The following was emailed to St. Mary's Church this evening:
November 13, 2008
Fr. Jay Scott Newman
Pastor
St. Mary's Catholic Church
111 Hampton Avenue
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
Dear Pastor Newman:
I read with interest your letter discussing Barack Hussein Obama’s victory in the recent elections and the impact this appears to have on your parishioners’ right to participate in Holy Communion. As you are a man of the cloth, I will attempt to respond as civilly as possible: Shame on you!
While you are attempting to force your political views on those whom you have promised to guide down God’s path, I suggest that you consider the following:
The Roman Catholic Church has been responsible for 2,000 years of violence, and persecutions committed against Jews, alleged heretics, women, Gypsies and native peoples. In the Church’s quest for domination, the Church, or men who have acted with her authority or blessing have committed sins in the service of truth; sins against Christian unity; against the Jews; against respect for love, peace and cultures; against the dignity of women and minorities; and against human rights.
Ethnic groups had endured "contempt for their cultures and religious traditions". Women were "all too often humiliated and marginalised". Trust in wealth and power had obscured the church's responsibility to the poor and oppressed.
These are some of the things the Church has admitted, most recently in "Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past," a document prepared by the current Pope – and in the remarks of Pope John II, the subject of the aformentioned document.
Over the course of its history, the Church has imprisoned and/or tortured scientists and thinkers for such ideas as “the earth revolves around the sun;” murdered indigenous peoples in the name of our Lord, and sold salvation for lucre, while turning a blind eye to the shenanigans of various Popes who committed adultery, murder, theft, and other crimes, failing to fight the extermination of Jews during the Holocaust, and most recently the lurid and disgusting attempt to cover for pedophilic priests. It is clear that the Roman Catholic Church has been responsible for a great deal of evil in this world.
As such, there can be no doubt that the attendance of worshipers at your services, “constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.”
Have I gone too far? Perhaps. But so have you.
Jesus was concerned with the living, and Barack Obama will do everything possible to help those in need. With his help, the poor will become middle class, the middle will become wealthy, and all will be able to afford proper healthcare. Further, his “radical pro-abortion” views are actually mainstream America’s views: government should not interfere with a woman’s RIGHT to choose; it is between her, the father, and her God. Meanwhile, government should do everything possible to LIMIT unintended pregnancies so that there are fewer abortions.
Considering the Church’s stance on contraceptives, I would expect Obama’s plan to lower abortions would work much better than yours.
But I digress: My main point is that your letter should be met with disgust by those who believe they have an obligation to vote for he or she who can best lead our country AND that they should follow the word of the Lord. You and others in the Church have bastardized the Lord’s teachings to fit your political agenda, and that Pastor, is ungodly.
Please work on SAVING souls and leave politics out of your sermon.
Yours,
Jorge Luna
Understand that what I wrote is completely true. The Church has committed a number of sins, and those who have claimed to represent the Church so many more. Nonetheless, I recognize that it was a different world, with different rules, and there are some things that I simply accept and hope that lessons have been learned. Considering that the Church HAS apologized for a number of its misdeeds, we would hope that to be true.
I am a huge proponent of Jesus Christ, and try to follow his commandment, "Love your brother as you love yourself," but when church leaders threaten believers with taking away their right to participate in Communion... boy that just gets my goat! I understand that a priest has an opinion, and I don't object to him stating it, but don't give anyone the impression that God himself voted for McCain.
To do so cheapens your church and builds distrust against you. Right now, the Roman Catholic Church doesn't need to lose MORE of its flock.
To read the Pastor's letter, please visit his website at:
http://www.stmarysgvl.org/ourparish/2008-dedication-of-the-lateran-basilica-in-rome
I first heard about this on MSNBC at the following web site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27705755/?gt1=43001
Comments
So right on...as a person raised catholic I abhor this priest's arrogance, so typical. He is only here to guide, not to admonish...he knows that we answer to God alone. Just more fear factor..and, oh right, not political at all......
