The Post-Dispatch continues its confusion regarding Abp. Burke, church/state

Saturday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch continued its confusion of the relationship of Archbishop Burke's clear position on the Church's teaching regarding the scandal caused by Catholic politicians who advocate and promote the culture of death and the subsequent interdict to deny them Holy Communion.

"It's one thing for the Catholic church to behave like any other interest group and say, 'We have these positions and hope people will be persuaded by these positions.' That doesn't raise fears," said John Green, an Akron University professor who studies the intersection of religion and politics. "But when it gets to the next level, where religious sanctions are used against politicians because of positions they take. . ., that does raise some of the fears that people had back in the 1960s. I think that tends to increase the concern that the church may be playing an inappropriate role in democracy."

The Catholic Church behaving like any other interest group? Fears that people had in the 1960's? Inappropriate role in democracy? I guess this is similar to the same role the Church played in the past speaking out against segregation?

"It's not Rome imposing a particular view on anybody," said Starrs, director of the Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church of the American Life League, the nation's largest anti-abortion advocacy group. "It's just the Catholic church asking for all people to stand up for all innocent life, and if you want to be Catholic, some things are non-negotiable, and one of those is protecting life in the womb."

At least they quoted someone else who is Catholic and understands the position of the Church. But wait a minute. They can't let it stop there...they must select some 'real' ideologues to give the truth on the subject.

In fact, Catholics are widely divided on many social issues.

An ABC News-Washington Post poll last year found that 88 percent of Catholics find birth control morally acceptable, 62 percent found the death penalty morally acceptable and 30 percent found abortion acceptable.

"The Catholics that are in the pews are there for spiritual fulfillment and aren't looking to the church hierarchy for political leadership and guidance," said Paul Djupe, assistant professor of political science at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

Perhaps not, however, fundamental moral precepts must be understood if one is ever going to grow spiritually. And when injustice is promoted as a good when in fact it is an evil, it is the obligation of the Church to enlightened the faithful about this issue.

Still, some question whether such edicts from church leaders come close to crossing the line between the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.

Apparently another person who failed to read the Constitution or pass a basic Civics class. Some believe that repeating this lie often enough will make it true.

Green said," It's one thing to say we think Senator Kerry is wrong. But it's quite another to deny the means of grace because of a political position."

If Kerry was in a state of grace, he would not hold the "Pro-Death" position he promotes. He, himself, is responsible for any denial of Holy Communion.

Sue Crawford, an associate professor of political science at Creighton University, said such fears might be more viable if Kerry had reversed his position.

"If Kerry were to come out and say, 'I was wrong and I won't do it anymore because I value my link to the church,' it would raise that concern," she said. "If he backs down on this, what else will he back down? People might be worried then about whether they could trust Catholic politicians."

That's right! People will be worried when someone accepts morality as a way of life and publicly admits that they were wrong.

Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice, an abortion-rights group, believes such statements from church leaders revive concerns about whether Catholic politicians can be trusted to make laws based on the common good rather than religious beliefs.

Ah yes! We must not go without quoting Kissling! Promoting abortion, the intentional murder of the unborn in the womb - in what should be the safest place for them - is a common good? Also, If we are to understand this correctly, we should abolish all laws which have been enacted which were based on religious beliefs. What a glorious day!

"This is the fear that those of us who are Catholic have that when bishops say things like this that they may contribute to anti-Catholicism by reigniting the old belief that Catholics are not independent from Rome," Kissling said.

Actually, 'Catholics' who are estranged from Rome and the successor of St. Peter and Christ's Church of their own free will, might be better understood as schismatics and heretics. The inversion or denial of objective truth is so rampant today. One must wonder what these "Catholics" would say to Jesus if He were to confront them. Better yet, what will they say when they appear before Him on the day of judgement?