My letter to Philly Archbishop Justin Rigali

Dear Archbishop Rigali,

I have recently read, with great anger, statements by various Church officials claiming that they will deny Roman Catholic politicians Communion if they are pro-choice. The most stunning and obnoxious proclimation coming from Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs who threatened to deny Communion to anyone who votes for a pro-choice politician. Making this proclamation more absurd is that when asked if such penalties would come to those who supported the death penalty or the Iraq war he declared that these issues were not as important. This political posturing comes during an election year when a pro-choice, Roman Catholic democrat will be running against a US President who is the first President in the history of the United States to initiate a war, a war that, for all intents and purposes appears to have been based on some kind of quasi-imperialist idealogy and nothing more. This is a war whose negative effects are yet to be calculated and whose reach both, chronologically and geographically, may never be understood. Eight hundred americans are dead, thousands injured not to mention the exponentially greater totals of both on the Iraqi side. Recently, we have learned that, as part of this President's crusade, prison guards have been torturing prisoners who may have been guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Additionally, this President has engaged in a socioeconomic battle that, via corporate welfare, tax breaks for the rich, and the aforementioned war amounts to social darwinism. By contrast, a politician's stand on abortion does not force anyone to get an abortion, ever. The same can be said of gay marriage or civil unions. When a bomb is dropped on your house, you do not have any choice in the matter.

Archbishop, abortion is a horrible decision for anyone to have to come to. I hope no one ever gets one again. I hope other methods of birth control can prevent unwanted pregnancies and adoption is the answer when it does happen. I imagine John Kerry feels similarly. I've heard his wife Teresa make comments in that direction. That said, a President has to lead everyone whether they are Catholic, Buddhist or atheist. More importantly, making abortion illegal is sure to only make poor women search for them in the streets. Perhaps the best way, in my opinion, to reduce the number of abortions in the world is to give the hope of a better life and education to women who would otherwise be having risky sexual relationships. I would hope that I don't have to tell you that President Bush and the right wing of the republican party he represents are not interested in raising up the poor. Thus, I ask, is not possible to be pro-life without outlawing abortion?

I am 35 years old and went to parochial school through High School. I have 2 young boys who are baptized catholics. And while I have been very upset to learn about all the sexual abuses that have been in the news, most recently one at a school for the deaf, I am comforted that in my 9 years as an altar boy I was never touched or made to feel uncomfortable in any way. That said, if the Catholic Church decides to interfere in this election on the side of a messianic demagogue I may have to leave the Church along with my boys. For, I feel, such interference, to me, would be tantamount to endorsing mass murder and theft.

As I'm sure you know, when John F. Kennedy was running for President he had to travel the country and assure people that he would not take orders from Rome. What happened to that? It is doubly curious that the Church appears to be coming down on the side of people who have rather anti-Catholic histories, including involvement with Bob Jones University. It makes one wonder who has been making donations.

Thank you,

Would you like to share that address with me, pal?

I believe I have a few words to say to that Disgrace to Philadelphia Rigali.

You are not just supporting murder.

You are requiring someone else to go and actively commit that murder.

It's twice as bad as abortion, imho.

Has Rigali made any statements about the subject himself?

I know his replacement here in St. Louis, Burke, has been very vocal on 'requiring' Catholic politicians to vote based on Vatican dogma.

Great letter, by the way, much more likely to have an impact on a Catholic leader than one I might write (not being a Catholic, and having very little patience with the Church trying to interfere with government)

The church should stick to healing souls, not pushing them away and ruining lives. I refuse to attend the catholic church, as my family does, and we all were raised and baptized catholic. In fact, my sister told me she plans to take her children to a non-denomination church because of the sex abuse scandal. The church permeates of hypocrisy, it will be the last bit of roman history to fall as well and good riddens if you ask me!

Italy has Universal Healthcare and is rated #1 in the world. Healthcare it contributes to a healthy informed society.
Of course the this present administration is totally against Healthcare.

Stick that one to the Archbishop. Great letter...this whole issue with them sticking their nose into this. Drives me nuts.

I like the letter. At some point, the Church also needs to worry about its tax exempt status. Getting directly into the political process is or should be grounds for loss of tax exempt status.