After all, this will make six Catholic justices on the Supreme Court.

A scary thought, I know.

Tom McFeely at the National Catholic Register notes that the liberal media has a narrow prism in which they see the political issue of abortion: liberals are pro-choice and conservatives are anti-abortion. Therefore, if you believe that you shouldn’t abort a child, then, you’re obviously a political conservative.

McFeely says this is ‘Nonsense.’

The Independent article concerns Pope Benedict XVI’s pending appointment of a new primate of England and Wales to replace retiring Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Archbishop of Westminster.

The article handicaps the bishops the Independent views as the leading contenders, and provides a capsule description that explains where each man allegedly sits on the liberal-to-conservative political spectrum and discusses why this helps or hinders his chances of being appointed.

The fact is, the Pope will be appointing a shepherd of the Church to provide spiritual leadership to the Catholic flock of the Archdiocese of Westminster and to England and Wales as a whole, not a political leader who can be reduced to a “liberal” or “conservative” ideological caricature….

Another foolish aspect of the characterization of Church leaders and Church actions as being “liberal” or “conservative” is the sloppy way the label often is applied by the media. These days it usually refers merely to whether people concur with basic Church teachings on life issues and on sexual conduct.

If they conform with Church teachings, they’re “conservative”; if they don’t, they’re “liberal” — no matter what their respective positions might be on a host of other political, economic or social questions. If that criterion is the standard, even a Catholic social justice icon like Dorothy Day would have to be characterized as “conservative” because of her vehement opposition to abortion.

McFeely is right to point out that some people’s political ideas don’t fit perfectly into the media’s boxes. As McFeely notes, Dorothy Day is a great example.

And it’s true that Dorothy Day is no Wall Street Journal “greed is good” style “conservative.” Though, I wouldn’t call that a conservative, just a materialist.

But just because Dorothy Day is no Gordon Gekko, that doesn’t mean she’s an LBJ-style Democrat. In fact, Bill Kauffman makes a case that she’s a Jeffersonian-style localist against big government and big corporations.

Do you live in or near Illinois?  Have plans for Friday morning March 27th?

Check out the upcoming Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast.  The event, still young in it’s second year, is an excellent opportunity to gather with fellow Catholics and friends to pray for our state, leaders, and nation.  Especially during these uncertain days.

I am privledged to be a part of the organizing Board and cannot emphasize enough how inspirational this event has been, and will be.  Attendees last year left with genuine enthusiasm and enrichment of their faith.

And you don’t have to be Catholic to attend!

Cardinal George will celebrate Mass, and the keynote speaker is Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison, WI.

Check it out, and register today.

A mythical United States Congressman from New York, Jerry “Loch Ness” Nadler, is going to reintroduce Barack Obama’s “mythical” Freedom of Choice Act “sooner rather than later,”  according to his mythical spokesman Ilan “Sasquatch” Kayatsky.  Senator “Bigfoot” Boxer is expected to follow suit–it’s a mythical “priority” for them, and for their new President.

Urban Legend expert Michael “Stokes Prometheus’ Fire” Paulsen explained how this mythical FOCA would be disastrous for the Land of Nod.

Several alleged critics were skeptical, however.  Their existence could not be verified to obtain a comment, but it is rumored that Time Magazine’s ficticious “reporter” Amy “Narcissus” Sullivan has already begun Calliap-orating on an article, working with storybook “Catholics”  from Commonweal “Magazine,” David “Phantom” Gibson, Eduardo “Bogeyman” Peñalver and Cathleen “Specter” Kaveny.  

Their inspired tome is expected to muse upon how the Catholic Bishops should relocate to Roswell, New Mexico and stop wasting their time fighting imaginary ghouls like abortion.  That way, “real-world” pro-life Catholics like themselves and Kathleen Sebelius can get down to the important business of defining their own concept of the universe and resolving the “mystery” of which human beings have a right to life.

The rumors were swirling for some time, but now the New York Times has confirmed. Newt Gingrich is becoming a Catholic this Easter.

Bradford Wilcox writing for the Witherspoon Institute raises some very important questions about the real impact of the stimulus programs and government growth now underway under President Obama.