The words in and of themselves, 'intrinsic evil' ARE evil as well as obviously racist. This is also the reason many people do not attend church. Too much power is given to men/theologist who interpret the bible that they are teaching from as the word of God when in fact it is their experiences that lead their opinions. I read the AP and wrote this and in fairness read the bulletin and my thoughts are unchanged. To use President elect Obama's whole name was meant for one purpose and one purpose only, to evoke fear. It was written by AP in the context intended, mean spirited, hateful as well as insiteful! Keep the church and state separate. I'd like to hear your so called moral teachings on something important like the rape and molestation of your defenseless parishioners by the very persons of whom they are supposed to trust. They walk free moved around, forgotten,how hypocritical is that? What are persons like yourself's "interpretion of the Law of God" faithful reflection on same sex marriage? Your spiritual black mail is psychological manipulation, bording brainwashing. I personally resent the words "most radical pro-abortion politician ever to run for President! I am sure there are others. So stop the hate or just cast the first stone!
Wow, I am apalled at the audacity of this pastor. I was raised Southern Baptist - and very "old school" compared to the much more lax Southern Baptist Churches of today. This kind of story is something that I would almost expect to hear from a small town Southern Baptist Church circa 1977(And yes Jorge, the town in Footloose does come to mind.). I find it disgusting that this man who was chosen to be a spiritual leader for many unsuspecting and unfortunately probably very naive people, is resorting to blackmail. And what saddens me even more is that those naive people believe that doing what their pastors tell them to do is just as important as doing what God tells them to do. Personally, my God wouldn't resort to this kind of tactic. My God is a kind God who loves unconditionally.
Repent for your actual sins. You know, the ones that we are all guilty of from time to time. NOT because some idiot who managed to graduate seminary school tells you to.
Ooooh yeah. Lots to talk about here.
I'm not a member of the Catholic Church, nor am I Catholic. But I can attribute many good institutions, charities, and services to this organization. It is true that Fr. Newman represents the Catholic Church, but in disputing his remarks, why launch into a diatribe on the most negative elements in the entire 2000-year history of the Roman Catholic Church?
Jorge, to reinforce your offense to the present matter of how this particular priest chooses to spiritually guide his church on moral issues, you launch into an assault on the Catholic Church in general, while at the same time completely neglecting the central issue altogether. The problem that's ignored?-- millions of abortions ending the lives of individuals whose uniqueness has never before existed nor ever will exist again.
Voluntary termination of a person who has its very own blood-type and DNA and who by 8 weeks has visible arms and legs is clearly not just a woman doing whatever she pleases with her own body. Think of the vast human potential that is eradicated every day in the form of conceived and growing babies whose only requirement to live is food and shelter.
Here's an interesting fact, since you started our journey back into history. Do you know how many women actually died from illegal abortions in 1972, the last full year before Roe v. Wade? According to the CDC, it wasn't 5,000 or 10,000, it wasn't even 1,000 – it was 39. Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a former New York abortion practitioner and founder of NARAL admitted that the organization completely falsified the number of illegal abortion deaths. And the current arguments for abortion-- rape and incest are cited as reasons for less than 1 % of all abortions.
I, too, once believed that a baby in the womb is not a baby but a mass of tissue. Yet, our conscience DOES tell us otherwise. Why are pregnant women advised to abstain from alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes? Why do violent crimes against pregnant women carry higher penalties? What is our answer when a little child asks why a woman's stomach is so big? The answer to all of these questions is that there's a baby in there.
Okay, now I step up onto my soap box: “Social and personal responsibility 101”
Sexual activity has serious consequences.
Abortion also has serious consequences.
A woman deciding to have an abortion must endure the aftermath of her decision; emotionally, spiritually, and physically-- risks for breast cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and future risks in pregnancy. It stands to reason that legalizing abortion has greatly increased its occurrence, and therefore augmenting the overall harm that is caused to women.
Of the over 1 million abortions performed each year, only about half of all women obtaining abortions are younger than 25, with girls under the age of 15 only accounting for about 1%.
Thus, why I say that personal responsibility is what is fundamentally lacking when it comes to millions of innocent lives being extinguished. In nearly all abortion cases, it is not out of necessity but out of desire: a desire to not give birth and care for a baby, a desire to not give birth and put the baby up for adoption. A woman's right to choose is indeed one where she is denying her responsibility for the life of a another person: her baby. And I strongly contend that the choice to not bear children needs to be made long before a baby is conceived.
Many people feel that while abortion is not an option they would personally choose for themselves, they in turn state that they would not make that choice for another women. And that, I feel, is sheer cowardice. If we know something is wrong, namely destroying babies, then it is wrong period-- and we ought not be afraid to say so.
Obama's views on abortion are also extremely pertinent to this thread. For those of us who seek to protect the lives of babies as passionately as those who champion defending the poor and oppressed, we see Obama as a serious threat to a right to life. There is good reason for the order of the words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"; specifically that the right to life must be guaranteed in order for the other rights to be significant.
Aside from Obama's voting record on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, Obama has promised that "The first thing (he'd) do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act." )in his speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007) While it may not be the very first thing he does, he certainly has it set in his sights.
Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) creates a new “fundamental right” for abortion elevating it to the same status as the right to vote and the right to free speech. FOCA completely nullifies the national ban on partial-birth abortion and below is a list of some of the other estimated 550 federal and state laws that FOCA would nullify:
Bans on partial-birth abortion;
Limits on public funding for elective abortions;
Restrictions on abortions performed at military hospitals;
Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion for federal employees;
Informed consent laws;
Waiting periods;
Parental consent and notification laws;
Health and safety regulations for abortion clinics;
Requirements that licensed physicians perform abortions;
Limits on the use of public facilities (such has public hospitals and medical schools at state universities) for abortions
State and federal legal protections for individual healthcare providers who decline to participate in abortions
Legal protections for Catholic and other religiously-affiliated hospitals who, while providing care to millions of poor and uninsured Americans, refuse to allow abortions within their facilities.
And just in case anyone out there is a little fuzzy on the details of Partial Birth Abortion...The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act defines "partial-birth abortion" as the “deliberate and intentional vaginal delivery of "a living fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother... for the purpose of performing an overt act that the person knows will kill the partially delivered living fetus; and performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus." (18 U.S. Code 1531)
Kindly take note of the word "kill" employed in this procedure. That really sounds like a place where civil societies ought not go. Accordingly, as much as 75% of Americans polled want a ban on Partial birth abortion upheld.
To conclude, when Jorge states that Obama's views on abortion are "actually mainstream America’s views", I'm not quite sure if that's indeed accurate. While Obama may support initiatives to lessen the number of unwanted pregnancies-- to believe his own words, he is committed to a complete overhaul of abortion laws, vastly expanding the legality and availability of abortions. It is only logical to deduce that with President Obama, the number of abortions and the severity of abortion procedures will most likely increase. It is this reason, all the points I just mentioned, and the absolute apathy concerning a form of infanticide that's truly what's so very frightening..
When all is said and done, Obama has been elected. We ARE able, however, to take a stand against such policies as FOCA.
Concerning Fr. Newman's statement, those who have examined the priest's words and take offense to his position and those who care to follow God's will for their lives; I say examine, too, the Word of God, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions. I would submit that such objections ultimately may be more with the God of the Bible, Himself, than with any individual Priest or with the Roman Catholic Church. God IS a God of love, but he is also a God of judgment (thus why he sent his son to die an excruciating death on the cross). In both cases of love and judgment: millions of murdered babies cannot be justified. And yet, if we have accepted Jesus' death as the atoning sacrifice for our sins: we are forgiven.
But, please understand that God's grace does not mean that we ignore His will and ignore our conscience when it pertains to doing what is right, as in the case of protecting the lives of the innocent.
"The chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon that and you have abandoned all."
Thomas Jefferson [Harold Lane, "Liberty, Cry Liberty!, p. 31]
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing." Proverbs 31:8
Just read this and thought that some may find this interesting.
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Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin, Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, SC, has issued a statement and video repudiating Father Newman.
"This past week, the Catholic Church’s clear, moral teaching on the evil of abortion has been pulled into the partisan political arena," wrote Msgr. Laughlin. "The recent comments of Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, S.C., have diverted the focus from the Church’s clear position against abortion. As Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, let me state with clarity that Father Newman’s statements do not adequately reflect the Catholic Church’s teachings. Any comments or statements to the contrary are repudiated."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 'Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions,'" Msgr. Laughlin continued. "The Catechism goes on to state: 'In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.' Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith. Therefore, if a person has formed his or her conscience well, he or she should not be denied Communion, nor be told to go to confession before receiving Communion.
"The pulpit is reserved for the Word of God. Sometimes God’s truth, as is the Church’s teaching on abortion, is unpopular. All Catholics must be aware of and follow the teachings of the Church. We should all come together to support the President-elect and all elected officials with a view to influencing policy in favor of the protection of the unborn child."
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I agree with the sentiments that the focus needs to be on the issue of abortion. I also agree with the following:
"In the formation of conscience the Word of God is light for our path...
"The pulpit is reserved for the Word of God. Sometimes God’s truth, as is the Church’s teaching on abortion, is unpopular. All Catholics must be aware of and follow the teachings of the Church. We should all come together to support the President-elect and all elected officials with a view to influencing policy in favor of the protection of the unborn child."
Although, to my knowledge Fr. Newman was not preaching this message from the pulpit, but had written his statement in a newsletter.
Jorge - I can see why you are a "recovering lawyer." Your difficulty to understand or respect rules and regulations within established institutions.
Whoa...Jorge, my friend. You definitely need some help on this one.
This is an old article I just ran across, and I don't know if you're still reading the comments, but I think I may be able to add another dimension to this very important discussion.
I ask myself three questions:
1. If a president does not value the lives of the most helpless in society, what does he value? What will he not sacrifice for expediency?
2. If a person does not believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church, then why attempt to take Holy Communion, which indicates that you agree with everything?
3. If a person hates what the Catholic Church stands for (as do some commenters below) why do they care if a church goer gets communion or not? Seems to me, it should make them happy that people are being denied communion.
Robbie's comment below is right, you don't need to be a Catholic to know that abortion is Biblically wrong. Abortion is the intentional destruction of the life an innocent human being. Another name for that act is murder. When does life begin? Well...when does a woman take the morning after pill? Why doesn't she wait a few months? When did the "clump of cells" that became the larger "clump of cells" that is today called Jorge first exist? At the moment of conception, of course. The fetus doesn't look exactly like a baby, just as a baby doesn't look exactly like a teenager, just as a teenager doesn't look exactly like an adult, just as an adult doesn't look exactly like a 90-year old. But does that mean they're not humans at all stages? No, they are the same human at all stages.
Women DO have choice. All women have God-given, not government-given, free will. In fact, the vast majority of women have 3 choices: 1) sex, or no sex, 2)birth control, or no birth control, and 3) keep the baby, or give it up for adoption. Any goverment that offers easy abortions is reinforcing the idea that women do NOT have free will, that women are weak,that they are nothing more than sex slaves. Any goverment that encourages easy access to abortions is encouraning what Johh Calvin referred to as the "Bondage of the Will," only Calvin encouraged binding ourselves to God, not to evil...evil being the lack of free will that comes from not believing in God---which, in turn, leads to slavish belief in false gods.
Government wants to replace God. What better way to say "There is no God" than to offer easy, secret, free abortions on demand? Isn'that genocide?
Those who are victims of rape and incest, and mothers whose lives are genuinely endangered by a pregnancy are special cases. But if abortion proponents were so concerned about rape victims, then why would Planned Parenthood offer secret, quickie, no-questions-asked, no-parents-or-law-enforcement-informed abortions to 13-year-olds, and then send them right back out to be raped again?
I know a couple of women who had abortions in their 20s because they weren't married, and those women have lived lives of utter despair, including miscarriages after marriage, and extreme psychological issues with the children they eventually bore.
The Catholic Church offers services to women who have had abortions, to help them to heal emotionally and spiritually, and to rebuild their bond with God and their joy for life.
Murder of an unborn child may not be illegal by law, but it is against the Ten Commandments. It is a mortal sin according to the Catholic Church.
I ask myself: Why do people want to take Holy Communion in a church whose teachings they don't even believe in? Is it for the sake of appearances? If you want to sin, fine...but don't expect me to say "It doesn't matter what you do," because it does. It is my responsibility as a Christian to stand up for what is good, and to reject what is bad, in others, and in myself, and if necessary within the Church itself. No person or organization on earth is immune from evil. What's important is repentance and forgiveness. Christianity is not a yin-yang thing. It's a right-wrong thing. And there is always forgiveness...but not if we ignore that bad exists in the first place.
Now, let's talk about Mass and Holy Communion. I am a Catholic--you know, the garden-variety "raised a Catholic but didn't take it seriously," and too much of a coward to stand up for the Truth, because I didn't want to limit my opportunities for financial gain, and for social status and enjoyment. I didn't want to invconvenience my life. I didn't want to be an old-fashioned bore, etc., etc., etc. All the usual excuses for doing whatever the heck I wanted.
It was only after much experience, resistance and pain (hit my noggin against many walls, refusing to see the walls) that I finally realized the wisdom of the Church's teaching and began to appreciate the real meaning of the rituals I used to resent for their restrictions.
Pride is the deadliest of sins, and my attitude of condescension toward the Church and priests was very strong. Nobody was gonna be the boss of me!!! The truth is...everybody was the boss of me, because I didn't understand that free will given by God was contingent upon my following the commandments....just as the Constitution recognizes the right to life, libery and the pursuit of happiness as contingent upon the acceptance certain limitations. Yes, limitations are necessary to freedom. Without them....we would have anarchy...which is what the Evil One wants. Note: If you do not believe that evil exists, then get the heck out of the Catholic church...we need the pews!!!!!!
So....Mass is the re-enactment of The Last Supper and the crucifixion. It is not a happy party. When I want a happy party, I tune my TV to a televangelist program for some great preaching; because really, Catholicism gets pretty heavy sometimes and I can appreciate and enjoy a lighter version of Christianity. Catholics go to mass to offer reverence to God, not to be entertained, or to be told "There are no rules." We are not Outback Steakhouse.
Catholics believe that the host offered during Mass is not just symbolic of the flesh of Christ...we believe it actually IS the flesh of Christ. Protestants don't agree with the idea of Christ dying over and over again, as they are already redeemed by their faith in Him. Ongoing repentance makes their lives complete, but they are already saved. So I think with the one exception of the Episcopalians, non-Catholic Christians do not perform Holy Communion.
Catholics, on the other hand, believe that they must confess each time they commit serious sin, or their salvation is in question. Catholics take Chist's Last Supper commandment to his disciples "Do this in memory of me" quite literally, and believe that Christ literally wanted us to realize that He is always here, through the Mass, and that the host is literally Him.
That is why people who have committed mortal sins cannot receive Holy Communion, as they are literally partaking of Christ's flesh. Anyone can attend Mass, but only those who are free of mortal sin can recieve Holy Communion. Catholics who have committed mortal sins are required to partake in the sacrament of Confession, so that their sins are absolved before taking communion.
So, while ANY sin can be forgiven provided there is confession and contrition, and ANY sinner can attend mass, it is an insult to God to partake in the body of Jesus if you have sinned mortally and have not confessed and repented.
So if you don't like the Catholic Church, OK. But don't take Communion!!!!! You cannot demand "equality" if you don't follow the rules!!!!! You cannot demand admission if you haven't bought a ticket!!
If I walked into Pastor Newman's church and stated, "I support murder," I would hope that he would refuse to give me Holy Communion.
Abortion is murder in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Holy Communion is governed by the Ten Commandments, not by secular law.
Taking Holy Communion means that you are a humble, practicing member of the Church, that you respect and follow its teachings...not that you abhor everything is stands for, but you want be accepted as a full member, regardless.
You might say that sincere and humble rejection of sin and the request for forgiveness and grace is the pre-requisite for the completeness of Holy Communion.
For every right, there is an act of responsibility. For every act of compassion, there is an act of justice.
Those who despise the Catholic Church want all the rights, with none of the responsibilities. They want to humilitate the Church into abandoning its most sacred teachings. They want to abandon the Ten Commandments.
I commend Father Newman for doing what priests are supposed to do. They are supposed to stand up for Truth. They are supposed to stand up for the Church. Thank you, Father Newman.
Actually, all you know-it-all religious folks have it wrong. Abortion was considered a minor sin (you get in more trouble for eating shellfish). Jesus NEVER mentions it. You people don't even know the history of your religion, yet you clamor to be the holiest person you think you know how to be.
What a sad and uninformed lot!
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