USCCB: We'll both help Obama and challenge him, George says
Print Friendly VersionBy JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore
Facing the reality of an Obama presidency, the U.S. bishops intend to support the new administration but also to stress areas of disagreement, above all abortion and other “life issues,” according to Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and other bishops who spoke this morning in Baltimore.
“Obama will be the president of the United States, so of course we will do our best to help him in what is a formidable task,” George said during a mid-day news conference. “Particularly because he’s from the African-American community, his success is vital to all of us.”
At the same time, George said, collaboration on matters such as poverty reduction and universal health care – areas where the social teaching of the Catholic church and positions taken by Obama during the 2008 campaign are broadly consistent – doesn't take the struggle against abortion off the table.
“It does not do away with the question of a legal system that does not protect those who cannot defend themselves, which is a very flawed constitutional order," he said.
One issue likely to divide the bishops and the Obama White House right away is embryonic stem cell research. Obama aides have announced that the new president is likely to issue an executive order overturning measures in the Bush administration that restricted federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
George said the bishops will probably contact Obama about the stem cell issue, warning that liberalization “will alienate tens of millions of people, not just Catholics, and will militate against the kind of unity the president-elect hopes to achieve.”
The U.S. bishops are meeting in Baltimore Nov. 10-13, their first gathering since the 2008 elections.
One bright spot from the ’08 elections for the bishops occurred in California, where voters approved a ballot measure against same-sex marriage. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco noted the irony that African-Americans in California, “on the same day and at the same polling places,” voted in strong numbers both for Obama and for the ban on same-sex marriage.
“For months we were told that this is a civil rights issue,” Niederauer said. “Yet the group most searingly familiar with civil rights battles in America voted in favor of the proposition by 70 percent. They did not see the issue as conservative/liberal, but rather the way we presented it – as a defense of traditional marriage.”
Ever the theorist, George argued that the success of the California ballot measure also illustrated that “the ideology of individual rights is not adequate for treating every public policy decision that comes before the people or legislatures.”
“Marriage is not an institution created by the church or the state,” George said. “It’s a natural institution and a universal one. I think people recognize that. To think that we can change it by a vote or a court decision is an example of hubris.”
Asked if the bishops would collaborate with Obama on social programs aimed at reducing the actual number of abortions, George said that while a connection between poverty and abortion is “still to be proven,” the church would support efforts to address the “isolation” that sometimes prompts women to consider abortion as well as social welfare programs to aid the poor.
At the same time, George said, those efforts cannot supplant the legal struggle against abortion.
Given the pro-choice philosophy of the new administration, George also highlighted the bishops’ concern with “freedom of conscience for health-care workers” as well as for Catholic hospitals.
Church-run hospitals, George said, “stand as a witness to the world that there’s someplace in our society where no one is ever deliberately killed. We will keep that, and we may have to negotiate as we talk about universal health care – which, of course, the church would support.”
Exit polls suggest that Obama captured a majority of Catholic votes, leading some critics to suggest that the bishops’ “Faithful Citizenship” document, their major statement ahead of the ’08 elections, was overly nuanced and failed to provide clear direction. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, for example, has charged that the document “didn’t work and doesn’t work,” in part because it was cited by pro-Obama Catholics to justify voting for a pro-choice candidate.
George seemed to suggest it’s a jump ball whether such comprehensive electoral guides will be issued in the future.
“The document gives principles, but it does not draw conclusions,” he said. “I think the statement was good, it was nuanced where it should be. Sometimes that nuance got lost when different groups picked up different parts of it.”
“We’ll see,” George said, “whether the bishops want to try a different route entirely.”
Overall, George and the other bishops seemed to reject one popular spin on Obama’s success among Catholic voters – that it amounted to a “repudiation” of the bishops’ emphasis on abortion.
Instead, George suggested, 2008 was in many ways a replay of the 1932 election, as a country facing a mounting financial crisis turned the Republicans out of power and chose a Democrat to “help them through the present economic debacle.”
