My Priest at my Catholic church this morning...

[tallahasseedem]

asked us to pray for this bill to be passed.

Wow. Just wow.

I guess it just goes to show you that Stupak is on the fringe with the Bishops.

[Zynx]

1. Part of the reason I am still Catholic is that there are very good elements of the church.

You just have to know where to look.

[tallahasseedem]

2. I totally agree...

I have had a lot of problems with them since the 2004 election and, of course, all the scandals. I don't go that much, but I was curious enough to go this morning to see if they would say anything. It was nice to hear.

[a la izquierda]

5. my parish priest is awesome...

very, very liberal (which is tough to do in Oklahoma). i don't donate to the larger church, just to parish stuff.

[CurtEastPoint]

15. Ditto here in ATL. Terrific parish and priest. n/t

[DailyGrind51]

35. The bishops are the problem, along with a few perverted priests.

The social mission of the Church is evident.

[HughMoran]

3. I know that Catholics 'on the ground' are, on average, decent people

...as were most in my Irish Catholic Boston neighborhood growing up. The Bishops are indeed ass holes.

[Dappleganger]

4. Good point...

those with direct contact with the communities in need KNOW this bill is a good beginning.

[Leftist Agitator]

6. Your priest shouldn't be talking about politics from the pulpit.

End of story.

[morningglory]

8. Indeed! That leads to a very bad situation. My Sister in Law said:

"how can you be a Christian and a Democrat? Impossible!"

[pamela]

26. How can a person be a Christian and NOT be a Democrat?

A TRUE Christian, one who followed Christ's teachings, would have to be a Democrat. Christians used to be ashamed to admit they were Republicans. That's the only reason the Republican party embraced the wedge issues of abortion and gay rights. They wanted to convince Christians to vote against Christ's teachings and it has, sadly, worked with far too many.

[Divine Discontent]

34. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! +1!!!! Great points. God bless us all, everyone.

:hug:

[grantcart]

9. really so he shouldn't ask for prayers on "the Civil Rights Act" of 1964?

He shouldn't be talking about politics but he should be talking about moral and ethical issues.

This bill will save tens of thousands of lives and as such is the most defining non war issue in 40 years. The priest is right and you are incorrect.

[Leftist Agitator]

19. "...but he should be talking about moral and ethical issues."

So you would be OK with a priest imploring his parishioners to support a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage?

Because I'm sure that that would be framed as a "moral and ethical issue".

[Maat]

25. Yes, a pastor/priest may talk about that.

They may not favor one candidate over the other, but are free to discuss social and justice issues.

[tallahasseedem]

11. Meh...

I think this bill has more to do with social justice related to health care. Now if he was telling us who to vote for in an election that would be a different story.

[sarge43]

13. Her priest didn't tell the congregation to vote for a particular candidate or

contribute to a campaign. He asked for prayer for social justice and support for the least of us. A Christian strives to emulate Christ.

[lunatica]

14. The OP is talking about the priest supporting Health care reform

which in the long run is not about politics at all. There are lots of laws which come about in spite of politics. Some because their time has come and some because it's the right thing to do.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

36. That's correct.

Churches are not allowed to take part in campaigns and elections. My old church, even though it strongly supported local schools, would not put out a sign favoring a school levy (a non-partisan referendum) to avoid violating the law.

Votes being taken in Congress, however, are another matter entirely and churches are free to weigh in on the issues. But they can't actually spend money on lobbying -- that would be an IRS no-no.

[bigwillq]

30. 100 percent agree.

I would've walked out.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. Stupidak is a member of C-Street which isn't a catholic instituation.

No matter how bad some priests could be they do believe in social justice.

[fadedrose]

10. This priest must know people who are suffering . .

In which case he couldn't help himself for his remarks in church.

[IndianaGreen]

12. He is not in sync with his bishop

The statement by the nuns in support of HCR ran counter to the bishops. Nuns work in hospitals, while bishops spend their time protecting child molesting priests.

[vaberella]

16. For all the Catholic bashing... We do rock you know. I love my nuns. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

17. EWTN--worse than Fox on this subject

I'm glad you parish priest came out for HCR.

[Phx_Dem]

18. Wow is right. I hope he doesn't get defrocked(?) for that!

[karynnj]

20. I HOPE that is what Stupak hear at his church this morning (or yesterday evening)

How can he reconcile voting against something so clearly Catholic social justice - which really does not make abortion easier or more common.

(It would be ironic if he missed mass this morning.)

[glinda]

21. Either way they should stay out of it

[Odin2005]

22. Why is your priest preaching politics from the pulpit?

It's not right when our side does it, too.

[phleshdef]

23. Many political issues and "moral religious" concerns are inseparable.

Its not like the priest is telling people who to vote for. Thats just insane. Do you expect churches to not have an antiwar stance or a pro civil rights stance either?

[themaguffin]

24. correct, but this is part of that evil social justice stuff....

[prolesunited]

31. The priest wasn't endorsing a candidate

or a party. He was advocating a specific measure.

Abortion is brought up as an issue in churches all of the time. So are gay rights. How is this any different -- other than you were against passage of it?

[ProgressiveChristian]

33. Are you kidding?

The Civil Rights Movement had it's Genesis (pun intended) in the Black churches of the South. The Abolitionist movement got it's start churches of the North. Social Justice and Salvation for everyone is the essence of Christian love. The pulpit is THE place for that kind of speech.

[saltpoint]

27. Bart apparently assumed he'd have that demographic lined up and

didn't have to consult them.

Turns out they aren't with him on this.

[SoxFan]

28. KICK!

[progressoid]

29. And this is a good thing?

Oh wait, we don't really want separation of church and state do we.

[4lbs]

32. Those nuns got to him!

:D

[Captain Hilts]

37. Best to side with the Nuns on this one. nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

38. A decade and a half ago, my priest at my home parish once gave a sermon...

...where he called the right to universal healthcare a moral imperative to human rights and human dignity.

Of course, this priest has long been progressive on economic justice issues, so I'm not surprised. But most Catholics aren't the troglydites that some of this board desire to make them out to be.