Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston is the new chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities.
In 2012, Cardinal O’Malley helped to lead a successful campaign to defeat physician-assisted suicide in Massachusetts, a key pro-life victory.
During a Dec. 22 interview with Register senior editor Joan Frawley Desmond, Cardinal O’Malley recalls his own early efforts to respond to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade, assesses the tactics of abortion-rights activists during the 2012 campaign season and outlines some of his plans for 2013.
Where were you when the Supreme Court handed down the decision in Roe v. Wade?
I was a young priest working with Hispanic immigrants in Washington, D.C. Later on, after the ruling, I heard that Nellie Gray wanted to start the March for Life, and I contacted her and worked with her.
She was a real prophet: The Church was stunned, and people didn’t know how to react. But she knew immediately that we needed to mobilize and use the anniversary of that terrible decision as a way to rally people.
I was determined to get people from my Hispanic parish to the first march [in 1974] and gave impassioned sermons on the pro-life issue, reminding them that the anniversary was coming soon, and they promised to come.
The morning of the march, there was a line of rented buses at the church, but no people. In my naive youthfulness, I did not realize that "Si, padre" did not mean "Yes." The following week, I told the people how disappointed I was.
After Mass, they told me, "You know we are undocumented. And in our own countries, whenever there is a demonstration, the army comes out and arrests and shoots people. We are here to send money home to our families who live in Nicaragua and El Salvador, where civil wars are raging. We cannot afford to do this."
I told them that the army would not shoot at them and that the march would be a peaceful demonstration. That is what we do in a democracy where we need to witness to certain values.
A majority of Americans now identify themselves as pro-life. Yet several explosive controversies that erupted over the past year, beginning with the Susan B. Komen Foundation’s decision to end its grants to Planned Parenthood — a decision the foundation subsequently retracted — seemed to contradict that view. What’s going on?
The abortion proponents are getting worried and have a lot of resources. But I am convinced that Americans are becoming more pro-life.
Robert Putnam’s book, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, a sociological study of religion in America, shows that younger Americans are increasingly pro-life. And in CCD classes, there used to be more pushback, but today there is more acceptance of Church teaching and a recognition of abortion’s destructive impact.
But if most Americans embrace pro-life values, why didn’t we do a better job of countering the aggressive partisan attacks against the Komen Foundation? What don’t we effectively resist attacks against pro-life political candidates?
Intimidation of pro-life efforts still happens. However, I am encouraged by what the Catholic Voices initiative is doing to help train Catholics to explain the Church’s thinking on difficult issues and break through the political correctness that often prevents productive conservations on life issues or the marriage debate.
Intimidation works when people don’t have the tools to have a rational conversation. You object to "gay marriage" — and you are demonized as homophobic and intent on persecuting [people with same-sex attraction]. Catholic Voices is trying to prepare ordinary people to be spokespersons around these issues and to do it in such a way that you draw an audience.
As the chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, what are your goals for 2013?
The conscience issues that involve pro-life values are very important.
There is so much religious illiteracy. We need to help people understand Church teaching and the difference between defending human life and imposing our religion on the rest of the country.
Many Americans say that the Church must stay out of politics. We need to help our people to distinguish between our theological position and natural law [precepts] that redound to the common good and apply to everyone, regardless of whether they are religious or not. That is the educational challenge before us.
We continue to look for opportunities to advance restrictions on abortion. Very few states ban gender selection as a reason for abortion. We need to work on that: Just as partial-birth abortion invites people to deal with the full reality of abortion, raising concerns about gender-selection abortions can help break through public denial.
College pro-life groups generally do not go beyond life issues to address the debate on legalizing same-sex "marriage." Short term, perhaps that strategy makes sense, as like-minded students might be turned off by opposition to "marriage equality." But shouldn’t we help the young move toward a more integrated vision of human flourishing?
The marriage issue is much more difficult, and it is very worrisome. Every year I read the "State of Our Unions" from Rutgers’ National Marriage Project.
Today, people see nothing wrong with cohabitation. The majority of high-school seniors said they wouldn’t think of marrying someone who would not agree to cohabitate first.
Last year, more Americans said they would find (more) satisfaction in not having children then in having them.
