Kerry's CUA Lecture Cancelled due to "Scheduling Conflict"

Pro-Abortion Kerry’s Lecture Cancelled at CUA Due to “Scheduling Conflict” :

WASHINGTON, DC, September 21, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com reported last week that Catholic University of America's (CUA) newspaper 'The Tower' had revealed that the College Democrats at CUA had received the necessary permission from the administration and subsequently invited pro-abortion Senator Kerry to lecture at the University.

In its current issue released just today, The Tower newspaper is now reporting that according to both the Senator's congressional office and the College Democrats, "Sen. John Kerry will not speak at the University this semester due to scheduling conflicts[…]

Mark Arnone, president of the College Democrats at CUA, had initially been forbidden by officials at the University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE) to invite the pro-abortion senator to lecture. However, after appealing the decision with a six page explanation on the reasons why Kerry should be allowed, Arnone received permission from UCSPE director Bill Jonas.

The Lifesite news article contains this interesting bit on the interpretation of the USCCB's directive for Catholic Universities to refuse "awards, honors or platforms" to individuals who openly defy Catholic "fundamental moral principles":

While no response was ever received from Jonas' office, LifeSite did receive an answer to a similar question from Victor Nakas, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs. Mr. Nakas claimed that Senator Kerry was never issued a "formal" invitation but that "[t]he College Democrats decided to explore the possibility of inviting Senator Kerry."

Nakas however, explained that a Kerry lecture at CUA would not be a contradiction to the USCCB policy. "Unfortunately, some people are misinterpreting the bishops' statement on Catholic politicians. We verified with the bishops themselves that the intent of the statement was to refuse a platform to speakers who would be invited to speak on those specific issues for which they hold positions that are at variance with the fundamental moral teachings of the Catholic Church (emphasis in original email).

Nakas continued, "This means, for example, that we would be violating the letter and the intent of the bishops' statement were we to invite Sen. Kerry to speak on abortion. However, we would not be violating the letter and the spirit of the bishops' statement were we to permit the College Democrats to invite Sen. Kerry to speak on the environment or the Iraq war."

Huckabee on Mexico City Policy: "I just want to make sure that we were not agreeing to . . . a Mexican law"?!?

Huckabee clueless on Reagan/Keyes pro-life Mexico City Policy, by Helen Valois. September 22, 2007 RenewAmerica analyst:

Bill Clinton knows about the Mexico City Policy. Immediately upon taking office as President, on behalf of his virulently pro-abortion base of support, Clinton rescinded Ronald Reagan's prohibition on U.S. taxpayer funding of abortions overseas.

George W. Bush knows about the Mexico City Policy. When he became our country's Chief Executive, one of his first acts was to restore the policy's protections afforded to the innocent unborn around the world, and to American taxpayers.

But in last Monday's Values Voter debate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, candidate Mike Huckabee proved that he doesn't have a clue about this landmark pro-life foreign policy.

Here's the relevant portion of the debate:

JANET FOLGER: The Mexico City Policy states that as a condition for a foreign organization to receive federal funds, they will neither, quote, "perform nor actively promote abortion." Would you work to apply this Mexico City Policy to organizations within the United States, as well as abroad?

MIKE HUCKABEE: I just want to clarify, and I'm not trying to be difficult, but I want to make sure we're not being asked to apply a Mexican law to United States law. Is it the principle you're after, or the law itself?

FOLGER: It's the principle of not giving our tax dollars to organizations within our country that actively promote or provide abortions.

HUCKABEE: OK. I just want to make sure that we were not in essence agreeing to abide by a Mexican law.

FOLGER: No. It's an American law.

HUCKABEE: OK. All right.

READ THE REST.

Disappointed? -- You bet.

By the way: I like Alan Keyes. I'm not sure if he has a chance of winning the nomination, but nonetheless, I'm glad he's in the race. He's a skilled debater and will keep the others on their toes. Another Catholic statesman we can be proud of.

National Catholic Register: "Moving Beyond the Catholic Stereotype"

Donald DeMarco writes on the positive impact Catholics can and should have in the formation of public policy in the September 23-29, 2007 issue of the National Catholic Register:

To stereotype a person is to locate him in a category that forbids recognition of his individuality.

It gives preference to the fictional over the real, the abstract over the concrete. Hence, it is an act of injustice, and has much in common with a laundry list of detestable “isms”: racism, sexism, colonialism, communism, etc.

And yet, despite the near universal repudiation of stereotyping, it remains active, indeed, even fashionable, to stereotype Catholics.

