Obama’s “Abortion Reduction” Distortion Manipulates Catholics

Sen. Barack Obama’s “faith outreach” manipulates Catholic voters

National Review Online

Unholy Messaging

Obama’s faith-based try vs. his positions

By Douglas Johnson, Legislative Director, National Right To Life Committee

Selected Excerpts:

The Barack Obama “messaging machine” is now in full overdrive mode, seeking to mislead religiously committed Americans into thinking that Obama has a middle-of-the-road position on abortion policy and will promote “abortion reduction.”

One important part of the “faith outreach” sales pitch has been to insist that Obama would promote “abortion reduction” policies — that is to say, policies that would have the practical effect of reducing the number of abortions performed, without actually restricting abortion directly. This spiel was really a public relations strategy cooked up at a liberal think tank called third way, where veteran pro-abortion activists develop “messaging” strategies to help pro-abortion politicians camouflage their positions. The third way “Culture Program” (responsible for the “abortion reduction” strategy, among other projects) is directed by Rachel Laser, whose previous job was with the Health and Reproductive Rights group at the National Women’s Law Center, and who before that worked for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, a major abortion provider.

But despite such efforts, more and more Americans are learning that the real Barack Obama is firmly committed to an agenda of sweeping pro-abortion policy changes that, if implemented, could be expected to drastically increase the numbers of abortions performed.

One component of the Obama abortion agenda, the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA S. 1173), is coming under increased scrutiny from many quarters. The FOCA is the most sweeping piece of pro-abortion legislation ever proposed in Congress. It is a bill that would establish a federal “abortion right” broader than Roe v. Wade and, in the words of the National Organization for Women, “sweep away hundreds of anti-abortion laws [and] policies.”

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

Pro-Abortion Catholics for Obama used scare tactics

Churches Can Ignore Catholics United, Pro-Life Literature Distribution Not Illegal

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 2, 2008

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A leading pro-life attorney who is the dean of a law school says Catholic and Protestant churches and pastors need not worry about pro-life literature distribution occurring this weekend. Matt Staver of the Liberty Counsel tells LifeNews.com the dissemination of pro-life information is perfectly legal.

The reassurances from Staver, founder of the pro-life law firm known as Liberty Counsel and the dean of the law school at Liberty University in Virginia, come after groups made threats this week.

Catholics United, a front group for Barack Obama that has misled some Catholic voters into thinking he is pro-life on abortion, urged its supporters to confront pro-life advocates this weekend.

The Obama backers were told to ask Catholic priests and church leaders to block the distribution of the pro-life voting information and suggested the pro-life fliers be removed from vehicles.

Father Frank Pavone, the founder and director of Priests for Life, emailed CU officials and told them he would consider legal action if pro-life advocates are prevented from exercising their First Amendment rights to educate voters on pro-life issues.  [ 'Fr. Frank Pavone Warns Catholics United of Possible Lawsuits' ]

Barry Lynn, the head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, has also scared pastors, priests and other church leaders with a letter saying they could face the loss of their nonprofit status for allowing the information.

Staver tells LifeNews.com that pro-life people distributing voter information are within their legal grounds and Constitutional rights.

“Barry Lynn’s attempt to scare pastors is as hollow as a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern,” Staver said.

He said Lynn’s group has “once again have cluttered mailboxes and jammed fax machines with the same worn out, toothless letter that attempts to scare pastors about politics, in an attempt to trick them into being silent until after the election.”

“The truth is that pastors and church leaders do not need to violate IRS regulations on political activity in order to impact the 2008 election. There are a wide variety of permissible activities to activate voters and encourage them to vote their values,” Staver said.

FULL STORY:  http://www.lifenews.com/nat4530.html

Catholics In Name Only, USCCB Denounced by Bishop Martino

Topics:  Faithful Citizenship, Freedom of Choice Act

TWO STORIES:

Bishop shows up unannounced at election forum, defends Church’s stance on abortion

“The USCCB doesn’t speak for me.”—-Bishop Joseph Martino, Scranton, PA

Opinion:  Bishop Martino is Right, ‘This is Madness People’

After listening to some of the speakers attempt to take the most recent letter of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on “Faithful Citizenship”, turn it on its head through sophistry, and then use it as a framework to influence Catholics to support a candidate who has pledged as their first official act if elected to the Presidency to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” into law (even though an alternative exists which would at least limit the evil of procured abortion) the Bishop stepped up to the microphone. He told those present: “No social issue has caused the death of 50 million people”, referring of course to the current evil of abortion on demand as it exists in the United States of America since the horrible judicial opinions in Roe and Doe. Then he spoke those four words, “This is Madness People.”

Related:

Freedom of Choice Act

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01173:

http://www.nchla.org/issues.asp?ID=50

GEORGE SOROS FUNDS PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC LEFT

Catholic League president Bill Donohue exposes the nexus between George Soros and two left-wing Catholic groups, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United:

“In 2003, after left-wing mogul George Soros blamed Jews for anti-Semitism, the Anti- Defamation League branded his comments ‘obscene.’ Two years later, I accused him of anti-Catholicism when his group, MoveOn.org, posted a picture of a smiling Pope Benedict XVI holding a gavel outside the U.S. Supreme Court, along with the following inscription: ‘God Already Has a Job…He does not need one on the Supreme Court.’

