BISHOPS: God VOTES Republican!

[Segami]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is scheduled to deliver the concluding benediction at the Republican National Convention next week, after Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech. The Eternal Word Television Network leaked word of Dolan’s appearance last night in a press release about Romney’s exclusive appearance, to be aired tonight, on the program “The World Over.” The news — both its substance and the venue in which it was conveyed — make clear three things: that Romney intends to make the Bishops’ bogus arguments about religious liberty infringements a centerpiece of his campaign’s faith outreach; that any efforts the Obama administration made to placate the Bishops’ unattainable demands on insurance coverage for contraception were a fool’s errand; and that the USCCB has unequivocally attached itself at the hip to the Republican Party.




EWTN, the Catholic television network founded by the nun Mother Angelica in 1981, and which recently acquired the National Catholic Register (“America’s most complete and faithful Catholic news source”), sued the Obama administration in February, charging the contraception mandate violated its First Amendment rights. Michael Warsaw, the network’s president, decreed it a “moment when EWTN, as a Catholic organization, has to step up and say that enough is enough.” In its support of the Bishops’ “fortnight for freedom” earlier this summer, the network quoted — on the same page! — Sir Thomas More just before his beheading and the Rev. Martin Luther King. That was all alongside network head Warsaw asserting, “these are rights not given to us by governments. They are rights given to us by God.”



In its press release, EWTN notes that Dolan hasn’t endorsed a candidate in the presidential race, but emphasizes that “he has been an outspoken critic of a mandate issued by the Obama administration to require employers to offer health insurance plans that covers contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences.” (This repeats the falsehood, which Dolan himself has perpetuated, that the contraceptives covered by the insurance requirement include abortifacients.) Belying the claims of the non-partisan nature of Dolan’s RNC appearance, EWTN goes on to highlight that “Obama has also voiced support for abortion and is the first U.S. president to openly advocate a redefinition of marriage to include homosexual couples.” Just in case you weren’t clear who the enemy is.




The Jesuit magazine America quickly weighed in, and didn’t spare the Bishops any criticism: “The cozy relationship between a sizable portion of U.S. bishops and the Republican Party should be cause for concern, and not just among progressive Catholics. For the church to be able to live out its role as prophet, it cannot be tied to one political party. Cardinal Dolan’s appearance in Tampa will damage the church’s ability to be a moral and legitimate voice for voiceless, as those who view the Catholic Church as being a shill for the GOP have just a bit more evidence to prove their case.”







cont'

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/23/bishops_god_votes_republican/


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[fleur-de-lisa]

1. I'm sure the nuns on the bus

would disagree.

[GoCubsGo]

9. I strongly suspect that God would, too.

Last I heard, he isn't too happy with people who fuck over the poor.

[Segami]

12. I would think God has a MAJOR BIG say on that statement. Maybe they should take heed on the coming

storm brewing off the coast of Florida. Is it not a message from God expressing His disgust with heretics like Romney, Ryan, tea bangers and the cabal of rethuglicans?

Where is Pat Robertson NOW making his tea leave readings?.....these are SIGNS so take heed you M-----F-----s,....the time is near!!

[Renew Deal]

2. The age old problem. God may vote repub (even though he selected Obama), but Jesus was a liberal.

[nanabugg]

10. Yeah, the most famous generational gap. nt

[Arkansas Granny]

3. That should be interesting. Will he vote where they require a picture ID?

[benld74]

4. Holier than thou hypocrites is what they are!

[still_one]

5. No wonder they are against seperation of chirch and state

[Viva_Daddy]

6. James Madison was right. Merging Church and State CORRUPTS BOTH!!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Why does The All Mighty always send his flunkies to do his talking for him?

I mean, He could at least send a video.

[FSogol]

8. Strip their tax exemption.

[Segami]

14. YES!!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

26. Based on what?

Leading a prayer at a political convention?

[FSogol]

36. Campaigning for Romney? Involving themselves in partisan political battles?

Campaigning for Repubs? Take your pick.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

45. Clergy leading prayers at political conventions is nothing new

And isn't prohibited.

And so long as the bishops (or any other member of the clergy) isn't acting on behalf of their church, they are permitted to endorse candidates, campaign for candidates and endorse parties. When they are acting on their own behalf and not on behalf of the church, they have the exact same rights, politically, as anyone else does.

Standing at the pulpit in the church and saying "Vote for Romney"? Prohibited.
Standing at the podium of the convention and saying "Vote for Romney"? Not prohibited.

***edited for spelling.

[FSogol]

48. I recommend you check with the IRS. Their analysis is different thant yours.

Plus he is there as an official representative of that Church. He can lead all the prayers he wants, but when he says vote for Romney, he is in the wrong.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

52. You might want to take a look at the examples in the article

http://clergytaxlaw.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/clarifying-the-irs-rules-about-endorsing-candidates-from-the-pulpit/

The examples were provided by the IRS.

You are flat out wrong - clergy are certainly permitted to endorse candidates and parties without endangering their church's tax exempt status. They can't do it from the pulpit, but they can certainly do it.

[sarcasmo]

58. Time to tax the church.

[smirkymonkey]

63. Hear, hear!

[Initech]

65. If they want to get political, they pay. End of story.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

66. Then I suggest you work with your elected reps

to change the IRS regulations, because as they stand now, this is in no way a violation.

[hifiguy]

11. So many "holy" hypocrites,

and so few lions. It's a shame.

