FRESHMAN FACES. New House of Representatives members of the 112th Congress pose on the House steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
– CNS photo/Larry Downing, Reuters
WASHINGTON — Catholics make up about 28% of the members of Congress, compared to 30% when the 111th Congress began. But both figures are higher than the percentage of Catholics in the U.S. population, 24%.
Following is a list of the members of the 112th Congress who refer to themselves as Catholics.
The percentage next to them is their pro-life rating since 1997, as compiled by National Right to Life. Information prior to 1997 was unavailable at press time. They are listed from the highest pro-life rating to the lowest.
*Denotes incoming congressman
**Denotes that they previously served, left Congress for a time, and won election and will be part of the 112th Congress that convenes in January. Their NRLC scores are for their previous tenures (including only votes cast in 1997 or later)
Senate
100%—Mike Johanns, R-Neb.
100%—Jim Risch, R-Idaho
100%—David Vitter, R-La.
94%—Pat Toomey, R-Pa.**
68%—Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska
50%—Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa.
31%—Mary Landrieu, D-La.
23%—Susan Collins, R-Maine
11%—Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
4%—John Kerry, D-Mass.
2%—Richard Durbin, D-Ill.
2%—Tom Harkin, D-Iowa
2%—Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.
2%—Patty Murray, D-Wash.
2%—Jack Reed, D-R.I.
1%—Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
0%—Mark Begich, D-Alaska
0%—Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
0%—Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
0%—Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.*
Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.*
John Hoeven, R-N.D.*
Marco Rubio, R-Fla.*
House of Representatives
100%—Steve Austria, R-Ohio
100%—John Boehner, R-Ohio
100%—Kevin Brady, R-Texas
100%—David Camp, R-Mich.
100%—Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.
100%—Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.**
100%—Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.
100%—Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.
100%—Phil Gingrey, R-Ga.
100%—Peter King, R-N.Y.
100%—Steve King, R-Iowa
100%—Bob Latta, R-Ohio
100%—Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
100%—Daniel Lungren, R-Calif.
100%—Michael McCaul, R-Texas
100%—Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich.
100%—Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.
100%—Devin Nunes, R-Calif.
100%—Tom Rooney, R- Fla.
100%—Edward Royce, R-Calif.
100%—Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
100%—Steve Scalise, R-La.
100%—Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio
100%—Christopher Smith, R-N.J.
100%—John Sullivan, R-Okla.
100%—Patrick Tiberi, R-Ohio
99%—Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.
98%—Steve Chabot, R-Ohio**
98%—Walter Jones, R-N.C.
97%—Tim Murphy, R-Pa.
95%—Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J.
91%—Jerry Costello, D-Ill.
88%—Tim Holden, D-Pa.
85%—Dale Kildee, D-Mich.
83%—Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill.
79%—Connie Mack IV, R-Fla.
77%—Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.
77%—Michael Doyle, D-Pa.
67%—Leonard Lance, R-N.J.
62%—Brian Bilbray, R-Calif.
61%—James Langevin, D-R.I.
57%—Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio
53%—Tim Ryan, D-Ohio
47%—Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio
44%—Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.
43%—Henry Cuellar, D-Texas
38%—Jason Altmire, D-Pa.
34%—Michael Michaud, D-Maine
32%—Richard Neal, D-Mass.
28%—Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas
27%—Bill Pascrell, D-N.J.
24%—Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y.
21%—John Dingell, D-Mich.
18%—Peter Visclosky, D-Ind.
15%—Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif.
14%—Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas
13%—Jim Costa, D-Calif.
8%—Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y.
7%—Joe Baca, D-Calif.
7%—James Moran, D-Va.
4%—Brian Higgins, D-N.Y.
3%—Robert Brady, D-Pa.
3%—Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
2%—Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
2%—Jose Serrano, D-N.Y.
1%—Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.
1%—Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.
1%—Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.
1%—Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.
1%—Ed Markey, D-Mass.
1%—James McGovern, D-Mass.
1%—Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
1%—Ed Pastor, D-Ariz.
1%—Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
1%—Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.
1%—Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.
1%—Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.
0%—Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.
0%—Timothy Bishop, D-N.Y.
0%—Michael Capuano, D-Mass.
0%—Gerald Connolly, D-Va.
0%—Joe Courtney, D-Conn.
0%—Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas
0%—Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.
0%—John Larson, D-Conn.
0%—Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M.
0%—Betty McCollum, D-Minn.
0%—Jerry McNerney, D-Calif.
0%—George Miller, D-Calif.
0%—Patrick Murphy, D-Pa.
0%—Grace Napolitano, D-Calif.
0%—Linda Sanchez, D-Calif.
0%—Albio Sires, D-N.J.
0%—Mike Thompson, D-Calif.
0%—Paul Tonko, D-N.Y.
