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Bishops have no right to influence lawmakers’ votes
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.
I resent Catholic bishops, such as Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island, blackmailing Catholic politicians by threatening to withhold communion.
Catholic politicians weren’t elected to serve the church; they were elected to serve their constituents. The law on abortion is clear — women have the right to choose to have an abortion.
Catholic bishops obviously don’t agree, but the fact that Catholic politicians respect this law doesn’t mean they support abortion. Tobin carries on this way, protected by the Church’s tax-exempt status.
He should put up or shut up. If he wants a voice in the real world, he should pay the price of admission by paying taxes. Otherwise he should stick to advising his parishioners and stop trying to impose his beliefs on the rest of us.
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The Bishops are exercising their rights that are listed in the Bill of Rights.
You know rights like free speech and freedom of religion and right to assembly as a group.
Mr Mundy,
The bishop does pay taxes on his income, just like you and I. The Catholic Church is just one of many organizations, (all religious organizations are tax-exempt), that are tax-exempt, among them are organizations like NOW and NARAL, that attempt to influence lawmakers votes.
I don't understand why you resent the Catholic Bishops doing their jobs...perhaps you'll explain it better? Surely you don't want to take away their rights to participate in the democratic process? As a Catholic, I resent the fact that the bishops don't go far enough in denying communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion. You can't be Catholic and support abortion...period!
And the law on abortion is NOT clear...it was a "law" that was legislated from the bench(SCOTUS) in 1973 and from that very moment there has been a movement to change that "law" and that movement will continue until that "law" is changed, so get over it. I might point out that slavery was the "Law of the Land" from our founding until we suffered through a civil war in 1865, but that fact didn't make slavery right, it just made it legal. If you had lived during those times I'm sure you would have been a great enabler of slavery also, under the mantle of "it's the law of the land".(Go get him dingo, he's pro-slavery and pro-abortion, that which kills more blacks each year than the 7 leading diseases).
Congress has no business listening to the the Catholic Bishops.
Why? Because of seperation of church and state. By listening to "one" church on the matter and doing what they say, the government, is promoting that religion.
They don't pay taxes and therefore, have no say in the matter (such as citizens who are paying taxes).
Against abortion don't have one.
If you're a non Catholic, you have no right to tell the church who to give communion to or not.
Having said that, I believe the church should excommunicate Catholic politicians who vote for abortion. They can then vote their conscience without being "threatened" by the church.
Hows that for a solution?
So whos going to tell Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton that the congress is not going to listen to them?? Why are their organizations allowed tax exempt status? Whats fair for one group is fair for all groups.
Hey Richard: Do's that also go for union bosses too!
will somebody please throw some water on the first poster. His hair is on fire!
Jackson and Sharpton are professional race baiters and street hustlers. Those type of sleaze bags will always find away to upset the people. Remember when Jackson was in the parking lot of Denny's with a placard?
Some poor waitress inadvertently ignored a black patron and he raised the roof. Jackson heard about it and organized a march. He called it off when Denny's donated a lot of money to the Rainbow coalition. Some rainbow, whoever heard of a black rainbow?
Pelosi's buying of Democratic votes had to go right down to the wire.
Even with Democrat Stupak's Pro-life amendment bring over 64 votes to Nancy, it was close.
It appears that the Bishops are resorting to extortion. "We'll let your immortal soul go to Heaven, but only if you give me your vote."
The Bishop that threatens that has relinquished any power or influence over another man's soul and had best look to his own.
Nancy got it done. Repubs lose again.