Jim Moran allegedly put his foot in his mouth yet again: "You priests don't know anything about abortion."
For the Wash Times Inside the Beltway today:
Here's what we know: Two days before Election Day in Alexandria, Mr. Moran, who is Catholic, took Virginia's visiting Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, and Alexandria city councilman and Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Euille (who is not Catholic and won the election) to Mass with him "to shake a few hands," says our source close to Mr. Euille.In fact, Roll Call newspaper reported that Mr. Moran asked that Mr. Euille be recognized during the Mass, a request that the parish rebuffed.
With the three politicians seated before him, the Rev. Bryan Belli delivered the sermon, part of which touched on pro-life issues and Catholic politicians who ignore church teachings. Mr. Moran's spokesman, Dan Drummond, was quoted in Roll Call as saying that it is unethical and possibly illegal for Father Belli to attack the Democratic Party from the pulpit.
After the 9 a.m. Mass, according to the newspaper, a "red-faced" Mr. Moran exchanged heated words with the Rev. Michael Dobbins, with Mr. Moran "screaming and pointing his finger at him."
"How can you reconcile yourself as a Catholic with your views on abortion?" the priest is reported to have asked Mr. Moran, who is said to have shot back, "You priests don't know anything about abortion."
"Congressman, put away the talking points. Talk to me as your priest," Father Dobbins told his parishioner. Mr. Moran is reported to have replied that there was "not enough time" and walked off but not before hearing the priest say: "Congressman, one day you will need me, and I will be here."
"That's what these pro-abortion 'Catholics' seem to forget," Mrs. Brown [Judie Brown, president of the American Life League] said yesterday. "The pastor is not interested in the politician's voting record but his soul. It is a credit to Bishop Loverde's leadership that his priests are confident enough to boldly proclaim the Gospel, even in the face of elected leaders who claim to have a mandate from the people for their immoral positions on abortion."
