Archbishop Lori: Catholics Should Not Vote for Candidates Who Suport Intrinsic Evils

From Catholic World News

Intrinsic Evil

 Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has told Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online that Catholics should not vote for candidates who support intrinsic evils. 

“This is a big moment for Catholic voters to step back from their party affiliation,” said Archbishop Lori. “The question to ask is this: Are any of the candidates of either party, or independents, standing for something that is intrinsically evil, evil no matter what the circumstances? If that’s the case, a Catholic, regardless of his party affiliation, shouldn’t be voting for such a person.” 

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• Baltimore Archbishop: Catholic Voters Can’t Vote for a Candidate Who Stands for an Intrinsic Evil (National Review Online)

I Feel a Shiver When I See the Parallels Between Our World and That of St. John Fisher

How long, indeed, before employment in the public sector requires a profession of liberal principles?

St John Fisher as painted by Hans Holbein

From The Catholic Herald (UK)

By Francis Phillips

Following my last blog, which came about after reading a priestly obituary in the Fisher House Newsletter of the Cambridge chaplaincy, I read on and my spirits rose; instead of the dispiriting legacy of 1960s priestly rebellion against the Church’s authority, I read about St John Fisher (who gave his name to the chaplaincy), the magnificent and martyred alumnus of the 16th century. In an article by Dr Richard Rex, I was reminded that Fisher, who refused to renounce the authority of the pope in favour of Henry VIII, accepted execution rather than go against his conscience. “That Fisher would find himself called upon to deny a doctrine that had been taught in England all his life was something he could hardly have imagined in his student days. More surprising still is how few followed him in refusing. The reason was partly fear, but more the spirit of the age…”

Obama: Moochelle Should Be Paid to Take All Those Taxpayer-Paid Vacations

Socialists of the kleptocrat variety:

Obama’s Progress

From The Center for Vision and Values, Grove City College

By Paul G. Kengor

Try to define progressivism. In fact, ask progressives to try to define progressivism. All we really know is that they’re, well, progressing. They and their ideas and their politics are always changing, evolving. This means that what they believe and hold fast and dear today may not be what they believe and hold fast and dear tomorrow, or decades or a century from now.

Dinner with Diocletian

In recent weeks we have read that Catholic Relief Services has given millions to organizations that fund contraception and abortion throughout the world.  Now, after all the defiant talk about religious liberty, Fortnights for Freedom, and voting one's "values," we learn that the American Church's preeminent Cardinal is going to honor our persecutor at American Catholicism's most prestigious event, the Al Smith Dinner. 

Given that a majority of American Catholic bishops covered up criminal activity in a manner that would have sent most laymen  to prison, perhaps their moral vision is impaired.  We doubt very much that the early Christians invited Diocletian to dine with them, much less seated him at the head table.

If the Cardinal Archbishop of New York doesn't have the good sense to withdraw his invitation to Obama or cancel the event, clear thinking Catholics, who traditionally support the Al Smith Dinner, should stay home.

From CatholicCulture.org

By Dr. Jeff Mirus

President Obama’s appearance at the Al Smith Dinner is confirmed. He was invited by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. This annoys (and in many cases alarms) serious Catholics everywhere. What can be said about it?

Mark Levin to Romney: Not ‘Standing Up’ for Chick-fil-A Is Wrong

The ever evolving Ethch a Sketch candidate says that standing up for an American businessman whose First Amendment rights are under assault by the radical left is "not part of his campaign;" -- but apparently criticizing the London Olympics is. 

You aren't required to nominate this contemptibly hollow man, Republican delegates. You need not be responsible for yet another disastrous GOP nomination. In an hour of national crisis, is this really the best you can do?

Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin lashed out at GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney for not “standing up” for Chick-fil-A and demanded that the former Massachusetts governor pick a conservative to be his running mate.

“We want a little bit more than crumbs,” Levin asserted on Monday’s show. “We want a conservative running mate and we want some conservatives who have real speaking time at prime time.”