“Why is this relevant? Because this same bigot is connected to two apologists for abortion rights, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United. In 2006, Soros’ Open Society Institute gave Catholics in Alliance $100,000 (double the amount he gave in 2005), and in the same year Catholics in Alliance listed Catholics United on its 990 as an organization with which it has a formal relationship. John Podesta, who runs the Soros-funded organization, Center for American Progress, admits that he works closely with Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United. The Center for American Progress is also the sponsor of Faith and Public Life.

“Why would any Catholic organization take money from a man like George Soros? Because legitimate sources of revenue aren’t available? And why would Soros have any interest in funding Catholic groups? He doesn’t give the Catholic League any money, and if he offered, I would refuse it.

“The reason Soros funds the Catholic Left is the same reason he lavishly funds Catholics for Choice, the pro-abortion group that has twice been condemned as a fraud by Catholic bishops: they all service his agenda, namely, to make support for abortion rights a respectable Catholic position. On October 17, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput [click for article] accused Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United as doing a ‘disservice’ to the Catholic Church. He’s right. And now we know what really makes them tick.

Defunding ACORN: Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Thanks to radio talk shows like Hugh Hewitt and Rush Limbaugh, ACORN is getting the outing it deserves.  We at Fidelity and Action have been withholding donations to the Archdiocese because of ACORN.  Not only is ACORN involved in voter fraud and embezzlement, but also is pro-abortion.

Stephanie Block has written a good piece at Spero News . . .

‘Defunding ACORN is laudable but insufficient.’

Related stories:

‘CCHD End Funding To ACORN over financial irregularities.’

‘Catholic Campaign for Human Development:  Update’ - Stephanie Block.  2003.  The Wanderer.

Contact Gov. Ted Kulongoski

Archbishop John Vlazny has publicly rebuked the governor of Oregon for hosting a NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon dinner.

“I call upon our Catholic people to express their displeasure to the governor and to remind him of the demands of personal integrity as a member of our faith community in the exercise of his office and public activities.”—-Archbishop John Vlazny. 9/30/08. LifeNews.com

CONTACT Governor Ted Kulongoski

Email Form – CLICK HERE

Call 1-503-378-4582

Write Governor Ted Kulongoski

160 State Capitol

900 Court Street

Salem, OR 97301-4047

TALKING POINTS

· “Any country that accepts abortion, is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.” —Mother Teresa

· NARAL continually refers to killing a late-term preborn baby ‘CHOICE!’

· NARAL’s position on INFANTICIDE: The federal abortion ban of 2007 enacted by President George W. Bush is, “a setback for women’s health and privacy.” www.ProChoiceAmerica.org

Archbishop Vlazny publicly rebukes Gov. Kulongoski over abortion

Oregon Catholics:  consider contacting the archbishop.  His courage has been a long time coming.  After the scandal, I’m sure he believed he would not be taken seriously on any moral issue.

NEWS COVERAGE TO DATE:

Precious Children of Portland’s Protest:

KGW online video: Your editor is interviewed: http://www.kgw.com/video/video-index.html?nvid=289628&shu=1

‘Archbishop Takes Gov. Kulongoski to Task Over Abortion-Rights Event.’ OregonLive

Read the comments which are favorable toward our Archbishop.

Statesmen Journal “an unprecedented public rebuke”

Associated Press picked it up!
KATU-2 Story ‘Governor and Archbishop at odds over abortion

Carl Olson-Insight Scoop

CONTACT THE ARCHBISHOP

archbishopvlazny@ocp.org

(503) 234-5334

Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
2838 E. Burnside St
Portland OR  97214-1895

Ask Your Bishop to Deny Body of Christ to Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians

Canon915 is the dissent-busting campaign of the American Life League.  ALL’s ad was launched Monday in the Washington Times. The ad pictures pro-abortion Catholic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.  Also pictured in the ad are 18 Catholic bishops who are enforcing Canon 915 — including Eastern Oregon’s Bishop Vasa of the Baker Diocese.

Text of ALL’s October 6, 2008 Ad in Washington Times:

Archbishop Wuerl [Wash., D.C.], when will you join these bishops [pictured in ad] and enforce Canon 915 against pro-abortion Catholic politicians?

WE NAME NAMES + VOTING RECORDS

Learn about more than 100 federal leaders who claim to be “ardently Catholic,” but openly support abortion and contraception, or voted for legislation that directly and indirectly funds abortion mills like Planned Parenthood.

Get informed.  Get involved.  Ask your bishop to deny the body of Christ to willful supporters of abortion.

Related:

Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians and the Law

Judy Brown’s blog entry about the ad w/ad’s image.

Pro-Abortion Catholic Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski hosts NARAL dinner

Democrats Party of Death

(Ramesh Ponnuru wrote a book with the very same title.)

Archbishop Burke:  Dems “party of death”

What is the teaching of the Catholic Church on abortion?  You’ll find it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  We doubt that Gov. Kulongoski owns a Catechism.

CCC #2272:

Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.  The Church attaches a canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. []  The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

CCC #2273:

The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:

“The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being’s right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.”

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon Responds

Our Friday, October 3, 2008 Protest:  Gov. Ted Kulongoski hosts NARAL dinner.

Reaction from NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon:

The governor has respect and admiration for the Archbishop – who is his pastor.  This is an issue on which they respectfully disagree.”—Anna Richter Taylor, spokeswoman for the governor.

VIDEO ONLINE (it may be deleted eventually):

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