible when they keep people in the dark.
If the Obama “culture of death” is again elected and allowed its reign of terror on the US and World for another four years it will be at the hands of Catholic Bishops. The weak Bishops for not correcting their flocks and the strong Bishops for not banding together and condemning their weaker brothers.
If I were a visitor from another country I would conclude after reading all the critical remarks about our bishops that the episcopacy in the United States is, if not a wholly owned subsidiary, then at least a branch of the democratic party. Having lived here for most of my adult life, and having observed the slow degradation of Catholicism since the second council, and the shift of emphasis from proclaiming the glory of our faith, the incomparable beauty and magnificence of our Roman Catholic culture
and traditions, to the sheer blandness of the novus ordo mass and the infantilization of our liturgy, to an emphasis on social justice, welfare, and the redistribution of wealth, I have come to the conclusion that I would not be entirely wrong.