Barack Obama, Catholic Bishops, and Abortion

I think that Catholic leaders in America are finding their voice:

• "I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church"
  Scranton's Bishop Joseph Martino (Toledo Blade)
• Politicians "can't check your principles at the door of the legislature"
  Diocese of Kansas City, Kansas, Archbishop Joseph Naumann (Toledo Blade)
• "We have lost perhaps 50 times as many children in the last 35 years as we have lost soldiers in all the wars since the Revolution, and that is a horrible, horrible thing to answer to" Archdiocese of St. Louis administrator Bishop Robert J. Hermann (The Boston Globe)

The Catholic Church doesn't allow people to kill babies: a very controversial and strongly counter-cultural stand in America. And now, with the very real possibility that Catholic hospitals will have to either close, or start butchering some of their patients, American Catholic Bishops are deciding how to act.

I think it helps that the public debate on abortion has gotten well beyond the 'blob of protoplasm' and 'although personally opposed' stage.

And, that politicians who claim to be 'ardent, practicing Catholics' make statements revealing that they are clueless about Catholic teaching and history. (I wrote, last week, about Nancy Pelosi's 'St. Augustine' remark on Meet the Press.)

Catholic Bishops Upholding Catholic Values

For me, this is a refreshing change from the free pass that American Catholic leaders seemed to be giving pro-abortion 'Catholic' politicians. I don't know what was going on in Massachusetts, for example, but the public silence about, apparently tolerance toward, and tacit acceptance of, the various Kennedy's pro-abortion stands by Massachusetts' Catholic leaders was very regrettable.

Particularly considering the wealth and position of the nominally Catholic Kennedy clan.

News and background:

• "Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion"
  Toledo Blade (November 12, 2008)
• "Catholic bishops warn Obama they'll fight on abortion"
  The Boston Globe (November 12, 2008)
• "Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion"
  Associated Press (November 11, 2008)
• " 'We are our brothers' keepers,' remind bishops in economic statement"
  Catholic News Service via United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (November 11, 2008)
• "Bishops' conference opens with nod to historic presidential election"
  Catholic News Service via United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (November 11, 2008)
• "Catholics and Choice (in the Voting Booth)"
  Politics - Beliefs in The New York Times (November 7, 2008)
• "Bishops Congratulate Barack Obama on Historic Election;
  Urge Him to Defend the Weak, Heal Divisions"
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops News Release (November 5, 2008)
• "Joint Statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Murphy, Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops"
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (October 21, 2008)
  (in *.pdf format)
• "Translation of Psalms, Proper of Seasons, New Blessing for Child in the Womb on Agenda of November Bishops' Meeting"
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops News Release (October 20, 2008)