“I do not doubt the sincerity of Obama’s religious intentions. But while many social conservatives have pointed a spotlight on Obama’s socially liberal policies repealing the Mexico City Policy, for example few have paid attention to the likely impact his stimulus, bailout, and economic welfare programs will have. One unremarked and unintended consequence of Barack Obama’s audacious plans for the expansion of government—especially in health care, education, and the environment—is that the nanny state he is seeking to build will likely crowd out religious institutions in America. In other words, if he succeeds in passing his ambitious agenda, the Obama revolution is likely to lead the United States down the secular path already trod by Europe.”

Read the who article here -  RealClearPolitics – Articles – What the Obama Revolution Means for Religion in America

Obama’s Amazing Improvement Among Traditional White Catholics – Steven Waldman

“For years, pundits believed that the only Catholics a liberal Democrat could win en masse were theologically liberal, “Cafeteria Catholics” who don’t attend mass or listen to the Pope very often.While Obama did clean up with those lefty Catholics, a new survey by Professor John Green of University of Akron, shows that he also made stunning improvements among more traditional white Catholics.”

The Archbishop of Denver, speaking in Toronto, thinks that some of the President’s zealous supporters might need take a breath and ease off their hero worship. He told the audience, “in democracies, we elect public servants, not messiahs.”

A spirit of adulation bordering on servility already exists among some of the same Democratic-friendly Catholic writers, scholars, editors and activists who once accused prolifers of being too cozy with Republicans.  It turns out that Caesar is an equal opportunity employer. 

Archbishop Chaput said that Americans elected Obama to fix the economy, not to radical alter society.

Americans, including many Catholics, elected a gifted man to fix an economic crisis. That’s the mandate. They gave nobody a mandate to retool American culture on the issues of marriage and the family, sexuality, bioethics, religion in public life and abortion. That retooling could easily happen, and it clearly will happen — but only if Catholics and other religious believers allow it.”

Read the press account of the speech, or read the whole speech. It’s gold.

Watch the CatholicVote.com video below, and be sure to check out the other resources available at www.CatholicVote.com

Sad news coming from Fordham, a “Catholic” university in New York. From the Catholic News Agency:

A Fordham University legal ethics center’s decision to award an ethics prize to the pro-abortion rights Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer is drawing criticism for apparently ignoring the justice’s participation in a Supreme Court decision that struck down laws restricting the practice of partial-birth abortion….

Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick J. Reilly criticized the Jesuit-run university, saying in a statement that the awarding of the prize “amounts to nothing less than Fordham University thumbing its nose at the US Bishops, whose opposition to such honors is clear.”

“The choice by Fordham University of Justice Breyer to receive this prestigious award,” Reilly continued, “is a far cry from an award established to recognize the ‘positive contributions of the legal profession to American society.’ Justice Breyer did not act objectively in Stenberg, but rather overstepped his authority and legislated from the bench.”

Reilly contacted Fordham president Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J. three weeks ago asking him to rescind the award, but has still not received a reply.

I wonder if Fordham ever honored Justice Scalia. Nah, I don’t wonder. I already know….

The Fidelis Center for Law and Policy announces the launch of a new website – CatholicVote.com – to educate and inspire Catholic voters this fall and beyond.  The site includes a powerful video designed to encourage viewers to prioritize the issues of life, faith, and family.  In addition to the video, the site contains resources on how to register to vote, research on candidate positions, documents from the Bishops and an invitation to join in prayer.
 
The highlight of CatholicVote.com is a powerful 3:30 minute documentary on Catholic contributions to American public life. The video connects the fight for civil rights, human dignity, and the family throughout the history of our country.  The dramatic conclusion of the film urges viewers to “Vote Your Conscience.”
 
“The U.S. Bishops have stated that ‘responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation,’” said Brian Burch, director of CatholicVote.com. “We launched CatholicVote.com to provide Catholics and all people of good will with the tools to both educate and inspire their fellow citizens as they prepare to vote in November.”

To watch the amazing video, visit CatholicVote.com. 

Charlie Spiering has this report for National Catholic Register. Here’s a taste, which includes a quote from yours truly:

Catholic Democratic activists believe that Biden’s faith will be an asset to the Obama campaign — particularly in Pennsylvania, his native state.