0%—Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Lou Barletta, R-Pa.*
Dan Benishek, R-Mich.*
Ann Marie Buerkle, R-N.Y.*
Francisco Canseco, R-Texas*
John Carney, D-Del.*
Hansen Clarke, D-Mich.*
Chip Cravaack, R-Minn.*
Sean Duffy, R-Wis.*
Charles Fleischmann, R-Tenn.*
Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.*
Michael Grimm, R-N.Y.*
Frank Guinta, R-N.H.*
Richard Hanna, R-N.Y. *
Andy Harris, R-Md.*
Joe Heck, R-Nev.*
Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.*
Bill Keating, D-Mass.*
Mike Kelly, R-Pa.*
Jeff Landry, R-La.*
Tom Marino, R-Pa.*
Pat Meehan, R-Pa.*
Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C.*
Steven Palazzo, R-Miss.*
Tom Reed, R-N.Y.*
Jim Renacci, R-Ohio*
David Rivera, R-Fla.*
Todd Rokita, R-Ind.*
Jon Runyan, R-N.J.*
Bobby Schilling, R-Ill.*
David Schweikert, R-Ariz.*
Matthew Warner: The Priest Was Facing The Other Way
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Cafeteria Catholics are not Catholics. They make their own faith.
Can’t help but wonder how someone gets a 1-2%. Being in MD, I know Senator Milkulski’s words and actions well, I think the 2% is generous. I am sure it is due to her support of ‘healthcare for all’ but in that that includes abortion for all I think they cancel each other out.
With all of the studies linking abortion to breast cancer…shouldn’t one of these listed legislaters, submit a bill requiring that all establishments that provide abortions (Planned Parenthood) be required to post a warning label on their doors???
Dennis in San Antonio
No surprise where most of the Democrats break. I often wonder if Ted Kennedy hadn’t steered his party to the abortion side if this country would be much more pro life.
I can’t say enough about the courage and leadership of Chris Smith of New Jersey on the pro life side. You might want to note those in Congress who identify, like him, with the pro life cause.
To be fair and balanced, I pray that Dan Lipinski, a Democrat, may never turn against the unborn. He’s one of the few bright lights on that side of the aisle.
As I was reading this list it occurred to me that perhaps we should all send them Christmas cards with our prayer intentions asking God to change their hearts of stone - not just to our own state reps. & congressmen but everyone on this list. Imagine the impact we could have with this outward sign and then see God’s reply to our prayers. That would be approx. 150 cards, a lot of time and probably over $150 but this is Advent a time of preparation, sacrifice and prayers. Will you join me?
Joe Courtney (CT) is a disgrace and shouldn’t call himself a Catholic. He attends the same church I do and I wonder how he can even show his face there. It’s also disgusting to see the Courtney and Obama bumperstickers on a lot of the cars in the parking lot.
The only so-called pro-lifer from my state is at 61%. Pathetic.
Unless they are Bible-literate and God-honoring in the laws they support, God spare us from more Catholics!!! I’ll take a non-Catholic, Bible-literate, God-honoring Christian (or a God-honoring Jew, for that matter) any day OVER a “Catholic”.
Many of these folks have given the Catholic Church a really bad name. Between them and the old men in the positions of power in the church, not being relevant to the lives of church-goers (ie. changing liturgy word to ‘consubstantial’ - up till now, how many times did you use THAT word in your life?) the Roman Catholic Church is in a free-fall heading downward.
My prayer - that pew people will read the Bible and then boldly ask their pastors/priests/bishops to PREACH AND TEACH God’s Truths, so that we can have God-honoring laws in this country.
There IS an after-life and we better know all about that now - while we have time. “Consubstantial?” = phooey. Jesus Christ is real - we need to get to know Him, and the Father, that is, IF we intend to live with Them forever.
To Cradle Catholic…
The Pope is calling us to re-evangilize. That means straightening out those that call themselves Catholic, and do not follow what the Church teaches. Hold their feet to the fire…judging from your response, you may need to do a refresher course yourself. You job it to do what ever you can to stop the “Freefall” The point of this post, is to point out those in congress that call themselves something. To be Catholic, means to be obedient to the Magisterium. I too, do not want a cookie cutter Catholic making UnCatholic votes.
God Bless
Dennis in San Antonio
To Dennis J. Dixon,
What are we supposed to teach them? From your post, and I may have misunderstood your comments, if I did, in advance, I apologize, are you suggesting I merely tell everyone, “Do whatever Mother Church says.”
And by “Mother Church”, you mean the Magisterium, and by what they say, you mean the Catechism and following the church rules? Is that correct?
Is that what is meant by The Great Commission, to you? Is there no need to understand our faith, by reading Sacred Scripture, and in knowing God, through meeting Him in His Word?
