Dear CE Viewer:
The following is a real press release from an organization styling itself “Catholics for a Free Choice” (though we believe “CFFC” is more appropriately an acronym for “Collaborators for Fetal Crucifixion”). We are deliberately putting this press release in our humor channel, not because we think abortion is funny, but because, as St. Thomas More observed long ago, “The devil, the proud spirit, cannot endure to be mocked.” There is so much that is unconsciously funny in the stupid arrogance of this press release that we simply couldn't help ourselves: we had to share the chuckles with you. Laugh at the devil and his servants. Then go do the opposite of what they demand as they petulantly stamp their tiny feet in impotent pride. It'll do you good and it will drive them crazy.
— The Editors of Catholic Exchange
Problems with the Vatican Working Document on the Eucharist — Press Statement of Frances Kissling, President of Catholics for a Free Choice.
WASHINGTON, DC — The 2004 presidential election was marred by fairly vicious attacks on John Kerry and other Catholic candidates who support keeping abortion legal. A small minority of bishops and ultra conservative Republican Catholics sought to deny these candidates, as well as pro-choice Catholic elected officials, the right to receive communion.
Now as we enter one of the most critical political issues of our time — the selection of a new Supreme Court Justice — the new pope has released a working document that gives ammunition to these groups and individuals by intimating that pro-choice Catholic policy makers might be committing sin or causing scandal, and thus would not be eligible to receive communion.
For pro-choice Catholics senators, faced with extremely difficult political options regarding protecting the integrity of the constitution and the Courts, this will be a terrible dilemma. The fact of the matter is that there is wide latitude for American bishops to reject the Vatican notion that pro-choice legislators must in every instance and in every way consider no other issue but abortion as they decide on laws or nominees.
We hope that the majority of American bishops will quickly put to rest this divisive Vatican opinion, reassert their own view that there are indeed legitimate options for Catholic senators evaluating nominees and that all options must be considered as the senators decide on support for or opposition to a candidate. Catholic Americans, as well as those of other faiths, count on the senators to follow their conscience — not the imperfect interpretation of church law put forward by lay Catholic zealots or politically motivated bishops.
“Catholics for Free Choice (CFFC) shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well being, and respect and affirm the moral capacity of women and men to make sound decisions about their lives. Through discourse, education, and advocacy, CFFC works in the US and internationally to infuse these values into public policy, community life, feminist analysis, and Catholic social thinking and teaching.”
