Digital Areopagus

The following comes from a statement released by the Bishops of New York called Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn Duty.

The document [issued by the bishops of NY] “Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn
Duty,” states that there are many important issues such as the right to life,
issues of war and peace, the education of children and how we treat the poor and
vulnerable. While all must be considered, “not every issue is of equal moral
gravity.”

“The inalienable right to life of every innocent human person outweighs other concerns where Catholics may use prudential judgment, such as how best to meet the needs of the poor or to increase access to health care for all,” the New York bishops’ document says.

“The right to life is the right through which all others flow. To the extent candidates reject this fundamental right by supporting an objective evil, such as legal abortion,
euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research, Catholics should consider them less
acceptable for public office.”

As was reported the USCCB released a statement yesterday about Sen. Biden's foot-in-mouth incident on "Meet the Press" this weekend. What has been more interesting is that the media has seemed to let this one pass it by.

Thomas over at American Papist who has been one of the main hubs of information about Pelosi and Biden-gate was the first to bring this to my attention. Outside the Catholic and religious blogs it doesn't seem that any mainstream press is going to touch this one. While the reactions to Sen. Biden's statement have been swift from some Bishops, it might be time to send our local Bishops an e-mail to see if they are going to chime in on this like they did with Nancy Pelosi.

WASHINGTON-Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman, U.S. Bishops Committee on Doctrine, issued the following statement:
Recently we had a duty to clarify the Catholic Church’s constant teaching against abortion, to correct misrepresentations of that teaching by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on “Meet the Press” (see www.usccb.org/prolife/whatsnew.shtml). On September 7, again on “Meet the Press,” Senator Joseph Biden made some statements about that teaching that also deserve a response.
Senator Biden did not claim that Catholic teaching allows or has ever allowed abortion. He said rightly that human life begins “at the moment of conception,” and that Catholics and others who recognize this should not be required by others to pay for abortions with their taxes.
However, the Senator’s claim that the beginning of human life is a “personal and private” matter of religious faith, one which cannot be “imposed” on others, does not reflect Catholic teaching. The Church teaches that the obligation to protect unborn human life rests on the answer to two questions, neither of which is private or specifically religious.
The first is a biological question: When does a new human life begin? When is there a new living organism of the human species, distinct from mother and father and ready to develop and mature if given a nurturing environment? While ancient thinkers had little verifiable knowledge to help them answer this question, today embryology textbooks confirm that a new human life begins at conception (see www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/fact298.shtml). The Catholic Church does not teach this as a matter of faith; it acknowledges it as a matter of objective fact.
The second is a moral question, with legal and political consequences: Which living members of the human species should be seen as having fundamental human rights, such as a right not to be killed? The Catholic Church’s answer is: Everybody. No human being should be treated as lacking human rights, and we have no business dividing humanity into those who are valuable enough to warrant protection and those who are not. Even this is not solely a Catholic teaching, but a principle of natural law accessible to all people of good will. The framers of the Declaration of Independence pointed to the same basic truth by speaking of inalienable rights, bestowed on all members of the human race not by any human power, but by their Creator. Those who hold a narrower and more exclusionary view have the burden of explaining why we should divide humanity into the moral “haves” and “have-nots,” and why their particular choice of where to draw that line can be sustained in a pluralistic society. Such views pose a serious threat to the dignity and rights of other poor and vulnerable members of the human family who need and deserve our respect and protection.
While in past centuries biological knowledge was often inaccurate, modern science leaves no excuse for anyone to deny the humanity of the unborn child. Protection of innocent human life is not an imposition of personal religious conviction but a demand of justice.

Seems like Mr. Biden missed out on a very poignant homily at the installment of his new Bishop. Let's take a look.

In early discussions, Bishop Saltarelli and I both agreed that this Feast Day of the Nativity of Mary would be a wonderfully appropriate day for the installation. Mary’s mother, St. Anne, carried a very special life in her womb which serves as a vivid reminder that every life is special. We will continue to stress the constant eaching of the Church that each person must respect every life from conception to natural death. And we will continue to seek the intercession of Saint Thomas More for Statesmen, Politicians, Supreme Court Justices, Judges and Lawyers—that they may be courageous and effective in defending and promoting the sanctity of human life, the foundation of every human right, the foundation of our love for the poor.

First Nancy Pelosi claims to be an "ardent and practicing" Catholic and slams her foot straight into her mouth. Now Joe Biden has followed suit on the same show no less!

Thomas over at American Papist who has been covering these issues has a write-up on this latest incident.

Also make some time to listen to Bishop Robert Morlino's homily on this topic, it is powerful.

God Bless you all!

Father Z over at WDTPRS has posted Bishop Niederauer's response to Nancy Pelosi's foot-in-mouth event on "Meet the Press" and added his own comments.

Hat Tip to American Papist:

The associated press and Drudge Report have picked up this latest article about Pelosi-gate and the backlash that it's caused.

Thomas over at American Papist has done a write-up on it so I'll let you all check out what he has to say about it.

Funny thing about all of this and I was telling my wife last night. Never let it be said that God can not use something like Nancy Pelosi's foot in mouth discussion about abortion for good.

Hat Tip to Thomas at American Papist for keeping up with Pelosi-gate.

Bishops of Colorado Springs & Pittsburgh respond to Pelosi

Don't forget to write your local Bishop asking for them to use this teaching moment for their own flock. Also write the Bishops that have already spoken out about Pelosi to thank them for speaking out.

From FoxNews:

Archbishop of Washington Chides Pelosi; Denver Archbishop Warns Biden to Skip Communion

Irked by pro-choice Democrats who tout their Catholicism, the archbishop of Washington is chiding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for misstating church history and the archbishop of Denver is warning vice presidential hopeful Joe Biden not to take Communion.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's ignorant statements about abortion and Church teachings have cause huge waves in the Catholic community. We need to all keep pushing our Bishops to take a public stand and finally root-out these so-called "Catholic" politicians.

Pelosi Gate

“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am
going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I
don’t want them punished with a baby." --Barack Obama

Erie Catholic Bishop Donald W. Trautman will not attend the Mercyhurst
College graduation in protest over Sen. Hillary Clinton’s visit to campus
Tuesday.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008674200394