Chris Corzen of Catholics United stated, “Senator Biden’s selection as vice presidential candidate is a positive development for Americans who respect leaders who have strong religious, family and personal values.”

But Stephen Dillard, the founder of a new blog, Catholics Against Joe Biden, disagreed. “I think Obama’s selection of Biden may help him with cultural or cafeteria Catholics,” he said, “But I don’t see faithful Catholics voting for the most pro-abortion presidential ticket ever simply because Biden grew up as a Catholic.”

NRO has posted a copy of the homily delieverd by Fr. John De Celles, STL, from this past Sunday at his parish in Alexandria, VA.  The homily includes a reference to New Orleans Archbishop Rummel, referenced in our latest news release.

A friend recently suggested that if there is not one already, New Orleans Catholics ought to build a statue honoring this courageous bishop.  His courage amidst a public culture, and even Catholic community, that fought not only the requirements of our faith but also the principles of the Founding, is a model for today’s bishops and laity alike.

Here is a portion:

But when Peter is heard and obeyed, wonderful things can happen. Almost exactly a century after the Dred Scott case, in 1956, an American Catholic bishop humbly accepted the teaching of the popes, and even in the face of the mockery and violence, refused to conform himself to the world he lived in — the world of racial segregation of the deep South. His name was Francis Rummel, the Archbishop of New Orleans, and what he did was desegregate the Catholic schools of his archdiocese. And when large groups of Catholic lay people continued try to block his efforts, after ample warning, he excommunicated their leaders.

Imagine if the American Catholic bishops of the mid-1800s had been as obedient and courageous as Archbishop Rummel in implementing the teaching of Pope Gregory: if they had stood united against slavery. Maybe the Dred Scott case would have been decided the same way, but it probably would have been without Roger Taney’s help.

Now, some say if the Catholic bishops and priests in the South had actively opposed slavery they would been both marginalized and actively persecuted. Maybe. But the Prophet Jeremiah records the same problem in today’s 1^st reading: “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.” Even so, he felt compelled to proclaim the truth — and did: “I say to myself, I will not mention him, …But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart…”

Some say all southern Catholics would’ve been persecuted, or that southerners would have left the Catholic Church in droves. Maybe. But that sounds a little like Peter, when he “rebuked” Jesus because he was afraid that Jesus might be harmed in Jerusalem. And Jesus told him: “Get behind me Satan.” Didn’t Jesus tells us:

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me….

A new online Catholic television station was launched this week at www.RealCatholicTV.com.  The initial broadcast suggests that program content will be marked by fidelity to the Church.

Preview here:

CNN is reporting that veteran reporter Robert Novak’s condition is “dire.” The “Prince of Darkness” became a follower of the Prince of Peace a few years ago when he and his wife converted to the Catholic faith. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bob Novak and his family.

Mark Murray at MSNBC’s First Read reports that McCain will meet today with Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput.  The very astute and well spoken Archbishop promises to have an impact on the Catholic vote in the coming weeks with his  forthcoming book – Render Unto Caesar.

Senior Vatican correspondent John Allen plugged the book saying: “This isn’t just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who cares about the state of America’s soul —and how that concern might shape the 2008 elections.”

A new group called 10,000 Catholics for Obama is out, well, arguing that Catholics should support Obama.

Not surprisingly, the group does not cite abortion as one of its reasons why Catholics support Obama. But they do address the issue in the “Fight the Smears” section. The same tired arguments and quotes are trotted out about “finding common ground” to reduce the number of abortions, etc, despite the shameful record of 100% support of abortion on demand. Note that not a single legislative achievement, legislative vote, or legislative proposal can be cited showing Obama supports reducing abortion in America. Instead a few selective quotes from television and print interviews that admit nothing are used to dress up the “I won’t back down on abortion” Obama.

Futhermore, the video testimonials include other issues that Catholics should care about – torture and the environment – two issues that McCain has been the maverick in supporting as a Republican.

To their credit, the group includes a section on prayer, and urges visitors to pray for both Obama and McCain, their families, our country, and our world. May I be so bold as to add to that list that everyone pray for American Catholics, that they may learn to embrace more faithfully the full teachings of their Church.