According to this stereotype, a Catholic is a one-dimensional creature that acts solely on the basis of a faith that he cannot share with non-Catholics. As a consequence, Catholics are often disenfranchised from the political process simply because they are Catholics. As we read over and over again in the secular press, “Catholics should not try to impose their faith on others,” “Church and state must remain separate,” “We live in a pluralistic society,” and so on.

In reality, a Catholic is not simply a believer. He is also a knower, and one, as a matter of fact, who has a great enthusiasm for reason. The philosophy of politics is not alien to the Catholic mind either historically or presently.

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have sought passionately and persistently to remind Catholics of their proper place in the democratic scheme of things, which is to help in providing society with a rational basis that makes justice and peace possible.

In other words, a Catholic is a humanist in the best sense of the term. To limit him to his faith is to stereotype him unjustly.

In his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), Pope Benedict draws a clear line between the Church and the state when he writes, “The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the state.”

On the other hand, the role of the Church, according to the Holy Father, “is simply to help purify reason and to contribute here and now to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just.”

Properly formed Catholics provide a corrective when reason gives way to trends, opinion polls, political correctness, pressure groups, convenience and a peculiar form of relativism that claims to be absolute (the “dictatorship of relativism”).

***
The world of politics should welcome Catholics because they actually show a more cultivated appreciation for reason than what is usually displayed by self-serving politicians or legislators who sacrifice justice for convenience.

Robert George, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, has made the observation that the Catholic Church is far more committed to reason and rational discourse than is the world of secular politics. “It seems to me,” he states, “that these people have it backward. The Church’s moral teachings are in line with reason; secularist ideology is not.”

[More]

(emphasis added)

16 Catholic Senators Vote for Overseas Abortions

Sixteen of twenty five Catholic senators vote to fund overseas abortion Catholic News Agency. Sept. 18, 2007:

President George W. Bush has promised to veto an amendment that overturned the Mexico City Policy.

Last Thursday, 16 of the 25 Catholics in the U. S. Senate voted to overturn the "Mexico City Policy" and allow funding to overseas health clinics providing abortions. The amendment passed by a margin of 53-41.

One of the 16 was Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA), who defeated Sen. Rick Santorum as a pro-life candidate.

"It's doubtful whether Casey, son of the legendary pro-life Pennsylvania governor Bob Casey, will ever be able to convince voters of his pro-life label again,” writes Deal Hudson in his Sept. 17 edition of The Window. . . . The U.S. Catholic bishops expressed disappointment at the passage of the bill, for which 16 Catholic Senators voted in favor.

They include: Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Christopher Dodd (CT-D), Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

Carl Olson @ Insight Scoop has more, including a 2005 interview with Sen. Bob Casey.

Catholics for Ron Paul

Catholics For Ron Paul - a new blog maintained by Thomas Woods and Thomas Peters (American Papist).

From InsideCatholic.com:

• Why I Am a Catholic Republican, by Deal W. Hudson.
  
• Why I Am a Catholic Libertarian, by Thomas E. Woods.
  
• Why I Am a Catholic Democrat, by Mark Stricherz.
  

LSU student and fellow Catholic Michael Denton has brought down the rage of the gay community with a column entitled: "America needs to stand against homosexuality".

What seems to be the problem? -- Michael's reference to the gay lifestyle as 'intrinsically disordered' and opposed to life; argues against the theory of "the gay gene" (suggesting that homosexuality is biologically determined); expresses concerns about activism by the gay lobby which seeks to impose a 'value-free' endorsement of their lifestyle on the rest of America by way of the courts and infiltration of school curriculum. As Michael notes:

In all of these cases, we see those in the homosexual movement refusing debate. They know they can't win in elections. Despite all of their efforts to convert us, an August 2007 CNN poll still shows 57 percent of Americans opposing gay marriage. So they ignore the democratic process and rush to friendlier courts. To top it all off, they're using sex education programs to jam their views down the throats of school children. They're not looking for debate; they're looking for victory at any cost.

It's a debate I'd love to have. Ideally, I should talk about why practicing homosexuality is intrinsically disordered and why it prevents one from loving fully. I should discuss recent works like the famous "Theology of the Body" by Pope John Paul II. If I did however, I would be risking expulsion, and I don't want to leave the University.

Reviewing the myriad comments flooding the newspaper in reaction, it's amazing to see how many vindicate Michael's judgement: little attempt to respond by way of rational debate; instead, accusations of "hate speech" and bigotry, and making fun of his photo.

