Archbishop defends statement on Communion, abortion rights supporters

[Khephra]

NEWARK, N.J. -- The Archbishop of Newark said his recent call for abortion rights supporters to abstain from Communion will attract worshippers _ not alienate them.

"I believe Catholics are looking for clear statements about the convictions that we hold," the Most Rev. John J. Myers said Friday in his first news conference since his statement was published in a diocesan newspaper two weeks ago.

snip......

Myers also said Friday that there was nothing inconsistent about singling out abortion among other public issues, including the death penalty, as a litmus test for Communion.

"Now, the church discourages the death penalty," he conceded. But, he added, "there are some instances in which it can be tolerated."

Abortion cannot be, he said.

more..........

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--catholics-communi0521may21,0,6659626.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[Sandpiper]

1. And the church continues its slide

Into irrelevancy.

[stepnw1f]

2. Hey Archbishop,

why don't you do something really useful, and try working for a day helping the poor. Telling people what to do everyday, doesn't really amount to anything in reality.

[maddezmom]

3. wonder how he feels about torture or war crimes?

hypocrite

[AndyTiedye]

4. No Big Deal, Obviously, Since They Ordered Their Flock to Vote for Them

what's a few atrocities when you can get an xtian theocracy and a full-on Crusade?

[Alerter_]

5. ask him about Opus Dei and Torture

and whether or not they support it.

[Barkley]

7. I wonder how he feels about supporters of capital punishment?

Sex is the only 'sin' the right wing knows.

I think this is a response in part to the successful womens march on Washington last month; its put the right-wing conservatives on the defensive.

People have many other real life issues that are not about sex, abortion, homosexuals etc.

Its the everyday life stuff that people need help with.

If and when the Church addresses peoples real needs it will grow exponentially.

Right now there are over 3000 Catholic parishes across the U.S. that are headed/ run by women because the Church doesn't have enough male priests.

They wouldn't think of making women priests even though the first "preachers" were women:

Christ after rising from the dead told the women at the tomb to TELL the men that He had risen.

The resurrection is the most important message of Christianity!

But you wouldn't know it!

[zbdent]

6. And the flock goes

"Yay! Right on! Wait, what was that about Football?"

[TahitiNut]

8. Oh, for Christ's sake! GOD is PRO-CHOICE!

Literally!! Where did these people study theology? Bob Jones? (Fuck!)

[DemBones DemBones]

9. God speaks to you, or what? When you say

"God is pro-choice" you are asserting that any abortion is A-OK with God, that no unborn child's life is worth preserving, and I know of no way you can prove that.

Since Jesus is God (the Trinity being accepted by most Christians), I look at what Jesus taught and I can't see Jesus as accepting abortion, war, or the death penalty. An advanced Christian society would work to make all three unnecessary and therefore obsolete. Any truly liberal society would do the same, regardless of the religious beliefs of its citizens. Killing is rarely, if ever, justified.

[TahitiNut]

10. Don't EVER try to TELL me what I'm asserting.

If you can't read and comprehend what I said, don't ever presume to put other words into my posts. I regard such fallacious arguments as detestible and intellectually bankrupt. If you want to argue against your own strawman crap, please do so on your own.

In the meantime, you might be well-advised to study "vis electiva," as St. Thomas called it. Go forth and educate thyself.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will
For the Catholic viewpoint, see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06259a.htm

[atreides1]

11. No One Knows The MInd Of God

Can you prove that God does not allow abortions to take place, that perhaps he feels that the soul of that child would better serve him in heaven. Maybe some abortions are what God wants, you can't disprove that anymore then I can prove it. It means we are at an impasse.

Jesus's teachings were of love and tolerance, and while you cannot see him as accepting the things you listed, he never actually spoke out against them. The three items you cite are the creations of man
not God. Granted we the human race since our existence have always had God to blame for our short comings. Go to war, it's for God, execute someone we quote some Biblical passsage, as far as abortion is concerned another human choice. Should it be allowed in cases where the life of the mother is in danger, or in cases of rape and incest, yes, if that's what the woman wants. Should it be used as a method of birth control, no.

Even the Catholic church allowed abortions up until the 16th week, and it wasn't until 1869 that the church decided it was wrong. And some historians base that decision on the fact that the church was
losing it's influence over Europe.

Whether abortion is right or wrong is a decision to be determined by those that have to make the choice.

[Ernesto]

12. For me the looming question is....

When do they lose their tax free status for becoming a political influence machine?

[Barkley]

13. Didn't Judas Get Communion at the Last Supper?

And Judas wasn't even Catholic -- neither was Christ!

The definition of Catholic will be eroded if every priest set up their own criteria for communion and other sacraments.