I never met Tim Russert, but I will definitely miss him.  Tributes and stories are pouring in about this great journalist and many focus on the love Tim had for his Catholic faith and his hometown of Buffalo, New York. It’s his love of his faith, his family, and his hometown that makes his so universally loved.

Writing for Newsweek, Jon Meacham wrote:

Many people in Washington and New York spend a lot of time, and even more psychic effort, trying to escape their origins, firmly closing the door on where they came from. (A bishop I knew used to say that such insecurity was horribly debilitating, and had a simple commandment for survival: “Remember who you are.” When I told Russert that story once, he pumped his fist and shouted, “Amen!”) Rather than try to reinvent himself as he grew up and went from worldly triumph to worldly triumph, Russert never lost his sense of place, or his love of tribe. 

How refreshing! Folks in Washington tend to be way too self-important. It’s a bipartisan affliction.

I saw an interview with Cardinal McCarrick where he spoke about Tim Russert’s meeting with Pope John Paul the Great. Here’s an account of the meeting that was written by the Philadelphia Catholic Standard & Times before Tim Russert had unexpectedly died:

The highlight for Russert, a devout Catholic, was a papal Mass in the Vatican’s Pauline Chapel and a private audience with the pope after the Mass. During the audience, Russert’s wife, Maureen, who was pregnant with their son, Luke, asked the Pope to bless the baby. He did so, and said, “When your baby is born, bring him back for another blessing.”

The following year, the Russerts returned to Rome with baby Luke. Thanks to Archbishop Foley, they got a place in the first row at the audience. Luke was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with John Paul’s personal motto, Totus Tuus.

The Pope said, “Very nice, very, very nice,” and took the baby, and kissed him. A treasured memento of the Russert family shows Tim Russert proudly holding his son as the Pope blesses them.

Rest in Peace, my brother. Your commitment to truth and fairness, and your love of faith and family will never be forgotten.

Austin Hill is glowing over Bobby Jindal. But he’s worried that Evangelicals who were uneasy over Mitt Romney’s Mormonism might also blanch at Jindal’s Catholicism.

So what could possibly get in the way of Governor Jindal’s rise to national influence? Could it be the fact that he is a Catholic, and not an evangelical?

I don’t think there’s any need to worry about it.

First of all, was it Mormonism that did Romney in, or was it concern that the slick New England Governor wasn’t a true conservative? I will grant that his Mormon faith was a liability, but it could have be overcome by other strengths. In other words, I don’t think it would hamper Romney should he run for president again. He seems to have convinced a sufficient number of conservatives that he is one of them.

Also, Evangelical anxiety over Mormonism is stronger than it is with Catholics. Evangelicals have a lot of differences with Catholics (Mary, sacraments, saints, etc.) but many Evangelicals and Catholics consider Mormonism to be a different religion, outside of Christianity. They don’t believe in the Trinity, for example.

I think most Evangelicals would actually be ecstatic that McCain picked Jindal. They would love his defense of life and marriage and the openness he has about his faith. It would be an excellent choice for McCain. Jindal McVeep!

Consider me in complete agreement with Michael J. Iafrate at Vox Nova in the recent dust up over the controversy of Father Pfleger.

the idea that Christians, and in particular priests, should “transcend” politics delights the powers. The flip-side of the invention of the modern nation-state is the invention of religion as a realm of private spiritual preferences having no impact on the “real world.” The powers are delighted to hear Catholics demand that their priests “transcend” politics and “stay neutral” because this inevitably results in the reinforcement of private religion and the disintegration of the Body of Christ as “a public in its own right,” in the words of Catholic theologian Reinhard Hütter. The state demands that the Church’s authority be relegated to some private realm: the Church can have the Christian’s soul while the state retains control of the Christian’s body.

Amen, brother. Well said. It’s time Christian stand up for their right to speak out.

That said, I think Fr. Pfleger lacked decency and decorum in his remarks. And if Cardinal George is convinced that Father cannot maintain that decorum, he’s justified in sanctioning him. But, in general, I would say: We need priests to speak out on important issues in America today!