Catholic Democrats, Quebec Priests Oppose Vatican

A church is defined by it's dogma. In the post modern world absolute are frowned upon, but in a church they are essential to It's character. In each denomination there are essential and nonessential beliefs. The nonessential are debatable, the essential are what makes one a member of that sect. When one finds opposition to one of the essentials one really has only two choices, conform or find a different sect that they agree with.

The Catholic Democrats are miffed because they can't be pro abortion and be considered Catholics. One major point of Catholicism is the authority of the Pope. Since the Pope has said that abortion is outside of the teaching of the church i.e. sin one should agree to be considered Catholic. If an elected official feels that supporting abortion is a good thing and the Catholic Church says otherwise, then that official should make a choice, support abortion or be a Catholic. There are denominations that embrace abortion, if they wish to be a member of a church they should join one of them. To want the Catholic Church to accommodate their viewpoints contrary to the teaching of the leader of the Church is to ask the church to cease to be Catholic.

Still reeling from the attacks on Sen. John F. Kerry's brand of Roman Catholicism during the 2004 presidential race, 55 House Democrats issued a joint statement yesterday on the central role that the Catholic faith plays in their public lives.

The signers said they were fed up with being labeled "good Catholics" or "bad Catholics" based on one issue -- abortion. They said their religion infuses their positions on many issues: poverty, war, health care and education.

"Some of us are pro-choice and some of us are pro-life," said Rep. William J. Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.). "But we respect each other and we're going to defend each other, because we're all operating in good conscience."

The statement also said that though the Catholic Democrats "seek the Church's guidance and assistance," they "accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas."

By saying they "seek the Church's guidance and assistance," But then reject it means they don't accept the authority of the Church. Without being under such authority they should not expect to call themselves Catholic. But they're politicians so we shouldn't be so hard on them, they have special needs. But the next bunch ought to know better.

In a rare public dissent, 19 Catholic priests have denounced the Vatican's opposition to gay marriage and allowing homosexuals into the priesthood.

The priests said the church was invoking "natural law" to make its case against homosexuality, arguing that slavery was also once considered "natural."

"What we are saying is that human nature is constantly evolving," Claude Lemieux, one of the signatories, told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday. "We believe this position is closer to that which is shared by our parishioners."
The letter questions whether the church has "the last word on the mysteries of political, social, family and sexual life."

Another essential to Catholicism is the authority of scripture. The Bible is the main source of doctrine and is held as the inspired word of God. In other words, it is what God wants the Church to know. It is not natural law that determines the Catholic position on homosexuality, it is the scripture.

1 Corinthians 6:9 (New International Version) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

Not much ambiguity there so how do a bunch of priests who are supposed to know the scriptures make such a statement? Even more perplexing is them trying to bolster their argument by claiming "We believe this position is closer to that which is shared by our parishioners." What is the church become a democracy? Are people supposed to vote on what is right or wrong, the Word of God ignored? Their parishioners come to them for guidance not to dictate to them what to teach. If parishioners can do that they don't need priests.

If these priests question whether the church has "the last word on the mysteries of political, social, family and sexual life." they need to find a new profession because they don't believe the essential doctrines of their present employer and they're not being true to the parishioners they are supposed to lead.

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #35