Milwaukee Archbishop: "You Can’t Call Yourself Catholic and Support Contraception"
December 16, 2009 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
As I mentioned last week, it’s grand to see our bishops standing up to be counted on the side of Christ. More and more of them are giving an unflinchingly direct public witness to the truth on a range of issues, in particular the life issues that are at the center of this country’s culture war.
MILWAUKEE, December 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The incoming Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki, has responded to a campaign by “Young Catholics for Choice” to promote use of contraception and abortion among Catholic youth.
Using media advertising the group is, says the Archbishop-Designate, “attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard Church teaching regarding contraception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing.” However, “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
“While people can call themselves whatever they want, it is my duty as a bishop to state clearly and unequivocally that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like ‘Young Catholics for Choice’ in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically distancing themselves from that communion with the Church to which they are called,” added the archbishop.
Using language first employed by Catholic dissenters to Humanae Vitae, YCFC calls on Catholics to use an “informed conscience” to decide to use birth control and the morning-after-pill, also called “emergency contraception.”
Their ad campaign states: “Young Catholics are having sex. We are using contraception and condoms. We are having abortions. We are bisexual, gay, lesbian, straight and transgender. And none of this makes us any less Catholic than conservative Catholics who speak out against us.
“The truth is, they don’t represent what the majority of Catholics – especially those of us in our 20s and 30s – think about sex. It comes down to Catholic teaching on conscience. Basically, every individual has the right and responsibility to follow his or her own conscience – and respect others’ right to do the same. With conscience and respect, good Catholic sex is not only possible, it’s already happening. “
The group, claiming to be a youth wing of “Catholics for Choice,” admits that it’s mandate is to “take action to counter the bishops’ impact both in the United States and around the world. ” . . . (source)
Pray for those clergy who themselves see the use of contraception and abortion as choices to be made. One of the saddest things in my city is the pastor of one of the Catholic churches believes this, yet there is a monument to the unborn in front of the church.
Make no mistake; the challenges are not only in the Roman Catholic Church. After 30-40 years of trendy ecclesiology and an ambivalent neglect of orthodoxy, the Church Universal has rediscovered its voice. But because this teaching gap spans more than one generation, it will take years to undo the damage that was done. Indeed, the very foundation has been compromised as more and more Catholics and Protestants choose the world and its pleasures (instant gratification) over Christ and His promises (patience in faith). I don't know that Catholics (and conservative Protestants) are rejecting more than they are confused. And this confusion comes from inconsistency in the proclamation.
The Lord God help us all, for we cannot undo this damage alone.
Definitely positive. Now if our parish priests would be so brave. One or two homilies a year should be devoted to explicit, unequivical teaching on these matters. Why? Because many Catholics don't read the diocesian paper, they don't hear the bishop.
I see it being used more and more in reference to the Church and its teachings, "conservative" vs. "liberal". The terminology that should be used is "orthodox" vs "heterodox", however those who find themselves on the side of heterodoxy do not wish to admit that they are on the side of disagreeing with the doctrines and teachings of Holy Mother Church. Or, somehow in using the term "liberal", they can imagine themselves still in communion with the Church.
Language is very important, that is the reason for the Church's use of Latin. We need to educate ourselves and others in the proper use of language in regards to the Church and Her teachings…
Catholics have not been taught to be Catholics for the past four decades; and now that bishops are courageously teaching full-strength Catholicism, Catholics are rejecting them. Woe to those bishops who have been pushing smile-button Catholicism lo these forty years.
Surely these youngster have looked at the CCC, right? How do they get past the requirement that you have a prior obligation to FORM your conscience in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Get Louder! I want this message proclaimed on every Church Bulletin! Praise God for this Arch Bishop!
The fact of the matter is that following God and his church IS BEING CATHOLIC. Anything else is following yourself…NOT GOD.
"If you believe what you like in the gospels and reject what you don't like, it's not the gospels you believe, but yourself"
-St. Augustine
Christ said, "I am the truth"; he did not say
"I am the custom."
-St. Toribio
I have been so happy the last couple of years as bishops have begun speaking out…speaking loudly. Praise God!
One of the biggest weapon the Enemy has in this battle is to give the impression that Catholics disagree among themselves about the immorality of contraception and abortion. If one concludes that there is no clear, official position, then one can subscribe to whichever position one wishes and still believe that one is a faithful Catholic. It is imperative that the Bishops, the teachers of the Church, continue to proclaim in no uncertain terms the true doctrine of the Church on these matters so that no one is confused about what constitutes disobedience.