Obama’s pro-life backers risk usurping bishops, critic says

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Comments: 16

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

Washington D.C., Mar 5, 2009 / 06:41 am (CNA).- Though some have hoped that pro-life Catholic supporters of President Barack Obama would persuade the president to moderate his “extremist” abortion agenda, they have instead attacked other pro-life advocates and have possibly usurped the place of bishops by redefining Catholic “life and action,” one commentator warns.

Catholic defenders of both Obama and the pro-abortion “rights” Catholic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius may even be assuming the place of bishops by redefining unrestricted abortion advocates as advocates of the true pro-life position, constitutional law attorney Matt Bowman claims in an essay at the American Spectator website.

Bowman, who also directs the website and blog www.AbortObama.com, writes that pro-lifers had hoped President Obama’s pro-life backers might “really oppose” his abortion policies, dreaming “that Doug Kmiec might actually do some good, by using Obama’s listening ear by convincing him to moderate his extremist abortion agenda.”

He charges that Catholic backers of Obama were “silent” when Obama opened international funding to abortion-promoting organizations by rescinding the Mexico City Policy.

Their position became especially doubtful, Bowman says, when several of them attacked the pro-life campaign against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), “even though that campaign is the only thing keeping FOCA from becoming reality.”

However, any remaining hopes have been “smashed” by a recent letter defending Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, nominee to become Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“They have declared full-scale war against Catholic and evangelical pro-life political activity,” Bowman claims.

On Sunday, the group Catholics United released a statement signed by 26 Catholics who defended Sebelius’ nomination. The statement claimed “Kathleen Sebelius has made clear that she agrees with church teaching that abortion is wrong and has lived and acted according to that belief.”

This argument risks redefining Catholic life and action, Bowman cautions.

“By claiming that Sebelius ‘lives and acts’ not just any high-minded ideals, but specifically pro-life Catholic teaching, the letter's signers are donning their own miters and claiming to teach Catholics what the faith is. That is a role only a Bishop can fill, and if Catholic Bishops recognize the attempt to usurp their own authority they just might respond,” he writes.

He notes that the letter contradicts Archbishop of Kansas City Joseph Naumann’s request that Gov. Sebelius refrain from receiving Communion until she publicly repudiates her position on abortion.

Comparing “Obama Pro-lifers” to the group “Catholics for a Free Choice,” Bowman suggests that they may be “largely neutralized” in much the same way by the bishops repeatedly condemning their errors.

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Elaine Suhre
Alhambra IL 03/05/2009 11:53 PM EST

There are many times I am impatient, confused and upset that more of the Bishops here in the U.S don't take a stronger stance against these heretics.

I understand the Church moves very slowly to deliver statements, or rules that leave no way out for those who have lost the path to the true teachings of the Church.

But the discord is getting so prevalent, if there is to be a break, (which has already occured, although not proclaimed), I wish there would be a public statement about it. St. Paul had no qualms about correcting those in error, why do most of the leaders of the Church now sit back and do nothing?

It is dispiriting.

Published by: Janice Brown
Palm Desert CA USA 03/05/2009 05:46 PM EST

Thank you, C.J. for reminding what our Pope John Paul said. Years ago a Jesuit Priest Fr. Rick Thomas from El Paso, TX. told us not to worry about building new Churches. If we preach the Gospel it will empty them. Could this be why we have so many in the Church who never heard the Gospel preac hed? The Pastors were building monuments to themselves?
The Bishop from Scranton has publacized 2 letters he has sent to Senator Casey. He laid out the Catholic position very clearly. This was in Spirit Daily this past week and your heart will rejoice when you read the faithfulness of this courageous Bishop. Janice B.

Published by: Pete
Mars PA 03/05/2009 04:37 PM EST

How about giving all our Catholic nominees and appointed persons a at least a year, before condeming them. Enough is enough give them a chance.

Published by: Jack
NY 03/05/2009 03:29 PM EST

Sadly, the world is being dominated by socialism, relativism, syncretism, and humanistic secualrism. It's the age of the Antichrist.

