----- Original Message ----- From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 8:24 PM Subject: Re: The Vatican and the US elections
> At 08:04 PM 3/28/2004 -0600 Robert Seeberger wrote: > >But how do you see Kerry being a candidate being an issue in the > >Vatican's name. > >The Vatican doesn't own anybody, nor does it control anyone's personal > >opinion. > >Issues of American governance are not the Vatican's problem. > > Kerry has become one of the most visible Catholics in the United States. > Moreover, he has publicly stated hat he finds no difference between > Catholicism and promoting abortion. > > Given that assisting in the procurement of an abortion is grounds for > automatic excommunication from the Catholic faith, surely the Catholic > Church has the right to note that it does not consider John Kerry to be a > Catholic in good standing. Moreover, surely it also has the right to warn > the faithful that John Kerry is misrepresenting Catholic teaching? > > Your raising the old saws about Catholic plots to take over the country is > tantamount to prohibiting the Catholic Church from freely exercising its > relgion. Under your principles, the Catholic Church could not > disassociate itself from any person claiming to be a member of this Church. You do know the historical context, right. Excommunication was a political tool of the Catholic church. While it was not used quite as shamefully as selling a quick entry into heaven, it wasn't a shining moment. The traditional dividing line is that church leaders have every right to preach principals, such as abortion being wrong and sinful. They have the right to argue it shouldn't be legal. But, wielding the tool of excommunication presumes that the church belongs to the Vatican. It doesn't. John, can you actually believe that, for the last 25 years or so, bishops were not subjected to absolute loyalty and lack of differences with the pope on all his key issues (unlike the three previous popes.) Older bishops are not thrown out for not towing the party line, but they certainly aren't favored. By now, there are few moderate bishops left. The church is of the world and of the spirit. Right now, I see the Vatican worrying about not being in control. Dan M. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