While the American Grace study offers a hopeful portrait of young people’s views on life issues, their attitude toward marriage is moving farther away from the Church’s position.
The bishops’ conference is trying to deal with this, and, at our last meeting, Archbishop [Salvatore] Cordileone [of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and the Defense of Marriage] showed us a video prepared in Spanish that used a telenovela format to teach people about marriage. The other side is telling stories, and we are issuing documents that no one is reading. We need to communicate the faith in a way that will reach people.
At some point, our teachings on marriage have to be integrated into the pro-life message. Marriage is the sanctuary of life, and if we don’t have marriage, then abortion and other related moral problems will be exaggerated.
As I said before, our catechists need to present the truth about marriage in a way that is not belligerent or bombastic.
To help thoughtful people reconsider their views, we need to show that the Catholic position on a variety of topics, including contraception, is not stupid.
We have to bring a prayerful dimension to everything we do, realizing that it’s not about crushing the enemy, but reaching out to people and inviting them to become a part of our family.
I think of Dr. [Bernard] Nathanson, who once presided over the largest abortion clinic in the nation, and his very dramatic conversion. He became an important exponent of the gospel of life. Somewhere along the line, believers reached out to him and gave him an opening to change.
Sometimes we push people farther into their position by our harshness and anger. I understand the anger over the injustice. But it’s love that is going to help convert hearts. We need to change the laws, but if we change the laws without changing hearts, the laws will change back very quickly.
2012 has been a tough year for Catholic pro-lifers, who witnessed the defeat of some pro-life candidates and now fear that the Affordable Care Act will be used to require taxpayer-funded elective abortions. What gives you hope?
There are signs of hope, and I see it in our young people and in the clear teaching of the Holy Father.
World Youth Day is a great way for young people to connect deeply with the Church, as is the March for Life, where thousands of young people, perhaps for the first time in their lives, feel that they are a part of something bigger than themselves and see that they have a mission to witness to Gospel values.
We have a lot to learn and a lot to do.
At the "Ecclesia in America" meeting in Rome this December, I proposed that we try to work with other countries in the hemisphere and reach out to Catholics in political life and also encourage Catholics to go into political life with a sense of mission. I think of New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith. He is an apostle of life, and we need more leaders like him.
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If Cardinal O’Malley is so concerned about the unborn why did he allow Ted Kennedy{a major abortion advocate} a Catholic funeral?
Cardinal O’Malley and all Bishops and priests can effectively communicate to the faithful from the PULPIT. All the priests need to do is “Say Something” about abortion and marriage. Right now, we hear zip nada.
Please ask the good cardinal why jack Connors, a multimillionaire supporter of Obama who this past spring hosted an $18000 a plate fundraiser for Barack at his own home, is allowed to serve as the chair of the archdiocese finance council.
Please ask him to reflect on the irony of a man who supports a pro abortion, pro same sex marriage candidate, raises tens of thousands of dollars to help him win..also raises money for the catholic school initiative in Boston?
Vance: Be careful not to over-generalize. “Zip nada”? Maybe in your parish, but not mine.
This Cardinal caused great scandal by publicly honoring a man who did more than any other “Catholic” to promote abortion, Ted Kennedy. Cardinal O’Malley is hardly a spokesman for pro life. He is mereley another, typical “Catholic” bishop who is no more than a spineless, politician who is terrified of the media and wants to be liked by everybody (except of course Catholics faithful to the Faith). Let’s just take Ted Kennedy’s funeral as an example. Not only did he honor a man who never expressed regret for the public scandal he caused. O’Malley also allowed the most pro abortion president in history to give a eulogy (which by the way is forbidden in the Roman Rite, so I guess he breaks liturgical law as easily as he disregards Canon Law; his ignoring liturgical norms is the height of clericalism)during a Catholic Mass. Not only is O’Malley not fit to represent pro life he is unfit to be bishop.
Can we acknowledge that Ted Kennedy is dead and gone? Yet, the pro-life issue remains. How do we move forward on this multi-faceted, all important issue and stop spinning our wheels looking in the rear-view mirror? The Cardinal IS the Cardinal, and he’s stepping up to address these concerns. What will help more, vilification or support for the effort?