It seems we have another 'Regensburg moment' -- Pope Benedict makes an observation about the predominance of violent coercion in Islamic history and Muslims respond with . . . violence. Michael Denton makes an observation about the gay lobby's reluctance to debate and they respond with . . . insults.

John Kerry invited to speak at Catholic University of America

Sen. John Kerry stands with Kate Michelman (right) President of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

From LifeSiteNews.com:

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Catholic University of America (CUA) has invited former presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry to speak on environmentalism and the Iraq war this semester despite initial opposition by the office of University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE).

The Tower, the campus paper of Catholic University, said the UCSPE had initially objected to Kerry's appearance, saying there is an "unwritten" campus rule banning political candidates during an election year.

Kerry, who still receives Communion regularly, has 100 per cent pro-abortion voting record according to NARAL Pro-Choice America. During the 2004 presidential debates, Kerry claimed that he was "personally against abortion", but would not "take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith."

No, wait, it gets better . . .

Mark Arnone, chairman of the College Democrats who invited Kerry to speak at CUA, defended the decision saying Kerry "expresses remarkable dedication to the doctrine and principles of Catholic social teaching established in Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical 'Rerum Novarum'" Arnone cited Kerry advocacy "for affordable and accessible health care…minimum wage reform" and the environment.

Kerry's appearance is being opposed by Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society, who aptly stated that the situation is "wrong on so many levels."

To express concerns contact the CUA Chancellor:

Archbishop of Washington:
The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, 301-853-4500
chancery@adw.org

In June 2004, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a statement, "Catholics in Political Life," by a vote of 183-6, which says pro-abortion politicians should not be honored by Catholic community and Catholic institutions. "They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions," says the statement. On the question of withholding Communion from pro-abortion politicians, the document leaves the final decision to local bishops.

On the Record Now, Even If With Few Others

Yes, it has been 6 years since Sept. 11, 2001. Little did I know that the words of FDR about Pearl Harbor that I memorized for a high school forensic competition would turn out to be so apt in the future: this is certainly a date that "will live in infamy."

What is amazing to me is that we have not been attacked again in 6 years. In my view, that is a signal and amazing achievement of President George W. Bush. He takes a lot of blame and criticism--just as Lincoln and Reagan did--so he should also get the credit. I will also take this opportunity to state for the record that, in my opinion, history will judge George W. Bush to have been one of our best Presidents. I do that knowing that many of the Monday morning quarterbacks and backseat drivers that litter the landscape will cringe at that statement. Let them cringe. I am entitled to express my own view. That's why my parents immigrated to a free country from a Communist dictatorship. We didn't yield our freedom to a crazed dictator in Cuba. I certainly won't yield it now to mass opinion or water cooler talk.

And in my positive evaluation, I include the overthrow of the genocidal dictator in Iraq and the crusade to build a democracy in the heart of the Moslem Middle East. My own theory--everyone has theories, so I can too--is that being on the offensive in Iraq is why we have not been attacked again in six years. I hear that others have stated the same view. The best defense is a good offense--a cliche that is a cliche because it is so well proven in experience. Many do not see or do not want to see the connection now. My bet is that historians with mature judgment will see it in the future. Lincoln went from vilified to adored. Reagan went from mocked to being missed. George W. Bush will go from being scorned to being admired and respected as the unflagging President who kept us safe for 6 years. That already is a remarkable achievement and benchmark for comparison. I hope and pray that he can add the rest of his term to this record of protection. Thank you, Mr. President.

Smut Merchant Makes a Biblical Slip of the Tongue

Frankly, I finally got tired of driving on the interstate highway over the Labor Day weekend and seeing gigantic billboard after gigantic billboard advertising "adult" (that is, pornographic) stores. My guess is that these merchants are especially preying on the vulnerabilities of truck drivers who, in many ways, lead a tough existence. The same billboard by the same store kept popping up mile after mile. When I saw it for, I think, the fourth time, I knew I had to write about it.

The pornographic merchant, oddly enough, calls itself "Lion's Den." Well, here, the devil has made a Freudian slip of sorts. Recall this passage from the Bible:

Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:14 (ESV).

They are peddling poison, as poisonous as any illegal drug that is out there. Flee it. This incident is another example of how familiarity with the Bible can be instantly useful in seeing through the wiles of the devil--for clearly the devil is behind this poisonous attack on people who make a living on the road and see the same signs repeatedly in a high stress and lonely job. But when you connect to the Word of God, a light turns on; and you see what is really happening. The den is a trap.