...secondly, Life Site News reported this headline today, “DC Archdiocese shoots down rumor Cardinal (Donald Wuerl) Ok’d event with ‘Catholic’ Gay Group”:
The article goes onto say the Rainbow Sash bunch have scheduled an event at Georgetown University on Wednesday evening.
Unless I’m mistaken, Georgetown is a Catholic university. This ought NOT be happening.
Bishops, ALL of them, across the WORLD, have to muster up their courage, and speak IN UNISON, about God-honoring mores. It’s just as simple as that.
We find God-honoring mores in His Word. This is the way to influence the culture, and to “evangelize” in order to have an eternal impact.
Our clergyMEN need to be MEN, and lead with courage, dignity & integrity.
If they continue on the road they are on, it will lead to irrelevance.
I don’t understand the way these Congressmen are rated. If you are pro-life you are 100%. If you are not pro-life you are 0%. It’s black and white, folks! There’s no grey. It’s like being pregnant - no woman is a “little” pregnant.
As a cradle and practicing Catholic the list above, and the fact that so many catholics vote democrat, really pains me. We should never vote for someone who claims to be Catholic but follows the dem party line rather than an informed conscience. If these politicians cannot bring themselves to tell the voting public where they stand and if they say they are Catholic, to stand firmly in the court of Catholic Teaching, you should never vote for them. Looking at the list, there are some republicans but mostly it shows that there is no such thing as a pro-life democrat. This needs to change. While we try to change their heart, please vote them out first chance you get. Can you imagine how different this country would be today, if all these people had voted and followed a life in step with Church Teaching? We would be the strongest, prosperous country in the world because we would be in God’s grace as a country. We would not be in the mess we are in economically and morally. The one good thing the Pres and the congressional secular progressives have done for me these last two years is to drive me to start praying the rosary every day. I hope and pray that these incoming candidates will be true to their faith as well as to our country.
On my email from Gov Huckabee came the following note - have we ever seen a Catholic politician state the same?
Over the course of my life - from my first endeavor as a broadcaster, my time as a pastor, a Lt. Governor and for the 10 and half years I served as a Governor - I have encountered almost every socio-economic issue facing America today. Here are a few things I know to be true:
I know life begins at conception;
I know our economy grows and adds jobs when we have less government and lower taxes;
I know social issues are inextricably linked to economic successes;
I know traditional marriage isn’t just a conservative principle it’s a fundamental building block for our nation;
I know real border security isn’t just securing our borders, it’s enforcing existing laws on employers;
and I know a free nation is one that can feed itself, fuel itself and fight for itself.
Speaker of the House: 0% ——> 100%. Not a bad year. :)
To my brother Knights. I wonder how many of our brother Knights are members of this congress. To those brothers who voted 100% prolife, e-mail them, to thank them. To those brothers who voted less than 100% pro-life, e-mail, call, or write them to voice your disgust at calling themselves Knights of Columbus and having such a record.
How could all those war mongering, pro-capital punishment, homophobic, racist supporters of the wealthy be so supportive of the unborn while those caring for thy neighbor even if they are here illegally, helping the poor and the little guy, opposed to capital punishment, support soaking it to the rich be so opposed to the unborn? Something is wrong my understanding of human nature and politics.
These people that call themselves Catholic and then vote this way (pro-murder) are the perfect example of “identity theft”
Why is it that not a single Catholic Democrat is pro-life? What is it about the Democratic mindset and value system that precludes them from recognizing the inherent dignity of every human being from conception to natural death? The Bishops as pastors will be held to account for not holding these Catholic politicians’ feet to the fire. I would hate to be in their shoes when they’re called to account for their failures. Pray for our Bishops and the politicians who defy God’s laws while compromising with the World. I think we, as the Church, should begin by instituting a national season of fasting and penance, mandatorily imposed on all the faithful in the US, to atone for our complicity in these terrible crimes and to plead for the conversion of our pro-death lawmakers.
From “good catholic” Democrats, O Lord deliver us.
They can CALL themselves “Catholic” but they are not. You can’t pick and chose what to follow in the Catholic faith. It is what it is. It is not up for THEIR interpretations of God’s laws. They should all be excommunicated.
Disturbing to say the least. More disturbing is the reluctance of the American Bishops (and clergy) to address the problem. As your list reveals most Catholic politicians serving in the U. S. Congress are some of the most staunchly pro-life people on Capital Hill. Maybe now that we have a traditionalist heading the USCCB maybe the American Bishops will address the problem, but IMO they will certainly stop short of denying Communion to anyone. IMO the clerty just do not want to stir the pot, they want unity AT ALL COST. Even while babies are slaughtered at a record pace.
It’s discouraging to see so many pro-choice Catholics in powerful leadership positons in this country. Most disturbing, this poison extends even down to the parish level. I tried to discuss the problem of pro-choice and pro-birthcontrol Catholics in leadership ministry positions in my parish and I was met with a stony silience. For the Church is America the evils of “the pill” and abortion is a non-issue. Who needs the devil when we have the World and the Flesh are doing his work for him. I feel like a voice crying in the desert.
People who said to be Catholic and are contrary to the teachings of God Almighty are not Catholics AT ALL! He/she must be walking with the “religious title” from parents and grandparents who were probably true Catholic. Following the line of faith in name only is not valid - they need to get to the true roots of what means to be a 100% Catholic. Otherwise they will go on life with their ignorant murky smiles of grandiosity feeling elevated with their job’s title, but having NO IDEA what will be the most TREMBLING and FEAREST UPCOM final hours when their souls leave their body at the hour of Death. I pray for their ignorance to be illuminated, and may they find the truth before JUDGEMENT DAY for they don’t know what they will see and hear upon facing GOD ALMIGHTY, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA AND THE I AM. “Don’t look glory or rewards in life, but prepare for eternal life, one with God, or one in ETERNAL DAMNATION. Humanity has too many confusing ideas, too many personal concepts, variety of viewpoints and diverse philosophies that confuse the hearts and minds of others more and more. Follow God’s teachings, He was not, is not, and never will be confused – He has one truth, one love, one mercy and one word! Choose only one of them for there is nothing in between!
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/deacon_hailed_for_blasting_proabortion_politician_at_mass/
Read and weep, God bless Tom Mcdonnell. A deacon speaks out about Brian Higgins support for abortion and he is admonished by his pastor and the local Bishop.
to those alleged catholic politicians who are pro abortion, I say, what profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul.
It would seem that many of our legislators in both houses has forgottten the church’s view on abortion. This is a sad statement on our society.
Hello….all those who are catholic and support abortion are NOT catholic
GOD makes no exception…..one of the commandments thou shalt not kill means NO ABORTION…..ever…..so if you are catholic vote against abortion including the new health bill part….
I can only say that if we pray and fast for them we can change some minds.
If you look back on history, when the most evil occurred it was because of bad Catholics. St. Bernadette said she feared bad Catholics more than anything else. Look at King Henry VIII, the many Catholics who did nothing to stop Hitler during his terror.
What is more sad, is that Catholics abort and contracept like the rest of society. If there was no market for abortion, they would all close down.
Wasn’t it 54% Catholics who voted the most liberal abortion president in history to take office?
“It would seem that many of our legislators in both houses has forgotten the church’s view on abortion. This is a sad statement on our society.” Leonard Goodboe
It is worst than that, Leonard, it’s a sad statement on our Church and its leadership. Most Protestant churches do a far better job of spiritually teaching about life - and their congregations reflect that in their decisions on who to support in federal and state elections. But Catholics, thanks to Chicago’s Cardinal Bernardin and the entire conference of Catholic bishops, were allowed to pick and choose which so-called “prolife” issues they wanted to support when it came to political parties and elections. This was permitted when the U.S. bishops added “social justice” issues to the definition of prolife (which up to that time meant only one thing - being against abortion) back in the mid 1980s. In so doing the bishops smeared, by innuendo, the only political party with a plank supporting prolife.
To so many Catholics, including the clergy, being a Democrat is far more important than what they profess to believe and pray for in Church every Sunday when they recite their Profession of Faith after the Gospel and Homily, and pray the Lord’s Prayer standing before the Holy Eucharist. It certainly seems like a lot of church attending Catholics believe it is God’s will to create life so that some of the people can decide which of those lives are to be allowed to continue.
To Cradle Catholic….“To be ignorant of scripture, is to ignorant of Jesus.”
Tune in and tune out…
Tune in to EWTN radio and TV….tune out of secular media. Read the bible daily, but look to the Magisterium for interpretation. Read the Catechism too.
Preach the gospel always…and when necessary…use words.
Do not let a misguided Catholic advance improper teachings…..Pray for and encourage our priests to speak out from the pulpet those things that are silenced….Report priests that intentionally waterdown Church doctrine to suit their political views. Do not give to organizations that get in bed with evil.
Don’t wear or promote pink ribbon promotions. We have a long journey….the first steps begin with you….look around the pews…do you see people chewing gum…..do you think they are solid in the teachings about the Real Presence???? Start the conversation in your parish
Thoughts and Prayers
Dennis in San Antonio
I still think that trying to pass a bill that would require Planned Parenthood to post a warning label on it’s doors would highlight the link between abortion and breast cancer,... that keeps getting silenced. It is a win/win….the subject would be open for debate, thus many would be educated on an issue that is not very well known.
It might also shine the light more brightly on the Susan G. Koman breast cancer sham…that gives money to Planned Parenthood…..Thus they both keep each other in business.
I’m not Catholic. So if I’ve read correctly, the only issues that our government is dealing with that Catholic teaching requires adherence to is abortion and birth control? Is there anything else you all are taught? Aren’t there any other issues you think will make this a better nation?
The devil himself can profess and vote pro-life, but really what does that do. You can’t legislate someone’s heart. That takes love. Preventing abortion starts way before someone is pregnant. What have you all done to change the nation’s heart? What service have you done to touch the heart’s of those you call murderers? I don’t know what you are taught as Catholics, but as individuals you can show the teachings of Christ and change people’s hearts. That’s when abortion will come to an end, not legislatively.
I’m not Cathloic, so as peggy suggested maybe prayer and fasting will stop it. I say prayer and service will change peoples hearts and mind.
To Dennis J. Dixon - On another blog, a writer indicated she had to ‘fight’ to get information for her RCIA class that was Pre-Vatican II, making it sound as if that Vatican council was NOT Holy Spirit-inspired.
Our Church is like a game of Simon Says, and I know it is not a good idea to “Read the bible daily, but look to the Magisterium for interpretation”,
as you suggest.
We must read the Bible daily, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into Truth. Truth is truth. Not my truth or your truth, or someone else’s truth. But God’s Truth, and that does not change.
The Magesterium changes - the Church Fathers disagreed with each other.
I heard something recently, where a Hindu man asked a Christian, “How come Hindus have 2 million gods, and yet, we can go to any temple and worship in unity, but you Christians, with ONE God, are always fighting with each other, and the denominations are never in unity about anything?”
We must keep the Main Thing the Main Thing = and that is to understand the Gospel, and to be able to preach and teach The Good News to others. Christians need to get on the same page, honoring Jesus’ prayer, which was for Christian UNITY.
Let’s all focus on the Creed - and on the Good News, the Great Commmission. That alone would filter out the “Catholics” that are not even holding to basic Judeo Christian doctrines, from the rest of us that are holding firm to God’s Truths - “conservative” by societies standards.
The bishops can tag along with us, or cut bait. Too many of them own shepherds staffs, but it’s only an accessory for them.
ceecee, abortion was controlled by legislation up until the U.S Supreme Court overturned all state laws regulating that medical procedure. Since then, primarily Democrat elected U.S. Senators have worked feverishly to prevent any justices appointed to the Supreme Court who may vote to overturn the court’s Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. The absences of “prayer and service” didn’t give us Roe v Wade; what did was the political positions of misguided justices on the court. All the “Prayer and fasting” that has gone on hasn’t change people’s hearts the past 37 years since that decision because the U.S. Bishops, thanks to Cardinal Bernardin, made abortion a political issue, one of many, instead of the primary spiritual issue it is. As a result, half the Catholics side with all those other issues you seem to imply are as important to our nation, or more so, than the murder of innocent human babies. Prayer, fasting, and service are important, but it is going to take action on the part of people in the electoral process to save the unborn. And that is what is missing in the U.S. Catholic Church…spiritual teaching and action.
ceecee, conversion of heart is at the crux of what the Pope is emphasizing now: applying that to the sticky situation of many “Christians” in this country (I use quotes for the Pelosis et al. who are only nominally what they say they are) if the tough task at hand. Changing things from the “bottom up” - i.e., from the culture into Washington’s very policy making - takes a lot of time. Winning hearts is key, and I think there are a lot of people trying hard to do that. Abortion is a symptom of the problem of a much deeper root we have to dig up called “do whatever you want-ism”, moral relativism, hedonism, whatever you want to call it!
ceecee, you are perfectly right on: pro-life is not a mere plank of a platform. Paraphrasing the words God says through Moses (I belieive in Deuteronomy): choose life or death, based on eternal values of how things really are, how we really are in our Creator’s eyes. Man is made for life, eternal life, and that has consequences on how we live and decide here and now (just as a diet is part of losing weight at getting at a healthy fitness). The highway to heaven or, well, the other direction, is at the base of these issues at the end of the day.
