Doug Kmiec to give election ‘post-mortem’ at Calif. seminary

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Comments: 7

Sacramento, Calif., Nov 6, 2008 / 07:47 am (CNA).- St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California has invited Pepperdine University law professor and Obama backer Doug Kmiec to give an election “post-mortem” lecture.

According to the California Catholic Daily, Kmiec will give the Thirteenth Annual Newman C. Eberhardt Lecture next Tuesday. The seminary’s web site says his lecture will examine “the prominent role played by the American Catholic community in the 2008 election, from Bishops educating candidates on ensoulment to alternative ways to be pro-life to the selection of running mates.”

Kmiec, former legal counsel for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, has also been dean of the law school at the Catholic University of America and a law professor at Notre Dame University.

Though a pro-life Republican, in a March 23 essay in Slate magazine he endorsed the pro-abortion rights Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, saying Obama “wants to move the nation beyond its religious and racial divides and that he wants to return the United States to that company of nations committed to human rights.”

Kmiec’s justifications for supporting Obama have drawn criticism from Catholic clergy and laity. He has argued that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s position on the Catholic citizen’s voting duties “discounts reducing the incidence of abortion by cultural (economic and social) means” by focusing on legal remedies.

However, Kmiec insists his disagreement is not over the “essence of Church instruction” but rather the “preferred means of implementing it.”

Comments: 7

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Edward Thomas
Nebraska 11/15/2008 10:05 AM EST

Very sad. I grew up 20 minutes from that seminary and heard and saw things that are consistent with the poor choices that are illustrated by this article. It is no surprise that the Archdiocese had to close its college philosophy part of the seminary. They would have had the money and the students if they were just keeping it orthodox, keeping faithful.

Published by: Sheila Cecil
Brooklyn, NY 11/10/2008 11:39 PM EST

Even without discussing the evils of eugenics -- in these trying economic times it is priority under Obama that the US taxpayers pay for abortions WORLDWIDE??!

This is unbelievable! God job America. Good job Catholics -- the majority of whom voted for this president. Good job Catholic leaders -- the majority of whom said NOTHING -- 50 US bishops spoke out (there are how many -- 650 or so?).

I pray for the future of the Catholic Church. My heart breaks.

Published by: frjimt
pocono pines, pa, usa 11/09/2008 10:48 PM EST

Perhaps instead of "honoring" this disgraceful man, the seminary should invite Bishop Chaput and the others who were willing to speak truth to power.

What a joke. Inviting him to defend the infensible.

Published by: Ben B.
Palos Verdes, CA, US 11/09/2008 12:28 PM EST

I will no longer donate to anything which supports my LA Archdiocese, but I will pray the President Elect is touched by the Holy Spirit. I sort of doubt it since his advisors have indicated one of his first actions will be removing the executive orderliiting funding of stem cell research, but i can hope.

Published by: Ken Ryan
San Diego, CA, USA 11/06/2008 11:45 PM EST

Kmiec position against the church and his postiion attempting to justify his position is unbelievable. Why have him speak at the seminary. Why give him any forum for his unCatholic ramblings.
Is the Church a democracy?

Published by: Rev. Deacon Avaletalia M Hunkin
Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago, American Samoa USA 11/06/2008 05:43 PM EST

Whatever explanations any human person(s) regardless of his/her legal, theology, political,social,etc. on abortion or killing unborn innocent being issues, mankind DO NOT have any authority to kill any UNBORN GOD-imaged spiritual being God himself gives to human beings form in the mothers wombs.
Why are so many natural and man-made happening in USA within the last 30 years ? Is it a curse ?

Published by: Ed Colbert
Houston/TX/USA 11/06/2008 04:37 PM EST

Seems like Mr. Kmiec might have a "do evil to do good issue" which God meant to avois via the 5th commandment.
A re-read of Veritas Splendor is recommended.

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