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| Fr Jay Scott Newman |
The letter made the national headlines. Fr. Newman was portrayed in the MSM as "South Carolina Pastor"--shorthand for "nose pickin' hick who don't know no better". The hate mail thundered into the parish, jamming the email boxes. I was on the parish staff at the time and the overflow came to me. They wrote their letters spewing hatred and bigotry and ignorance to whomever they could find who's name was associated with the parish.
Some letters were simply full of hatred and blasphemy for Jesus Christ, his Blessed Mother and his holy church. Others were long rants about how wonderful Obama was. The vast majority were crude, violent and some of them so irrationally hateful as to be virtually demonic.
The storm raged. Some of Fr. Newman's friends threw him under the bus and tried to smooth things over. The left wing Catholics who were making obsequious chortling noises to the Obama administration--defending his election and giving him honors at Catholic colleges were tut tutting about priests like Fr. Newman who were obviously "right wing Bible belt extremists". We were called "fundamentalists with incense." Didn't we know that Obama was the president who was going to work for peace and justice and do everything he could for the poor, the immigrants, the blacks the disenfranchised?
Now Catholics from both sides of the political spectrum are united in their condemnation of Obama's blatant attack on religious freedom. The new HHS mandate has done us all a great service in clarifying the situation. The Obama administration are not only the most pro-abortion group of politicians, but they are also the most anti-Catholic. I suspect an increasing number of Catholics who were opposed to Father Newman's statement may now be having second thoughts.
The implications for this country are immense, and it had better be not just Catholics who wake up to reality, but every Christian believer, for once the first step is taken against religious freedom in the name of political correctness, the assault will continue. The feminist abortionists are only the first pack of wolves waiting to attack. The rest of the atheistic, hedonists who hate Christ and his church will sweep down on the fold, and no Christian group will be exempt.
I do not like pointing this stuff out but if you knew all of those things and voted for Obama then you do need confession. If you didn't know about Obama's history and views then there is still the sin of willful ignorance which might be just as bad.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the ghost of Christmas present from the 1951 Scrooge. "This boy is ignorance, this girl is want. Beware them both but most of all beware this boy!" Willful ignorance is exceedingly dangerous to any society and I truly believe that is how we wound up with this president.
The church needs to stay out of politics, period. To use a person's salvation to influence a particular political outcome is the real sin here. Americans have the right to vote as the see fit, free of religious persuasion to do otherwise. The hatred for the President and Democrats in general expressed in your blog, Father, is
ReplyDeletedisgusting. I this is what I've bought into with my conversion from Anglicanism to the Catholic Church, I want out.
I have never taken political sides on this blog, bear paw, and consistent readers will know that I have criticized politicians of both right and left, republican and democrat.
ReplyDeleteOf course everyone is free to vote as they wish, but as Catholics we are all instructed to vote according to the morality of the Catholic faith and do so knowledgeably and prayerfully.
It is part of a priest's duty to inform the moral choices of his people, and sometimes that does mean particular choices and particular people.
As Christians, we're called to never separate our faith from the rest of our lives. Christianity IS our life. It is obviously meant to influence every single thing we do from the entertainment we consume, to the way we treat our own bodies, to the way we work, to the way we vote. Of course we all fall short on a regular basis and because of that, I am extremely grateful for the sacrament of confession.
ReplyDeleteCan we really judge someone based solely on who they vote for? And what about all the Catholics that admit to using birth control? And wasn't it a pro-life Republican that made the morning after pill over the counter? Wasn't it a Republican that told the entire world that there were WMD's in Iraq when it was really about lucrative contracts? Do we ignore all the deaths that this has caused? Perhaps Obama was voted in because many of us felt it was better to vote for someone that took better care of the poor and by this would prevent abortion in many cases.
ReplyDeleteAs a Democrat I'm appalled that Obama has totally disregarded religious freedom in this country and I have no intention of voting for him, but perhaps, now that this birth control dilemna has fallen in our laps, we should use it to teach our fellow Catholics just why birth control is wrong. It astounds me to read that 95% of Catholics use birth control, and we all know that this is probably a true figure. I think it's time we gave this subject some full attention. There is much to ponder with this HHS mandate. And for 95% of Catholics, a lot to learn.
"Can we really judge someone based solely on who they vote for?"
ReplyDeleteCan we judge their intent and, ultimately, their soul? No. But we CAN judge a specific behavior. And that is exactly what some priests have done. Suggesting that a person seek confession who 1) KNEW that abortion is a grave sin and 2) KNEW that Mr. Obama, based on his record, would make it as accessible as possible is a judgment on a specific behavior in a specific context.