I would like to thank the webmaster of this site for his comments. They were very inciteful as well as gave points to ponder. Although I was Baptised Catholic at 14 I left the church. I wandered for 35 years going in and out of differant Protestant churches Baptist, Assembly OF God etc.. However last March my life turned to such a point that suicide and murder were my chief goals. As I struggled through this Depression, Anxiety as well as PTSD, I kept hearing a voice saying go home. It was difficult to know what this voice (I call it a voice but was actually a constant Mental thought) meant by home. In August I finally figured it out it was a call to return to the Catholic faith. In September I began RCIA and my whole family is now back in the Catholic Church as well as praying together nightly. If you have ever considered murder with such strength that you buy the weapon and the ammo to do it you reealize just how deep you are. I have since found peace in the church and have forgiven all that attacked me. Even going as far as offering my indulgences to one of them that died of a massive heart attack recently. Although I can never return to my job where this began (PTSD) I have forgave them and since found forgiveness for myself. My life was in ruins and I wanted to take a human life. I expect to get jumped by some people for the mention of indulgences etc.. but my point is I found the value of life for my self and others. Abortion no matter how you justify it is the taking of a life. I strongly believe that Social Justice is also important but there are canidates out there who believe in this platform. Perhaps we need more Catholic canidates who support both issues Social Justice as well as anti-abortion this would allow the message to get out clearly and perhaps if enough step up we can get the wordout and show the true face of the Holy Roman Catholic Church instead as those who try to run it down and their media allies. I pray for those who attack the church created in 136 AD thinking we have it wrong. And the media that attacks what it hates with all fury (the truth) The issue of life is not negotiable as are the issues of social justice. We need to step up and despite the hate and attacks change the moral and poitical face of this nation. Because I feel that killing 1,000,000 lives in this country a year we can not for much later use the term One nation under God. At some point we may become so wicked he will turn away.
To Leonard: God is so good to have called you and your family home! It’s wonderful that you listened to His healthy prompting and that you and your family now pray together every day too.
People I know have found reading the Psalms in the Bible is comforting. So many of the Psalms were written by King David, who was being unfairly persecuted at the time.
Reading these Psalms has helped them with PTSD, as well as being in a safe support group, where others understood what that condition is like.
So God bless you and your family, & congratulations on your ability to forgive as Jesus taught all of us, “..forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.”
As for God and the United States- He is merciful! When all of us worship each Sunday, in the Prayers of the Faithful, it is an opportunity to pray for God-honoring leaders, that will create God-honoring laws.
To Catholic Cradle: John 6, Christ Himself said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will have no life in you.” Many walked away and said it was too much to bear. Christ asked Peter if he was going to walk away. He said You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. It was at this moment when Christ said, You are Peter and Upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail. (Matthew 13) He also said what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This is scripture and Christ’s words. The Catholic Church was founded by Christ Himself
Even if they make abortions illegally, abortions will still happen. Heroin, cocaine and marijuana are illegally and people still partake in it. Just like drugs, abortions are a symptom of a bigger problem that can not be solved by laws. After years of a pro-life president, I don’t understand why most of you think it’s made a difference. I don’t have all the answers, but I can see what’s not working. It’s sad that we still want the government to solve all our problems…hate to tell you this, but its not going to happen.
In responce to a earlier post. Yes we had 8 years of a pro-life President. However it must be understood that Congress makes the Laws and the Senate as well. I can agree however that you are right. Welive in a time now where the society of the United States is “selfish” or it looks out for number one. Don’t want a baby murder it. Tp hard to take care of Mom and Dad stick them away in a nursing home or Euthenasia. Far too many really only care about their own lives and to heck with everybody else. So I can agree with you that it is not going to happen. But I am sure if you saw somebody preparing to commit murder you would try to save the life of the victim. So hopeless or not we continue to try to save lives and educate people as to the real effects (both mental and physical) of the practice of abortion. If just one listens that is a life saved. I personally cannot put the price on a life be it one or one million.
ceecee, you must have missed my comments to you earlier since you subsequently said, “After years of a pro-life president, I don’t understand why most of you think it’s made a difference.”
Here is what I said previously; “ceecee, abortion was controlled by legislation up until the U.S Supreme Court overturned all state laws regulating that medical procedure. Since then, primarily Democrat elected U.S. Senators have worked feverishly to prevent any justices appointed to the Supreme Court who may vote to overturn the court’s Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.” Republican presidents have been able to keep pro-life balanced on the Supreme Court and prevented a complete pro-abortion take over of the court by Democrat presidents and the U.S. Senate. If the make up of the court stays the same for the next two years and a prolife Republican can be elected president, and the Republicans become the majority in the U.S. Senate, then we are in a position to possibly have a prolife majority appointed to the Court after 2012. When that happens, Row v. Wade will be reversed.
As for abortions continuing, Roe v. Wade opened the flood gates to abortion resulting in millions of babies being murdered every year. If it’s legal, it is done. It is done far less if it is illegal. That is what we are wanting to bring about. After that, then your “prayers and service” to make a kinder nation will be able to deal with the issue in a more manageable and successful way because the nations moral position on abortion has been reestablished.
stilbelieve, I read your comments and sorry I have to disagree. The government can not fix our problems because the government wants separation of church and state. You can’t govern morality. You can’t cure a disease unless you address and fix what’s causing it. Otherwise the illness will continue to rear its ugly head. People don’t get abortions because it’s legal, they get them because as someone has stated early its all about them. People have failed to put Jesus first, others second (unborn child) and themselves last.