[atreides1]

13. Guess what

"Cardinal Dolan’s appearance in Tampa will damage the church’s ability to be a moral and legitimate voice for voiceless, as those who view the Catholic Church as being a shill for the GOP have just a bit more evidence to prove their case.”


Too late...the church has already lost all credibility, especially Dolan the "Milwaukee Payoff Bishop"!!!

[Cleita]

15. Is God a US citizen? Where is his long form birth certificate?

If he isn't, he doesn't have a right to vote.

[Segami]

17. LOLOL!!!!

[RobinA]

30. I Don't See Why

god would vote at all. Can't he make whatever he wants happen? If I were god, I surely would not worry about registering and making sure I have ID. I would MAKE IT HAPPEN however I wanted.

[madrchsod]

41. good one!

[Arugula Latte]

47. He was born in Kenya, or close to it,

'cuz that's where humans evolved and started making up stories about gods 'n' deities 'n' such.

[Cleita]

61. Good one!

But being born in Kenya, wouldn't he be a Muslim today and not a Catholic?

[smirkymonkey]

64. That's what I was wondering, and what state is he registered to vote in?

(of course I am sure "their" god is male).

God, Dolan is the most miserable, bitter, hateful looking bastard, isn't he? Well, as long as he's spreading the love of "God".

[nanabugg]

16. Careful Bishop, less you remind us some other stuff we don't like. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

18. To my ears, that is Blasphemy.

[qb]

19. either way, it's only one vote

[riverbendviewgal]

20. I was raised a catholic

but no longer consider myself a catholic

My favorite priest as a young child ...left the church to marry.

My favorite nun also left the church.

My friend's brother was abused and molested by priests as a child.


I have no respect for the catholic church. It has actually made me distrust and lose respect for religion.

History has taught me that religion has been a murderer of many people only for the benefit of the religions. it is all about money and power.

cardinal Dolan is an asshole.

[Segami]

24. Religion and Faith belong on opposite sides of the Divine Spectrum.

[barbtries]

28. i like that.

very much. i may quote you if you don't mind, i don't want to forget it.

[Fresh_Start]

21. Its great that the GOP wants someone who paid pedophiles to coverup their crimes

against altar boys to speak for them.
Its almost truth in lending...we steal from the poor to coverup our crimes.

[fifthoffive]

22. I want to see God's photo ID!

I smell voter fraud!

[mysuzuki2]

23. I think it is entirely appropriate for the repubs to have Dolan

a well-known apologist for pedophilia, speak at their convention.

[Skidmore]

25. And this was decided before or after they conferred with him on where to hide

the pedophiles?

[djean111]

27. But Jesus votes Democrat.

They cancel each others' vote.

[abolugi]

44. I like this answer!

[Historic NY]

29. If the Bishops want to play then then should pay!

[lastlib]

31. If God votes, does His vote get counted on a Diebold machine?

Does He have a photo ID? Is He a US citizen? And a resident? Are we sure he's over 18? Have we seen His birth certificate?

I'm just a bit leery here, help me out.....

[WinkyDink]

32. THIS is why the socially-conscious nuns are hated by their male bosses.

[99Forever]

33. So they get a zero vote.

Considering that there is no such thing as a god.

Magic isn't real, you pompous ass.

[Octafish]

34. Not all the time, I'm pretty sure.

My family belong to a rather conservative parish.

We enjoy attending Mass at a local Jesuit chapel.

There's a big difference in what the youngsters hear.

The message they remember is the same, "God is Love."

[chknltl]

35. Has anyone told God about voter fraud?

Um, God....you DID know that it is a felony to be unregistered while voting republican right? The republicans are VERY concerned about voter fraud these days so you will need to get an I.D. card and in order to get that you will have to bring in your Birth Certificate and...um...hmmm...well Sir, there could be a problem with getting you registered.

[jsr]

37. The fascination with fascism continues

Not surprising from a church that called the Spanish Civil War a “crusade.”

[HopeHoops]

38. I want to see his picture ID.

[Blue Idaho]

39. Oh no she doesn't!

But the guy with the dog collar gets his marching orders from an unelected foreign ruler.

[meow2u3]

40. meow2u3: conservative bishops are FALSE PROPHETS!

[MatthewStLouis]

42. Ugh! Disgusting! Bishops running with the money changers! Go Greed Over People! /nt

[madrchsod]

43. we could have a christian/mormon bishop as the president of the united states?

it`s time to tax the catholic church and the mormon church.

i know it would only happen in an alternate universe.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

46. We have a Christian as President of the United States now n/t

[FSogol]

49. He was talking about a bishop, which Obama isn't Any more straw men to erect?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

62. Not sure what your problem is

He said Christian/Mormon, and that's what I responded to. Don't like it? Tough.

[sarcasmo]

60. +1

[warrprayer]

50. Thank God for Jesuits n/t

[RagAss]

51. Pedophiles Inc. has spoken !

Scumbags.

[Panasonic]

53. Fine, IRS, revoke all organized religion tax exemption

and let them pay to preach lies to their congregation.

And be taxed at 95% rate.

[xxqqqzme]

54. Anyone know where

God is registered to vote? Does (s)he need a photo ID?

[Fire Walk With Me]

55. Ruh-roh!

[sarcasmo]

56. Why is republican jesus so full of rage?

[ann---]

57. Can't damage the church more than

the pedophile priests have. It's a wonder the Vatican is still functioning.

[fascisthunter]

59. he has no business representing any god... he's a political right wing dick-tator

that is all

[Dawson Leery]

67. Is he going to give his personal endorsement to Todd Akin?

[muntrv]

68. Hey Dolan! Tax the churches!