Can we acknowledge that no politician did more to promote abortion in America than teddy? We can move forward by our cardinal forcing jack Connors off the archdiocese finance council and enforces the archdiocese code of conduct which states ” Church personnel will conduct themselves in a manner That is consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church”. We can move forward when Our cardinal pledges to take a Public stand for his pro-life principles the next time he has an opportunity such as Ted Kennedy’s funeral.
We can move forward what are cardinal pledges to stop taking bloodmoney from Obama Catholics Regardless of How many thousands they give or millions they can raise or their baptism or their claims to be Catholic.
What will help more than vilification or looking in the rearview mirror is consistent strong leadership, something archdiocese has lacked for years With Cardinal Sean “Neville Chamberlain” O’Malley.
Not only the teachings of the Church but also the true “reasons” for these teachings are included in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”
- see the footnotes as well.
Cardinals/Bishops must understand that due to lousy catechesis for adults - that they can do at home (such as reading the CCC), people do not know their Faith as completely and accurately as they must. And many Bishops do not actively promote reading of the CCC.
NJ Congressman Chris Smith has been a faithful and good servant. But what are the Bishops doing about “Catholic” politicians who are obstinent in grave and public sin? What about Canon 915, and Canon 1399? And what about 1 Cor 5:11-13 ?
The Bishops could slow relativism, heresy, scandal and confusion within the Church by publically excommunicating ab homine those who profess to be “Catholic” yet publically support grave sin.
- - - - - CCC: “2286 Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion.
Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice,
or to social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible.
This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger, or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.”
US Bishops need to do their job handling the mortal sin of GRAVE SCANDAL within the USA, before they reach out to other Countries. Please do your own jobs within your own Diocese before telling other Bishops what to do.
Everyone of us, including every member of the clergy, will answer to GOD on our individual Judgement Day. It is absolute and irrefutable truth. There will be no spin, cloud, excuse or rationale other than TRUTH.
So dear readers, ask yourself “Are you ready to meet your Creator for Judgement?”.
In the business world we call some executives “empty suits”. How about “empty collar”. I am tired of Church leaders who do not lead which is the case for most of them. The job is not a position of entitlement. What effect did he have on the Life Effort when he honored Ted Kennedy, an empty of life? “More is given the more is expected” Judgement day will be a terrible day indeed.
The latest feel good interview and political appointment of a “lion with no teeth but a mousey roar” courtesy of our favorite “do nothing but make a speech” organization…the USCCB. The Kennedy Funeral Extravaganza put on and allowed by the good Cardinal did three things. (1) Completely scandalized the faithful and the Church; (2)Forever destroyed the credibility of the Cardinal; (3)Made clear that the RCC in the USA will put political expediency ahead of Truth..90%+ of the time. He seems to be just another hot air bloviater from the home of THE King of Bloviation…Ted Kennedy. The major difference is he wears a red beanie and a Roman collar. A real shepherd to follow….backwords. Boston is ground zero for “sophisticated” liberalism and hardball gutter politics (Chris Matthews anyone?) The good Cardinal has helped lead the charge..backwards for the ADOB. It’s now down to about 135 parishes from over 400+ in the last 20 years with no end in sight. How about those “gay” Masses that the Cardinal continues to allow in the ADOB? Give us a break, Please. If we didn’t know better we would think this was another of those funny “practical jokes” being played on the silly faithful Catholics by the USCCB….You know, like the CCHD! Being a faithful Catholic has always been difficult but it’s even harder with the confusion created by Bishops like O’Malley. They are just infuriating. Kinda of like John Wayne’s quote of: “Life is hard but it’s even harder if your stupid” There is really a lot of truth and wisdom in that. Unfortunately, we have been witnessing and living through it’s equivalent in the Church for the last 45+ years (with a few exceptions). It’s never about the message. It’s always about the Lord’s messengers. God Help Us. Pray for the Bishops
I live in the Archdiocese of Boston. Practically EVERY Catholic politician here is Massachusetts is pro-abortion and pro-homosexual marriage.
And yet Cardinal O’Malley refuses to enforce Canon 915 and deny Holy Communion to these individuals who are promoting abortion and homosexual marriage.
