The majority leader of the New Jersey state senate is leaving the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church because the church wants her children to stop supporting baby-killing. This entirely reasonable request was too much for Senator Bernard Kenny (D-Moloch), who said, "If every faith starts trying to impose their rules on elected officials, democracy is going to be factionalized along religious lines," apparently thinking that there is something "religious" about defending innocent babies.
As interesting as that is, one other quotation caught my bloodshot eye:
U.S. Rep. William Pascrell Jr., also a Catholic Democrat, agrees that politicians have an obligation to represent all their constituents. "This is exactly what the Catholic Church said 50 years ago would not happen when Catholic politicians were trying to get elected to office," said Kenny, a former altar boy from Essex County...."I will continue receiving Communion - not in defiance, but out of conscience," he said. "I have nothing to apologize for."
That should be Hell's new official motto:
"I have nothing to apologize for."
The correct way for a Catholic elected official to reply to charges of "imposing his religion" is to say, "As a Catholic I have no authority to deny what reason, something available to every human being, tells me. The unborn human person is in an individual human being from conception, and deserves the full protection of the law. That's empirical, biological fact. Sue me."
Catholicism's high view of human reason is our ace in the hole in these sorts of discussions. But even many orthodox Catholics don't take full advantage of that fact.
That's also the overlooked danger when reprobate Catholics like our two New Jersey legislators start dismissing as "sectarian," policy enforcing basic tenets of the natural moral law, such as the absolute obligation not to directly kill an innocent human being. Not only are they saying that traditional (as opposed to pagan or New-Age) religion must stay out of public discussion.
They are also saying that an accurate understanding of human reason--that the mind can arrive at objective moral truth, and this truth is the basis for individual action and for defining the political common good--cannot participate in discussion. And they are often getting away with it.
This devlopment is extremely ominous, because democracy cannot function properly to protect individual freedom and defend the common good, when human reason's ability to arrive at objective moral truth is denied.
It's also worth noting that Rep. Pascrell represents Paterson, NJ. Bishop Frank Rodimer of the Paterson diocese is known as one of the more liberal current bishops. Thus the Congressman is especially unlikely to hear from his bishop that he endangers his soul by receiving in mortal sin, and should repent.
Of course, all Pascrell is doing is declaring his absolute moral autonomy to receive the Eucharist at will. It's not like he's doing something really morally mendacious like genuflecting or kneeling when he receives the Eucharist.
Actually, that should be the USCCB's new motto: Uniformity of posture, not uniformity of faith.
"I have nothing to apologize for."
Didn't Herman Goering say that at Neuremberg?
I don't know. But to his dying day, Pol Pot insisted "My conscience is clear."
The human capacity to rationalize is a fearsome thing. Kate Michelman built an entire career out of rationalizing her abortion. Once you pick your idol, and do evil a few times, the "consicence" mysteriously falls into line.
As Cromwell said to Richard Rich after he lures Rich into his first betrayal of Thomas More, "It'll be easier, next time."
Given that Bp. Rodimer is well past normal retirement age (I believe he's about 76 1/2), Rep. Pascrell may find himself being herded by a different shepherd in the not-too-distant future.
I thought the new motto of the USCCB was based on Cdl. Arinze's comment:
"The norm of the Church is clear. The Church exists in the United States. We're the bishops here. Let's misinterpret it."
Sounds good to me, Mio. There's still lots of space on the granite exterior walls of the palatial USCCB building. They could carve that one next to, "Your fine ministry has been sadly tainted by illness" (Cdl. Bernard Law to Fr. John Geoghan, 1996, after scores of G's victims were already known).
Speaking of which, Cardinal Mahony today pronounced after meeting with the Kerrys that he plans to keep giving pro-abortion politicians Communion and "couldn't sanction them (McCarrick terminology)unless they had been interdicted, excommunicated, or formally sanctioned." It's fair to wonder if Mahony even remembers what those words mean.
Since the Kerrys' bishop (O'Malley) is apparently unwilling to do that, as Eric noted in a topic recently, that gives Mahony cover. How convenient. Doesn't seem to be stopping Abp. Burke, though.
St. John Crysostom, call your office...
Does this make them the UnDemocratic Party now? Should we e-mail the chairperson and find out?