As indicated above, the
As indicated above, the Bishops have not commented on the failed Personhood amendment in Colorado, a great disappointment to pro-life people who voted for it. Over 70% of the voters voted against it which indicates that many Catholics and other Christians opposed it.
The Bishops need to consider a better effort at the grass roots level, not one that cajoles and intimidates, rather one that educates and wins over hearts and minds.
Moreover, the Bishops seem to turn a blind eye to the fact that more unborn children have died under Republican administrations than Democrat and in fact, Republican Justices brought Roe into being. The fact that McCain approves abortion in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother puts him in the pro-abortion camp. He also supports embryonic stem cell research and supported Justices Ginzburg and Breyer. For many Catholics, his wobbly 'pro-life' stand coupled with his unilateral positions in foreign policy cast him in the light as the least likely candidate for conversion. So, many Catholics were not 'revolting' against the wishes of the Bishops but actually voting their conscience. But it seems, the Bishops may have had some political leanings that keep them from seeing the not so good in the Republican candidates.
Add to that that they pretty much ignored John Paul II's views on the Iraq War, which in the minds of many Catholics was at the least disrespectful, and at worst a nationalistic rebellion against Rome. They do not always set the tone or a good example for what obedience to teaching authority should be like.
Golly, I can see Obama
Golly, I can see Obama shaking in his boots already! Maybe he'll crawl on his knees over a snowy mountain pass and beg forgiveness from the Highly Ontologically Favored.
Don't hold your breath.
The idea that the US
The idea that the US Catholic bishops can or will have any meaningful influence on the new administration is laughable at best! Oh, they will be given a polite hearing, but then ....
The pro-Republican politics of a large portion of the USCCB will come back to bite it in the posterior for the next 12 years. A lot of humble pie needs to be in the meals that they consume for a long time.
It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of men.
"Render unto Caesar the
"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" These bishops need to clean up their own houses before spouting off to the new administration. Their handling of the sex abuse crises has made their authority in the world much diminished. They have lost influence over their own. How can they imagine trying to influence others in moral matters. They have protected and coddled child molesters. That renders them voiceless into the next century!
I couldn't help but notice
I couldn't help but notice that Cardinal George failed to mention the failure of all the abortion propositions, including Colorado, in his remarks. Perhaps the USCCB should commission a study on just how many Catholics actually think a full human person exists from the moment of conception. The numbers from the defeat of South Dakota's attempt to define life this way would indicate the bishops might not like the results.
Archbishop Neiderhauer is not doing his archdiocese any favors by stressing the black vote on Prop 8. Especially in that the USCCB and the Knights of Columbus got in the same marriage bed as the Mormon Church. The same church who almost went to war with the US government over their 'God given' right to polygamy, and a Church which still teaches polygamy for males in the afterlife, while keeping women dependent on the good opinion of their one husband to even approach the pearly gates.
Perhaps Bishop Neiderhauer could be honest enough to admit that they in fact specifically targeted minority churches and populations with their campaign material in a conscious effort to take advantage of the large minority turnout expected for Obama, thereby pitting one minority against another. Jesus weeps.
http://enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com
Fred Preuss AND the Black
Fred Preuss AND the Black churches-don't forget that law of unintended consequences; nearly 4 out of 5 black voters who came to vote in California voted for Obama but against gay marriage. Awkward silences on that issue from many 'progressives'-it wasn't just the more obvious targets like the Mormons and you catholics.
How about this as an idea-we stop sending an ambassador to the Vatican and save thousands of dollars. We don't send ambassadors to any other religion and we didn't send one until the 1980s, so it's not as if the country needs someone there.
Dear Cardinal George,
Dear Cardinal George,
Haven't you noticed that Obama and his supporters have already, because of episcopal opposition, challenged you, (by default). And in case you missed the result - they won.
And I reckon you deserved to lose.
The Nov.10 note by Frannie
The Nov.10 note by Frannie Schafer with respect to Cardinal George's comment on California's Prop. 8 is a nicely cogent reply to George's misguided casuistry and the readership would do well to remember it for future use in discussions on this subject. I've always thought the episcopate to be interlopers on the body politic when it insists that all humanity submit to its delineation of what marriage is to be.