Posted by Fr. Thomas Kocik on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2013 10:28 AM (EDT):
Vance: Be careful not to over-generalize. “Zip nada”? Maybe in your parish, but not mine.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/cardinal-omalley-reflects-on-life-efforts/#ixzz2K9WkQFcw
I wish that I belonged to your parish then, because zip nada certainly describes most realistically the three parishes I have belonged to in the last 10 years.
Really, the Cardinal is pro life? Didn’t he honor Ted Kennedy with a huge public funeral. He honored a man who did more than any other person to promote killing babies than anyone in this country. What a joke. All these bishops are a waste because they refuse to stand up for the faith. And it’s insulting to hear bishops like O’Malley and Dolan rationalize their actions and think that we are to stupid to realize what they are doing.
As a Catholic living in the Archdiocese of Boston, I too can attest to the fact that every Catholic politician in Massachusetts is pro-abortion and pro-homosexual marriage. With the exception of Stephen Lynch, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate to run for the recently vacated seat of pro-abortion John Kerry. Stephen Lynch, in my opinion, can forget that idea he would never be elected from this state if he holds any moral principles. That’s just the way it is in Massachusetts. Furthermore, you can forget calling the chancellery here in Boston, all that gets you is a run around then they simply say thank you and hang up. I have complained about the Kennedy funeral and several other issues concerning the immorality of abortion and homosexual marriage, all I can say is don’t waste your time here in Boston. What I can say is that if you are a faithful Catholic, who believes in the teaching of the faith, your on your own. You can go to Mass on a regular basis,and for the most part, never get more than syrupy drivel week after week from the pulpit. That would account for all the Obama and Elizabeth Warren bumper sticker found in the church parking lot here in Massachusetts.
Excellent homilies attached by a Catholic priest who is not afraid to speak the truth from the pulpit.
God bless our One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.Please continue to guide Her bless Her and protect Her from all harm .Help the faithful to be loving and BOLD in faith.( Bravely Offering Love & Direction in deed and truth)1John3:18 Lord Mercy on us all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_7n6qgtj2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-FQi10tOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIJJQ_UxBHU
I wish the Cardinals actions matched his words. The Ted Kennedy Canonization Mass headed by the Cardinal tells the world that you can murder babies by the millions and still be treated like a saint.
I am sure it came as a shock to President Obama, that people and especially the Catholic Church in this country actually protested against the HHS Mandate. Because of all of the Catholic politicians and politically correct Bishops and Cardinals who either actively push abortion and homosexual marriage or are quiet regarding these issues, Obama couldn’t have possibly understood that his Mandate could have any negative impact. As a Catholic who has somewhat recently returned to my faith, this makes me feel so very sad. Praise and support need to be given to those who are courageous and brave in the fight. Maybe our weaker brothers will try to follow their example.
Head of the Pro-Life Activities Committee of the USCCB? It does sound like a bad joke. But then again, what real Catholic actually listens to what this “conference” actually says, since by now we know that whatever it is will be mealy-mouthed, ambiguous, vague and meaningless, unless it comes to gays and heretics, which will clearly be supported. The only thing I have to know is that something comes from the USCCB and I know not to bother, and never give them a dime for the great “causes” they support; I’m forced as it is to pay for enough abominable activities by taxes.
It’s so sad and horrible to know and have to say that there are only no more than 5 bishops in this country worthy of the name and respect and attention that should be given.
And anyone who wants to trot out that their sins are no greater than our own must remember the big difference: these pansy quislings give public scandal and affect millions, while my sins, while serious, don’t have the same affect at all.
The road to Hell must really be paved with the skulls of priests with the skulls of bishops as their signposts.
He is quite obviously more concerned with human respect “above all things” as Saint Teresa would say. What would this cardinal have to say about the abominable attitude of the martyrs? Those who watched their own and their fellow martyrs internal organs spilled out on the ground rather than betray Our Lord.
Here is a very powerful article by Bishop DiMarzio of New York:
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/catholic-bishop-obama-proponent-what-shameful-and-criminal-eyes-almighty-god
Yet Bishop DiMarzio refuses to excommunicate “Catholic” Governor Andrew Cuomo who supports partial birth abortion.
