The New Pope
Do you remember when Cardinal Ratzinger from the Vatican laid down the law in the United States (and not in any other country, mind you, just here) in May 2004, smack in the middle of the campaign, that there would be "no eucharistic communion for politicians who systematically campaigned for abortion?" And that Kerry was a catholic politician who was pro-choice? Ratzinger's memo goes on to say if you vote for a candidate that supports abortion, even if you don't, you should not receive communion. If you don't receive communion your mass is not complete, you don't go to see your God when you pass on . This memorandum to US Bishops, that could have affected the election, swaying the catholic demographic to vote Republican so that they wouldn't burn in hell, was issued by Cardinal Ratzinger. He's the new Pope.
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posted by Phil at 12:33 AM
8 Comments:
All I can do is shake my head...
B-OPD writes:
"Ratzinger's memo goes on to say if you vote for a candidate that supports abortion, even if you don't, you should not receive communion"
You didn't actually read the memo, did you? Because that's not what it says.
The memo says a Catholic would be unworthy for Holy Communion if he or she voted for a candidate "precisely because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion."
It goes on to say that a Catholic who "does not share a candidates stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons" is cool in the eyes of the Church.
Even more hypocrisy from Ratzinger. Priests must deny communion to politicians who support abortion rights or right-to-die legislation, but not to politicians who support war or capital punishment. Yes, the churh is opposed to all four, but apparently it's more opposed to the first two than to the second two.
I believe it was the esteemed philosopher Pietro Spinta Dell'onda Di Città, a member of il Chi, who uttered the phrase: "Saluto Rector Novus, Sumul Rector Prius", and I couldn't agree more.
Yeharr
Hey Kai Youger, regardless of how you read the memo, the meaning is: "don't vote for John Kerry, vote for Bush or you're going against your church". It was the most invasive political move by the Vatican in this country's politics, ever, and may have affected such a close election. The Catholic World News puts their devotional population at 1.07 billion, with an increase of 6 million in the Americas just last year. As Bush won the election by 3 million, don't you think the Cardinal's move had a statistical impact? Am I paranoid enough to think the Vatican wants a Religious President in power who cites his faith every time he makes policy? Thus probably paralleling their interests as well? You bet.
As a wise man once said, "Organized religion is a sham, a crutch for weak minded people, who need strength in numbers."
Holy communion is given after confession. To deny ANYONE God's grace after he has confessed his sins stands in opposition to the basic tenent of Christianity. I may be wrong here, but I don't think Jesus ever turned ANYONE down, even those who plotted to and eventually killed him.
Just came out that Ratzinger had joined the Hitler Youth when he was 14. Now, that doesn't mean he was a Nazi, but...am I out of line here, or is joining anything with the word "Nazi" something on the resume that should be double checked before the "Pope" box is checked off?
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