You must have missed my comments about illegal drugs. If it’s illegal, it will just be more expensive. It will not stop people from being selfish, practicing pre-martial sex, being raped or using abortions as birth control. I can almost guarantee you will be able to still talk to your doctor and have the situation “taken care of”. I’m sure they will still be a large number of doctors willing to perform these procedures for a nice sum of money. If not people will “take care of it” on their own via research on the internet. You just won’t know about it because it will no longer be recorded and documented by the CDC. How do you know that fewer abortions were done prior to Roe vs Wade? You don’t, your assuming because there is no data to support that claim.
I know as Catholics this is what you are taught, so there really isn’t any reason to keep discussing it. I hope I’m wrong, I pray that once there is a prolife majority in the Supreme Court and Senate that everyone will return back to Christian principles and start putting Jesus first.
ceecee, thanks for your reply. Below are the statistics on legal abortions from 1965-1992. I think only New York had changed the law and legalized abortions by 1966 or ‘67 . I think California legalized it under more liberal circumstances in ‘68. Notice how the numbers of legal abortions increased as the state laws were relaxed concerning them. As for illegal abortions, I’ll have to do a little more research, but no matter because the numbers are going to be minuscule compared to what happened when the flood gates were opened with states liberalizing the medical circumstances for abortion, culminating with Roe v Wade in ‘73.
There is a big difference in peoples’ minds between taking dope and murdering their baby. The two are not comparable on the human’s morality scale. Laws restrain people, but that doesn’t mean some people won’t break them. But a lot fewer abortions will be performed after the Supreme Court overturns their ‘73 ruling, and state legislatures return to having the authority to regulate this medical procedure, assuming they make them illegal. Just think of the legalization issue in this way: if murder were to be decriminalized, a lot more people would be murdered. Morality and law refrain the decent people.
Here’s the link. http://www.ewtn.com/library/PROLENC/ENCYCO87.HTM
That will bring you to a chapter in a book that if you scrole down will lead you to a table with the date of legal abortions performed from 1965 to ‘92. If that doesn’t work just google Legalabortions1965 and you’ll be able to find such data.
As for me, I obtained my prolife position not by what the Church taught, for I had been away from the Church for years, but by having a year of embryology, including lab work, in college which enabled me to know first hand when life begins. When the Supreme Court conditioned their majority position by saying that they “didn’t know when life begins,” I knew their position was in error and immoral. Furthermore, if they didn’t know when life begins, then why was Congress giving Planned Parenthood millions of taxpayer dollars a year to pass out rubber devices that when used prevented that moment from happening?
FIGURE 87-1
UNITED STATES LEGAL ABORTION STATISTICS, 1965-1992
[A medium text size on your computer’s ‘view’ setting is recommended, otherwise, the tables may be discombobulated.] ceecee, as you can see the numbers are “discombobulated,” but you can still read the Legal Abortions column next to the year column on the left. Sorry, I wasn’t able to unscramble them. The % under the calendar year is the % of females out of 1,000 females 15-44 years of age that had abortions for that year.
Abortions Per Year
Legal [Legal Abortion Percentages*] 1,000 Women
Year Abortions All White Minority Aged 15 to 44
1965 7,000 0.2% 0.2% 0.2
1966 9,500 0.3 0.2
1967 13,700 0.4% 0.3
1968 18,000 0.6% 0.4
1969 73,000 1.8% 1.5
1970 193,500 4.0% 3.4% 3.9
1971 485,800 10.8% 7.1% 20.1% 8.0
1972 586,800 13.5% 9.4% 22.0% 13.2
1973 744,600 15.3% 11.9% 27.9% 16.7
1974 898,600 18.0% 14.4% 33.7% 19.1
1975 1,034,200 23.9% 16.6% 38.8% 21.7
1976 1,179,300 26.5% 18.9% 44.3% 24.2
1977 1,316,700 28.6% 20.9% 49.0% 26.4
1978 1,409,400 29.2% 22.6% 52.9% 27.7
1979 1,497,700 29.6% 24.0% 56.2% 28.8
1980 1,553,900 30.0% 24.4% 55.6% 29.3
1981 1,577,300 30.0% 24.4% 55.9% 29.3
1982 1,573,900 30.0% 23.8% 55.5% 28.8
1983 1,575,000 30.4% 23.4% 55.5% 28.5
1984 1,577,200 29.7% 23.1% 55.8% 28.1
1985 1,588,100 29.8% 22.7% 57.7% 28.0
1986 1,475,000 27.9% 22.5% 57.0% 27.2
1987 1,510,000 29.1% 22.8% 58.5% 27.6
1988 1,540,000 29.4% 23.5% 59.6% 28.1
1989 1,520,000 29.9% 22.4% 57.8% 27.9
1990 1,535,000 28.9% 22.7% 57.9% 27.8
1991 1,545,000 28.8% 22.6% 58.5% 27.6
1992 1,540,000 28.5% 23.3% 59.1% 27.4
28 YRS 29,578,200 26.1% 23.3% 56.6% 25. 6
NOTE: * = Percentage of all pregnancies ending in abortion.