If supporting the MURDER of babies does not qualify you for excommunication in the Catholic Church, then what does?
Cardinal O’Malley has not supported the 40 Days for Life in his archdiocese for many years now. This includes 40 Days in Haverhill and Lynn. New this year—40 Days in Boston. Will he show up in Boston this Lent?? Pray and fast? Show love to the women going in? Show love to the pro-lifers who take all kinds of abuse from pro-aborts? How does the Cardinal encourage those Catholics who suffer for justice sake?
He does not ever stand at Planned Parenthood in Boston. Planned Parenthood in Boston does about 8,000 abortions a year (circa 24,000 a year in the whole state).
A great start to make the Catholic Church relevant again is to immediately and simultaneously Ex-Communicate all public figures that are professing to be practicing Catholics and have publicly professed for anti-life and abortion. There would be a tremendous outcry from them but the positive publicity the Catholic Church would get from the fallen away faithful would spark a return to the pews by the millions! My candidates are Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, any Cuomo or Kennedy and Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary and overlord of Obama-Care.
It’s interesting that Cardinal O’Malley could not name an elected official from his own Diocese, or own State of MA -as being pro-life.
(He mentioned Chris Smith from NJ.)
Sounds like there is much work to do within his own Diocese and his own State.
Actions speak louder than words.
Anne, Very good point on Cdl. O’Malley having to go out-of-state to name pro-life pol. He’s the travelling prelate. Leaves the mess in MA frequently. There’s a lot of “harshness and anger” in Massachusetts over the whole mess. He’s always leaving on a jet plane to feel the “love” elsewhere.
Steve, your comment of early this morning about church growth and revitalization coming after the church takes action to excommunicate all public officials who support abortion, is an argument I also made here in my home parish in GA after having had my pro-life pulpit announcement “toned down”. I came to the Catholic faith 4 years ago because of the truth I heard from the pope in a televised speech. I see now that to hear the truth spoken in such an unvarnished way from the pulpit I need to move to Rome. The collection plate takes precedence over the Word of God. I would prefer to attend mass in a barn where truth is spoken than continue in a giant sanctuary.
I am glad for O’Malley. It was his decision to give a Catholic funeral mass to Teddy Kennedy and the further closing of churches (from 380+ to 122) that I decided to no longer go to any of his “churches”. I now go to an independent Traditional Roman Catholic Church.
To all the “Archbishops” keep up your liberal ways. That is the only way that conservative traditional Catholics will see you for what you are and leave your “progressive” new church.
I was at the March and the speach given by the Cardinal was excellant….I only hope he means what he said about leading the fight against Abortion.
I really don’t understand why our Leaders are more political than they are God Based.
It is quite clear to me what God is asking of me why can’t they hear what God is asking of them?
Although being a peace maker is part of our calling as Christians we must live in the truth…..Francis wanted the Muslim Leader to know the truth about Christ…and when he didn’t accept the truth Francis didn’t get mad but he did leave. We cannot accept a lie we must live the truth….so pray for our Leaders to live the truth and ask God to bless them with the insight to know what it is He asks of them.
The people of God will be purified from the top down…mark my words…the Pope is cleaning house and it will take place. We will have One Holy Catholic Church when the Lord Returns to take us home…I want to be on His list…..
Peace and God
Pax et Bonum
Renee
Cardinal Sean does not directly confront problems especially in his diocese. Why should he stick around and show interest or address problems in Boston? He does not put himself front and center to solve problems.
To Cardinal Sean, problems can be outsourced whilst he travels and reads. He does not take the bull by the horns, but looks for others to take the bull by the horns. He becomes enamored of another program, another meeting, another external force, and voila, there is the solution. In the article above—it’s more of the same—new programs, new meetings, etc. There is another new program, Catholic Voices, an “ecumenical” book, American Grace, a meeting “Ecclesia in America”. He does not connect in his diocese—he wanders the world, giving advice, and sounding “Catholic”. In his diocese, he institutes program upon program (ever heard of Catholic Voices? seems to be a new program that will come to Boston and later drop off the radar screen.) All the parishes in the archdiocese are now be reconfigured in an untried new program.
Where’s God in all of this? Where the Cardinal’s leadership?
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