Levin said he continues to be “very concerned” about Romney, particularly with the candidate’s public reticence in recent days to join conservatives who have made statements and appearances on behalf of the embattled fast-food chain.

Read the rest of this entry at Newsmax >>

Pope Sees "Threats of Unprecedented Gravity" to America's Religious Liberty

Commends Knights of Columbus for defending the rights of all religious believers.

 

"We have a little surprise for you, Mr. President, but you can't open it until November."

 

On Tuesday August 7th the 130th Supreme Convention of the Order of the Knights of Columbus gets underway in Anaheim, California. The Order, founded on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, will gather together thousands of its members under the banner Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land. Below a message to the Convention addressed to Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson of behalf of Pope Benedict XVI signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Dear Mr. Anderson,

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was pleased to learn that from 7 to 9 August 2012 the 130th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus will be held in Anaheim, California. He has asked me to convey his warm greetings to all in attendance, together with the assurance of his closeness in prayer.

The theme of this year’s Supreme Convention – Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land – evokes not only the great biblical ideals of freedom and justice which shaped the founding of the United States of America, but also the responsibility of each new generation to preserve, defend and advance those great ideals in its own day. At a time when concerted efforts are being made to redefine and restrict the exercise of the right to religious freedom, the Knights of Columbus have worked tirelessly to help the Catholic community recognize and respond to the unprecedented gravity of these new threats to the Church’s liberty and public moral witness. By defending the right of all religious believers, as individual citizens and in their institutions, to work responsibly in shaping a democratic society inspired by their deepest beliefs, values and aspirations, your Order has proudly lived up to the high religious and patriotic principles which inspired its founding.

The challenges of the present moment are in fact yet another reminder of the decisive importance of the Catholic laity for the advancement of the Church’s mission in today’s rapidly changing social context. The Knights of Columbus, founded as a fraternal society committed to mutual assistance and fidelity to the Church, was a pioneer in the development of the modern lay apostolate. His Holiness is confident that the Supreme Convention will carry on this distinguished legacy by providing sound inspiration, guidance and direction to a new generation of faithful and dedicated Catholic laymen. As he stated to the Bishops of the United States earlier this year, the demands of the new evangelization and the defence of the Church’s freedom in our day call for “an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society” (Ad Limina Address, 19 January 2012).

Given this urgent need, the Holy Father encourages the Supreme Council, together with each of the local Councils, to reinforce the praiseworthy programs of continuing catechetical and spiritual formation which have long been a hallmark of your Order. Each Knight, in fidelity to his baptismal promises, is pledged to bear daily witness, however quiet and unassuming, to his faith in Christ, his love of the Church and his commitment to the spread of God’s Kingdom in this world. The forthcoming inauguration of the Year of Faith, which commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, is meant to deepen this sense of ecclesial responsibility and mission in the entire People of God. His Holiness prays that the celebration of this Year of spiritual and apostolic renewal will inspire in the Knights an ever firmer resolve to profess their baptismal faith in its fullness, celebrate it more intensely in the liturgy, and make it manifest through the witness of their lives (cf. Porta Fidei, 9).

In a particular way, His Holiness wishes me to convey his profound personal gratitude for the spiritual bouquet of prayers and sacrifices which the Knights and their families have offered for his intentions throughout this year which marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of his episcopal ordination. He is pleased to see in this act of spiritual solidarity not only an outstanding testimony of love for the Successor of Saint Peter, who is “the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the Church’s unity in faith and her communion” (cf. Lumen Gentium, 18), but also a sign of especial fidelity, loyalty and support during these difficult times.

With these sentiments, the Holy Father commends the deliberations of the Supreme Convention to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church. To all the Knights and their families he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.

Adding my own prayerful good wishes for the work of the Supreme Convention, I remain

Yours sincerely, Card. Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State 

From the Vatican, 19 July 2012