Published by: Robert Lydon
Edgewood , N.M. USA 03/05/2009 03:18 PM EST

It's time to cut these folks loose. The damage of their scandal is far worse than the possible "hurt" it might cause them.

Published by: Paul C.
Kansas 03/05/2009 01:44 PM EST

Kathleen Sebelius doesn't represent the Catholic faith by partaking in the pro-abortion agenda of President Obama. Her nomination represents the extreme radical views that Kansas nor does catholic voters stand for.

I'm disappointed that both Kansas Senators Roberts and Brownback are voting for her nomination to the HHS post, especially Brownback. For a long time, I felt that Senator Brownback was the leader in the Senate to defend life and prevent the so called Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). His vote is an indirect vote for abortion in our country, and a huge mistake if he is running for governor.

No longer are Brownback and Roberts principled leaders, they are principled politicizers. Sorry Brownback, I'm with Thornburgh.

Published by: Ron
Maley 03/05/2009 01:19 PM EST

Why does the church leaders continue to let this group have their say? They need to be told to stop supporting pro-abortion, or stop representing themselves as Catolics!! Enough is Enough

Published by: Bob Penzkover
Rock Springs, WI 03/05/2009 01:18 PM EST

Former Catholic splinter groups, aka "heretics", have never redefined Catholic life. And they will not in the future. Yes, they may confuse the uncatechized and lead some astray. But there are many strong, vocal pro-life groups to overcome misinformation. The gates of hell will not prevail.......

Published by: Joyce Kauders
Aberdeen, MD, USA 03/05/2009 01:02 PM EST

Dear Bishops...you enjoy the fullness of your Priesthood along with the responsibilities it carries. Isn't it time to stand up for God publicly? If you sit still in order to be "politically correct" you are making a big mistake. May the Holy Spirit show you the way.

Published by: Maureen
NY, USA 03/05/2009 01:00 PM EST

I believe that anyone who would vote for a 'man' who believes that a baby that survived a botched abortion should be left alone to die is a spiritually ill human being. Truly this is an example of faith without works, and a vote for an astoundingly brutal evil.

Because they have not shown concern for the least of these, they will, no doubt, reap a whirlwind.

29 “For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 “Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ 31 “For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Published by: Joe DeCarlo
sewell/NJ/USA 03/05/2009 12:49 PM EST

The pope must come out publicly and exommunicated any catholic public offical who is pro-abortion. The pope must tell the American bishops that they are NOT to give communion to Catholic public officals.

Published by: Tom McLaughlin
T.O./Ca 03/05/2009 12:41 PM EST

The Vatican does not want a cultural war in the USA. Listen to conservatives like John Allen who are in the know. The Vatican looks forward to working with Obama on many social justice issues of common interest. This insistence on cultural war is not in our best interests. Refusal to deny the evil of abortion is also not acceptable. Live with both positions. Support what we see as common interests and oppose those interests we see as immoral.

Published by: Jim Harkins
Sun City Center, Florida, USA 03/05/2009 12:34 PM EST

As a RC 'hardliner' let's get back-to-basics. Abrotion is a mortal sin against God, in other words: the 'secularist' have declared a kulturkanpf against our Holy Roman Catholic Church. Answer them by an edict of Excommunication! The time for compromise is over.
Seamus OhEarcain
AOH historian of Florida

Published by: Elizabeth A Powers
Denver CO 03/05/2009 12:34 PM EST

Thank the good Lord for our courageous shepherds who consistently by their teaching and example lead faithful Catholics without compromise-Pope Benedict xvi,Archbishop Naumann, Archbishop Chaput,to name a few.

Published by: Ed Woods
Greenwood, IN 46142 03/05/2009 12:31 PM EST

The Obama "pro life" group are wrong. God bless the KC Bishop and all others who have the strength and conviction to step up for oue Catholic docterine. Why are not all the clergy speaking out on this matter?

Published by: C.J.
St. Paul, MN 03/05/2009 11:17 AM EST

Pope John Paul II commented on the inevitability of the comming split in the Church and that the community left inside the Church would be much smaller than expected. Perhaps we are seeing the first major signs of this split. Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperantes in te!

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