In '08, my catholic bishop (Zubik in Pittsburgh) made the public statement that there were many important political issues in the election, but the only 'non-negotiable' issue was the candidate's stance on pro-choice vs 'pro-life'. Not the death penalty, not starving children, not war, just pro-choice. (Therefore, voting for a pro-choice Dem is a sin. Our Catholic doctrine requires us to confess sins. You're supposed to not commit that sin again after absolution.) After we rank-and-file catholics put Zubik on ignore and whomped his pig repug buddies' asses in the election, he issued the statement that 'now that the election is over, he hopes that Prez Elect Obama will pay attention to the concerns of the Catholic Church.'
This year, Zubik pushed the repug's b.s. issue of Obama's 'attack' on religious freedom and the church, both in the Pittsburgh Catholic weekly newspaper, and by sending flunkies to state his views from the pulpit, during the sermon. The National Catholic Reporter weighed in on the issue:
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/pittsburgh-priests-bishop-listen-laity-contraception
excerpt from the link:
"Asked what he might say to a Catholic woman who had attempted to follow the church's official teaching on contraception but had found it painful or difficult to do so because of health or other reasons, the bishop would only say that he thinks 'that really is an issue that's between a confessor and a penitent.'"
I'm a practicing Catholic, and it seems like you are too. I'm with you on the 98% statistic. To me, it looks like the thing to do is ignore the hierarchy when they say things that rise to the Zubik level of stupidity. I walked out when Zubik's muscle bound Deacon delivered his repug campaign propaganda during the sermon, and I never give the church any money. But I still go to church, because I'm not going to let the bad guys spoil my good time.
= new reply since forum marked as read