With the exception of the degree to which a voter is removed, which some will argue, it is little different than a priest suggesting a single person sexually engaged with their partner hit up the confessional.
We must get away from the judgment of behavior = judgment of person mentality. It hinders our ability to truly love our sisters and brothers with a sincere and authentic love.
As for your remaining points, Valerie, absolutely any wrong needs to be addressed and corrected, if possible--regardless of politics. If a Republican screws up, they need to be held accountable as much as a Democrat, Libertarian, etc. Morality is outside politics, holiness is for everyone, and true love demands that we seek the good of ALL regardless of affiliation.
Dear Bear Paw,
ReplyDeleteHow about balancing your disgust at "the hatred for the President and Democrats in general expressed in your blog, Father..." with an even more logical and Christian hatred of the vicious sins of abortion, homosexual marriage, euthanasia etc supported by the President and Democrats in general - and many also from the other side of politics.
Any Christian who does NOT speak out against politicians who support such anti life, anti family initiatives is, I believe, one of the lukewarm, fainthearted, desperate to be loved by all, Christians, whom Our Lord said He would spew out of His mouth -Revelation 3:16.
The problem with any democracy with a multiplicity of parties is that the horse-trading necessary for a coalition to form a government deadens any hope of initiative or innovation in the politics of that country.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with any democracy with just two major parties is that the conscientious elector who accepts that it is a solemn duty to cast a vote is obliged to judge which is the lesser of two evils in doing so. Both Republican/Conservative and Democrat/Labour try to capture the centre ground to gain power - and then tend to edge steadily further right or left during their time in office.
That said, particular criticism of one individual amid silence about a rival might lead the reader to suspect that the one not mentioned was considered fault-free to the point of sanctity...
this is sickening.
ReplyDeletehonestly, hold “conservative” Presidents to that criteria.
posts like this are part of what people so cynical about faith & politics
My understanding is Father Newman's instruction was given to his parishioners, not anyone else. Catholics are bound to obey the Church's teachings and Father has vowed to shephard his parish. He must warn his sheep if he sees them falling into a ditch or careening over a chasim. If he is a father to his parishioners, he is the overseer of their immortal souls. He must speak out against sin and discipline when needed. How cruel if he sees someone falling and fail to warn them. It is difficult to stand for the truth and obey the Church's teachings; being a Catholic is not easy. May God help our priests and bishops speak out boldly against sin wherever it may be.
ReplyDeleteWhat people fail to realize is that whoever you vote for represents YOU. For example, if a politican is pro-abortion and he/she has to vote on whether to keep it legal or not, you are just as much to blame. You vote for who you want representing YOU. And unfortunately the Democratic party has gotten so liberal and immoral, there's no way I will vote for a democrat.
ReplyDeleteSpot on, Fr. Longenecker.
ReplyDeletePlease allow me to ramble a tad. After the Nuremberg Laws were announced in September 1935, Dietrich Bonhoeffer declared that “Only he who cries out for the Jews may sing Gregorian chants.” Bonhoeffer meant that if one dared to sing to God when His people were being beaten and murdered, that one must also speak out against their suffering being carried out by the Third Reich. Bonhoeffer believed that God is not interested in one’s worship if one is unwilling to do this. Certainly we can draw a parallel between the murder of Jews and the gruesome murder of our most defenseless, the unborn.
Almost four years ago, Fr. Jay Scott Newman made a similar declaration which was viewed with hatred and loathing. There are few priests with such courage, moral character and obedience to God and his Word as Fr. Newman and one who stood beside him, Fr. Longenecker.
"this is sickening.
ReplyDeletehonestly, hold “conservative” Presidents to that criteria.
posts like this are part of what people so cynical about faith & politics "
I believe this was already covered. Nobody said you have to vote republican. But as a faithful Catholic you cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who stands so starkly against Catholic values and concerns.
None of us likes when Church teaching points out our faults but we are still called to understand and be faithful.
It gets worse, several years ago a nurse in Chicago became aware that in at least two local hospitals, born alive aborted babies were being 'thrown away'. She promoted a bill in the Illinois senate requiring that babies who had survived abortion receive medical care. It was successfully blocked by a young local senator, Barack Obama. Many an atheist would regard that as infanticide by wilful neglect.
ReplyDeleteNo,the church doesn't need to stay out of politics; too many ill-informed parishioners all around who need educating! Then even when armed with the Truth they go out and do wrong (aka evil) anyway. They know and they don't care.
ReplyDeleteAnd when your country is taken away (in the form of liberty and rights denied), don't complain.
And yes you can glean quite a bit about a person based on who they vote for!