Marriage, as a Sacrament,
Marriage, as a Sacrament, was created by God.
With all due respect
With all due respect Frannie,in regards to his stating that Marriage is a natural institution and a universal one, by natural institution and universal, Cardinal George was referring to the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God, the Creator of the Universe, the same God mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.
I am so happy to read your
I am so happy to read your post, Anne. I missed you. The laws of nature abour family are the biologicaal laws of reproduction and the laws of survival ( e.g. sleep in a cave and not in the fields.) Marriage (the union of male and female to produce and protect offspring) may be universal, but the structure of those unions are vastly different according to culture and history. I'm not quite sure about the God in the declaration of Independence other than the inference that He means us to be free.
So the U.S. bishops intend
So the U.S. bishops intend to challenge the Obama administration as they did the Bush one? And as they've challenged pro-life Republican leaders around the nation for some years now?
Interesting. I'll be eager to see what "challenge" looks like.
William D. Lindsey
RE: Ever the theorist,
RE:
Ever the theorist, George argued that the success of the California ballot measure also illustrated that “the ideology of individual rights is not adequate for treating every public policy decision that comes before the people or legislatures.”
“Marriage is not an institution created by the church or the state,” George said. “It’s a natural institution and a universal one. I think people recognize that. To think that we cabn change it by a vote or a court decision is an example of hubris.”
***
Son of Caiaphas, think about what you have said. It was your forefather who said that it was expedient for one man to die (loss of individual rights) so that the people would not perish (public policy). That this has become the official position of the church would make Christ weep.
Marriage as a constellation of laws is an institution created by the state. Marriage as a sacrament is an institution created by the church. The structure of the union of mother and father to create and protect offspring is a natural institution and takes many forms across cultures and throughout history. The failure to understand these distinctions makes it hubris to speak about an issue one does not comprehend.
frannie! I won't let
frannie!
I won't let anything any Bishop says politically bother me too much these days! It's a fair certainty in my mind that the collective sigh of the scowlin howlies upon awakening on Nov. 5 was.....UHOH!!! The U.S. Bishops are accustomed to dealing with politicians at all levels! Heretofore they have always dealt from a position of power. That power has always been "smoke and mirrors" and Barack H. Obama, without counter attack, with no malice aforethought, without deceit, without a $105 billion dollar a year budget, in his own inimitable way said, "You're just Scowling Howlies and I'm the president-elect of The United States of America! Your power base is now MINE! Deal with It!" So now the Bishops are trying to regain their status and their quo! They are wielding the same old swords, using the same old swordsmen! They fail to understand that Notre Dame was down by seven when the time ran out and "The Gipper" was no longer on the sidelines! They are simply looking for the power that they had! HAD being the salient tense!
God loves you frannie! And so do I!
James Edward
"Marriage as a constellation
"Marriage as a constellation of laws is an institution created by the state. Marriage as a sacrament is an institution created by the church. The structure of the union of mother and father to create and protect offspring is a natural institution and takes many forms across cultures and throughout history. The failure to understand these distinctions makes it hubris to speak about an issue one does not comprehend."
Doesn't come any better than this Frannie. Perhaps when Cardinal George meets with Barack Obama, Obama the constitutional lawyer can explain these distinctions to George the celibate Cardinal. However, I doubt Barack can come up with anything better than you've written. It's just not hubris though, it's more fodder for SNL.
http://enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com
Mr. Allen! Chameleon's a
Mr. Allen!
Chameleon's a funny creature, always changing colors,
To hide himself away from life, and the prying eyes of others!
Slow to move from place to place, he fears life's constant changes.
Whenever something threatens him, his color rearranges!
First you see him blue then green, he changes, will-nilly!
Then brown, the green, then blue again!
What color is he? ..............Really!
I need some help here! Did I just spell....B I S H O P?
God loves us all! And so do I!
James Edward