References: United States Bureau of Commerce, Department of the Census. National Data Book and Guide to Sources, Statistical Abstract of the United States. 1990, 110th edition. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. Table 101, “Legal Abortions, By Selected Characteristics: 1973 to 1985.” Also: annual statistics from the Centers for Disease Control Abortion Surveillance Unit and the Alan Guttmacher Institute in the Alan Guttmacher Institute’s Family Planning Perspectives.
Re abortion: it’s not moral, but it is legal. Blasphemy is legal, but immoral, but is protected by the 1st Amendment - freedom of speech includes legal freedom to blaspheme. Given Roe v. Wade etc. and politicians sworn to uphold the Constitution, that disctinction matters.
If, when voting, my choices are someone who SAYS he’s anti-abortion but has no interest in amending the Constitution and who will merely vote for unconstitutional laws that will be struck down anyway, and another candidate who says he’s “pro-choice” but in other respects makes choices that may reduce economic incentives for women to have abortions (e.g. supports expanded free or subsidized maternal healthcare, daycare, etc.), who is the more moral choice that if elected will likely result in fewer abortions?
In a similar vein, when a Catholic school fires an unmarried teacher who becomes pregnant, the implicit message sent to other women (and students) is, if you (contrary to moral teaching) get pregnant, you’re better off economically to get a secret (and legal) abortion and keep your job; otherwise, get fired. I’m sure the message got through to the students that contrary to the school’s moral teachings, if a student got pregnant it would be a lot easier for her and everyone else if she just got an abortion without telling anyone - how is that supporting an ethic of life? I’m thinking of a NY case from a few years ago.
If a politician wants to introduce a Constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade and following cases, that is legitimate. If a politician wants to pass unconstitutional laws that will be struck down to appease voters, that is wrong and deceitful.
If a Senator genuinely thinks as a matter of U.S. Constitutional law that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and thinks a good legal mind should think likewise and chooses how to vote on justices on that basis, that’s legitimate. If a Senator hasn’t even read the case and doesn’t care if it was legally (Constitutionally) correct, aside from the morality, and wants to appoint judges willing to overturn Roe v. Wade, that is wrong and contrary to the oath to support the Constitution.
David, read the XIV Amendment to the Constitution. What does one have to be to be a citizen? And if one is “that,” what is the state prohibited from doing? Also read the first sentance of the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.
The majority wrote in their Roe v. Wade decision that they don’t know when life begins. They were either stupid or were lying because it’s a matter of well known science, even then. If we don’t know when life begins, why has Congress been giving hundreds of millions of tax dollars to Planned Parenthood for years to pass out rubber devices to be used to keep that moment from happening?
Abortion is unconstitutional. The only reason it is still allowed is because of Democrat legislators. They are the ones responsible for the murder of over 50,000,000 lives created by God according to Christians. Oh yeah, and the only other people responsible for the murders of babies, are the people who vote to elect Democrats to federal and state offices, the largest, single voting block for Democrats being - Catholics.
You guys have got it all wrong.
At birth, God endows man with a soul and a spirit.
Before that time, whatever is in the woman, as a fetal mass, is only a possibility, a human possibility to be sure, but no more than an egg is to a chicken is that fetal mass human.
So, how, my dear friends, has your theology taken a wrong turn and become corrupted, in an idolatry of the flesh, the flesh of the unborn?
Conception? You have no concept of mankind.
@JewBoyDL - The child is ensouled at conception, not birth, and that soul will live forever even though the body will die. The soul and body will be reunited on judgement day and live eternally with God or suffer in Hell. At conception, everything you brought into the world as a naked person was with you at the very second of your beginning…the color of your eyes, the shape of your nose, the size of your feet, the color of your skin. Nothing was added to you during that time other than nurishment, warmth and protection. There was no way you could have been anything other than a human.
There is one other thing. At the moment of your conception, three different cellular entities are present that will manufacture your human body which is made up of ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Those three celular entities make every item in your body. You know what? For a number of hours after your conception, embryologist can not find any of those three cells in mass of cells that were you. Yet, three seperate cells existed from your very begin from which your whole body was built. At some point, each of those celular bodies become fixed and only they are able to produce the cells that continue to form the rest of the body parts they are designed to build. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” God is triune, three in one. Your life began at conception with three different celular structures that were one in appearance; science has not been able to discover; i.e., see those three different cells, in the mass of cells from which your life began.
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