----- Original Message ----- From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 10:26 AM Subject: Re: Bishops to punish catholic politicians who disobey Pope
> > Given that The Fool was trotting out the old codewords for anti-Catholicism > in this country, namely that Catholics are all in hock to orders of the > Pope, it seemed like an apt anaology. > > JDG There are a couple points to be made here. First, I cannot imagine the Fool being able to keep a media job if he put out one day of his posts on the airways. I agree that the statement about the pope ruling American politicians is an old like from anti-Catholic prejudice. When Kennedy was running, he undid this with his famous remark separating the public actions of Catholic politicians from the teachings of the pope. At the time, this speech received the blessing of the Catholic bishops. It was considered key to his becoming president. The news story reported the Catholic bishops discussing the dismantling of this agreement; with sanctions for Catholic public figures who follow it. These sanctions can include excommunication from the Catholic church. The real inaccuracy in the title was the use of the phrase "to punish." An accurate statement would be "are discussing punishing." If the punishment is a matter of not giving honorary degrees, I'm not too worried. But, if they expect all Catholic politicians to toe the party line on all votes under pain of excommunication, then all hell will be out for noon. I don't think the bishops are that stupid. My guess is that the reporter caught the bishops venting their frustrations concerning how little influence they have over the viewpoints and actions of Catholics. But, I do know that there is a movement in the Catholic church to enforce top down discipline, with "don't let the door hit you on the way out" for all who won't follow the party line. If they really want to reduce the Catholic church to the remnant faithful, this would be a wonderful first step. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
