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Catholic League Demands Obama Speak Out Against Catholic Church
Following a week in which Barack Obama was both praised and attacked from the pulpit by Catholic Priests The Catholic League is now attacking Obama for which priests he associates with. In the invocation at the New YorkState Republican Party Dinner, Monsignor Jim Lisante mocked Obama. On the same day video surfaced of Father Michael Phleger preaching at Obama’s church mocking Hillary Clinton. Obama immediately condemmed the remarks and Phleger apologized, however the Catholic League sees things differently.
The Catholic League who is sort of the Catholic equivalent of the Justice League, but without superpowers. “Why is it that of all the wonderful Catholic priests in the Chicago Archdiocese, Obama long ago chose Pfleger to hang with?” Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in a statement. “Truth be known, Pfleger has a very troubling history.”
With such a troubling history it almost seems like there should be some kind of authority that could discipline and remove bad priests. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for discipline or a hierarchical structure the Catholic Church is the wrong place.
Members of the Catholic League also found it troubling that in his public life Obama has done nothing to tackle issues of Canon Law such as the ordination of women or married priests. Obama likewise has a lackluster record on doing anything to prevent the church sexual abuse scandal of recent years. Nor has Obama distanced himself from controversial church practices of the past such as indulgences, the inquisition, and perceived anti-semitism.
With Obama clearly unwilling to take on issues such as these which are important to Catholics there can be no doubt he will be stung hard by their votes in the Fall. I have never been a big fan of Papists myself, but I find myself totally agreeing with them in this case.
Comments (8)
Ditto, and Amen. They should be focusing on "disciplining and removing bad priests", of which there are many.
I'm from Boston. I know about such abusive priests.
May 31, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, like there aren't others with a "very troubling history."
June 1, 2008 2:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh.
May 31, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am torn - is this parody? Or am I too tired to get it.
Did he also fail to stand up to child and sex slavery? What about taking a stand against foie gras?
June 1, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Eliotness, I fear I am being taken in by bad parody.
First there is the use of the antiquated slur "papist", and then there is this:
an outrageous, absurd statement. Obama has no business "tackling" this, certainly not as a representative of the U.S. government. Either it's parody or you don't appear to have a rudimentary understanding of the separation of church and state.
Taking your post as if it were serious, one would hope all Catholic hierarchy involved will do as the Chicago archdiocese has:
http://www.archdiocese-chgo.org/index.shtm
This is the correct approach according to both U.S. separation of church and state and the preferences of the Vatican. Any Roman Catholic clergy participating in such things as some of the examples you cite should be clearly stating that they are doing it in a private capacity as individuals.
June 1, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. My opinion of Bill Donahue is that he is a wacky practioner of Roman Catholic victimology. His organization is mainly him and a few followers, their absurd self-made job to get American Catholics some P.R. in the Oppression Olympics. I believe it is to the shame of many Catholics that cable television news producers sometimes fall for his promotional abilities and allow him to present himself as speaking for the majority of Catholics whenever some topic about the church arises in the news.
June 1, 2008 1:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I also have yet to hear Obama articulate a position on belief in aliens . . .
June 1, 2008 2:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
you get a B+ in parody skills but I notice another post of yours also doing reasonably well, so commend your efforts to keep us smiling.
Keep at the good work.
Tho not yet at the calibre of the inimitable Mr. Crankypants posting last week [readers - check it out it was a THING OF WONDER and GREAT FUN to read - including comments by Mr. C] - you show some flair for this!
:):):):)
June 1, 2008 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
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