Fr. Coleman's pro-life, anti-JFK column
Did you see the column by Father Gerald D. Coleman, S.S., in last week's issue of The Tidings?
If not, you can find it at the California bishops' website (click on this post's title) by clicking on "What's New" and there, under "AB 374," clicking on "More Info."
Given some of Father Coleman's past writings, the column, "Religion and the Public Square," is surprising -- so pro-life and orthodox that you would think Bishop Bruskewitz wrote it.
Today the online California Catholic Daily wrote about it. All last week I had meant to do that.
Father Coleman says a politician's faith should play a role in his government decisionmaking.
He rips John F. Kennedy's infamous 1960 campaign speech promise to Protestant ministers that he would keep his Catholic Faith private and separate from his government decisionmaking.
Father Coleman says religion and faith belong in the public square. He remarks:
"A Catholic politician must uphold basic human and universal moral principles. In this way, he is not imposing religious values on others, but permitting religious values to inform the debate."
He also writes, "Willfully to dissent from a fundamental moral precept is an act of infidelity, objectively immoral, and a scandal to the faithful."
The only thing missing from Father Coleman's column is a call for our bishops and clergy to announce that they will refuse Communion to all Catholic anti-life politicians. As we all know, it is their duty to take that step in defense of the Blessed Sacrament, our Faith and the babies.
If not, you can find it at the California bishops' website (click on this post's title) by clicking on "What's New" and there, under "AB 374," clicking on "More Info."
Given some of Father Coleman's past writings, the column, "Religion and the Public Square," is surprising -- so pro-life and orthodox that you would think Bishop Bruskewitz wrote it.
Today the online California Catholic Daily wrote about it. All last week I had meant to do that.
Father Coleman says a politician's faith should play a role in his government decisionmaking.
He rips John F. Kennedy's infamous 1960 campaign speech promise to Protestant ministers that he would keep his Catholic Faith private and separate from his government decisionmaking.
Father Coleman says religion and faith belong in the public square. He remarks:
"A Catholic politician must uphold basic human and universal moral principles. In this way, he is not imposing religious values on others, but permitting religious values to inform the debate."
He also writes, "Willfully to dissent from a fundamental moral precept is an act of infidelity, objectively immoral, and a scandal to the faithful."
The only thing missing from Father Coleman's column is a call for our bishops and clergy to announce that they will refuse Communion to all Catholic anti-life politicians. As we all know, it is their duty to take that step in defense of the Blessed Sacrament, our Faith and the babies.
posted by Quintero at 3:13 PM
7 Comments:
Since we have had quite a few run ins with Fr. Coleman, this comes as a very pleasant surprise. Even now I am suspicious that maybe it wasn't written actually by him, but I praise God if it was!
Now if only he will take such a position on sodomite rights and politicians!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman, Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc., www.crcoa.com
NEWS ADVISORY
RUDY IS WRONG
Come see “Rudy Giuliani” in Drag!
For Immediate Release Contact: Ken Fisher 714-776-8855
June 7, 2007 Bob Cielnicky 714-964-1284
“Republican” Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani
is speaking in Irvine this Sunday and will be met by protestors.
Irvine, California – Protestors upset with Rudy Giuliani’s anti-family public policies will greet the “Republican” Presidential candidate when he appears this Sunday in Irvine. The protest will be from 5 to 7 p.m. outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA 92614.
Among the protestors with signs will be “Rudy Giuliani” dressed in drag. Over the last decade, Giuliani has dressed in women’s clothes several times, including having his “breasts” fondled by Donald Trump. Giuliani told an audience that it was easy for him to dress up as a woman because “I already play a Republican, playing a Democrat, playing a Republican.” A DVD of Giuliani’s public drag-queen episodes as well as a media kit documenting his anti-family government policies will be available to media representatives.
Rudy video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IrE6FMpai8
Propelled into national prominence by the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, Rudy Giuliani is running as a “Republican” candidate for President. “But Rudy Giuliani is out of step with the Republican Party Platform and its values,” said Bob Cielnicky, a local pro-family leader. “Mr. Giuliani’s policies and actions show he is pro-abortion, pro-homosexuality, and anti-Second Amendment rights.”
Rudy says:
“I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-gay rights.” Rudolph Giuliani, (CNN Inside Politics 12/2/99)
Rudy does:
“Charles Perkins, Giuliani’s spokesman, said Giuliani would continue [NYC] abortion funding despite his personal beliefs.” (Associated Press 7/7/89) Rudy funded NYC abortions 1994-2001. Rudy personally gave money to Planned Parenthood during the 1990s. (Alaska Report News, 5/8/07)
Rudy targets:
“This lawsuit is meant to end the free pass that the gun industry has so long enjoyed.” Mayor Giuliani, (when NYC filed suit against 24 major gun manufacturers and distributors, 6/20/00)
Rudy dreams:
“Mayor [Giuliani] signs bill securing rights, benefits for gay partners” (headline and article, Staten Island Advance, 7/8/98). Mayor Giuliani led the NYC Gay Pride Parade on 6/24/01.
Republicans Against Rudy Giuliani
P.O. Box 27021, Santa Ana, CA 92799
Gentlemen, what you and Fr. Coleman forget (and, in his case, conveniently so because he's old enough to know better) is that practically since the beginning of the republic, Catholic politicians had been seen as "fifth columnists" for the Vatican by many Americans. Politicians played up this anti-Catholic sentiment for their own advantage. Just do a google search on Al Smith, the governor of New York, and his 1928 election campaign for president.
Kennedy was telling a group of Protestant ministers in Texas (including prominent ones such as Norman Vincent Peale) that his primary loyalty would be to the U.S., not to the Holy See. That was the context of JFK's remarks.
Since the clerical sex-abuse crisis, I've ceased to trust Coleman on anything. Remember, this is the same cracker who tolerated and encourage homosexual clergy.
All Coleman is doing is what most of his episcopal superiors have been doing: hiding behind various pious, esoteric facades to disguise their lust for secular power and prestige. If they truly gave a damn about Catholic values, they would have acted very differently in private.
Don't let your disgust for Giuliani make you gullible. Coleman is no more Catholic than Kerry, Schwarzenegger, et al.
Dear Joseph,
For whatever reason Fr. Coleman wrote it, the column is a good one.
The opinion among most Catholics, including liberal ones, and even among some liberal Protestants, was that JFK ceded too much -- ceded what was not his to cede.
Even liberal Episcopalian Bishop James Pike said JFK's talk "would seem...to represent the point of view of a thoroughgoing secularist, who really believes that a man’s religion and his decision-making can be kept in two watertight compartments.”
I found that quote in a fine essay on JFK's speech and its bad legacy by Colleen Carroll Campbell at:
http://www.colleen-campbell.com/articles/020107JFK.htm
Quintero, the whole Kennedy family has been effectively secular since Joseph Sr. started bootlegging in the '20s. You and other Catholics were expecting something different from this bunch?
Dear Joseph,
I have known Catholics who voted for JFK in 1960 and were thrilled at his inauguration in 1961, but grew disllusioned with him almost immediately and voted for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and RR in 1966.
No pro-life Catholic has ever expected anything from any of the Kennedys.
Quintero,
I actually campaigned for JFK and received a thank you letter from him dated the day of his innauguration, but I became almost immediately disalussioned with him and his policies. I made the complete break with him after the "Bay of Pigs"!
Kenneth M. Fisher
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