Bishop Joseph Martino directed all parish priests in the Diocese of Scranton to read to their congregations his pastoral letter in observance of Respect Life Sunday (last Sunday). It was posted in every bulletin in the diocese. I did not know of Bishop Martin before the Joe Biden reprimand, but I am starting to really like him and his unfiltered gospel.
Here are excerpts of Bishop Martino's letter:
"...Another argument goes like this: “As wrong as abortion is, I don't think it is the only relevant ‘life’ issue that should be considered when deciding for whom to vote.” This reasoning is sound only if other issues carry the same moral weight as abortion does, such as in the case of euthanasia and destruction of embryos for research purposes. Health care, education, economic security, immigration, and taxes are very important concerns. Neglect of any one of them has dire consequences as the recent financial crisis demonstrates. However, the solutions to problems in these areas do not usually involve a rejection of the sanctity of human life in the way that abortion does. Being “right” on taxes, education, health care, immigration, and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life. Consider this: the finest health and education systems, the fairest immigration laws, and the soundest economy do nothing for the child who never sees the light of day. It is a tragic irony that “pro-choice” candidates have come to support homicide – the gravest injustice a society can tolerate – in the name of “social justice.”
...While the Church assists the State in the promotion of a just society, its primary concern is to assist men and women in achieving salvation. For this reason, it is incumbent upon bishops to correct Catholics who are in error regarding these matters. Furthermore, public officials who are Catholic and who persist in public support for abortion and other intrinsic evils should not partake in or be admitted to the sacrament of Holy Communion. As I have said before, I will be vigilant on this subject.
...My dear friends, I beg you not to be misled by confusion and lies. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, does not ask us to follow him to Calvary only for us to be afraid of contradicting a few bystanders along the way. He does not ask us to take up his Cross only to have us leave it at the voting booth door. Recently, Pope Benedict XVI said that “God is so humble that he uses us to spread his Word.” The gospel of life, which we have the privilege of proclaiming, resonates in the heart of every person – believer and non-believer – because it fulfills the heart’s most profound desire."
Kudos, again, Bishop for your leadership, courage and Faith.
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3 comments:
For pro-abortionists who advocate killing, understandably, have no qualms advocating extortion or voter fraud either. Evidently, not even death is an escape from the reaches of the left:
http://massachusettsforhuckabee.blogspot.com/2008/10/acorn-equals-death-of-freedom.html
I would be interested in knowning why the people who are so overwhelmingly concerned with the "sanctity of human life" tend to be the same demographic that most strongly supports the death penalty. Comments?
I don't accept your premise that the majority of pro-life people are for the death penalty. I find the opposite to be true.
The strongest voice against abortion in America is the Catholic Church. The strongest voice against the death penalty in America is the Catholic Church. Frequently, the Vatican will ask if a certain condemned man can be saved. They even requested this for Timothy McVeigh.
So, I do not accept your premise.
But if someone is pro-life while being pro-death penalty, they can make a legitimate, clear-cut distinction that the condemned man had due process and is guilty of a horrible crime. Where a child in the womb is completely innocent and had no due process.
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