I need to do penance, because I am GLAD Joe Biden will not be allowed to receive communion. I am ashamed of myself. [I Was Raised Catholic]

30 Bishops of the Catholic church are now working on a document that will clarify what it means to be Catholic.

Those public figures who openly endorse abortion are in violation of the teachings of the Catholic church, and the Catholic Church will eventually have that right out there in writing with the support of 30 Catholic Bishops.

Unless and until these public figures STOP endorsing abortion, it is the HEIGHT of hypocrisy for them to continue receiving communion as though they were part of the body of Christ.

Joe Biden, when asked about this, refuses to comment...says, "That's personal." Noooo, Joe...

It's personal to everyday Catholics, IMO. But if the President of the United States is MODELING support of abortion to the entire world, is it personal any longer? That's the whole POINT, Joe. This is NOT a personal issue for public figures.

And that goes double and triple for Nancy Pelosi who drools on about her "heart of love" and how [i]HOLY[/i] she is. NOT.

Jesus, in the New Testament, was upset about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees...so I think it's not without precedent to be upset at the massive hypocrisy of our highest public figures.

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Heartlander · 80-89, M

I think this may precipitate a serious food fight within the Catholic church. For good or bad, we'll see.

I'm personally conflicted over the subject, as are probably many Catholics and/or religious people. On one hand, it's the question of where do we draw the line with government control of our behaviors. Do we not have the right to burn our own home down? On the other hand, can the government force us to finance that which we may be fundamentally against? Can a physician or nurse be forced to perform procedures that are in serious conflict with their fundamental beliefs?

Remember how Notre Dame University fawned over Barack Obama? It may be the bishops themselves who get called hypocrites by many within the church.

4meAndyou · F

@Heartlander The church is swinging about again, IMO. There is a very basic doctrine of what it means to be a Catholic, and it needs to be re-stated, (as the Bishops are doing), and public figures who claim to be Catholic need to be Catholic...or NOT.

We do NOT have the right to stop paying federal taxes. We will suffer the most harsh and severe punishments from the IRS if we do...to the point where our wages will be garnished to pay penalties, and we would lose everything we owned.

Because the punishment for non-payment of taxes is so onerous we have only one choice...pay the taxes. Forcing Catholics into mortal sin.

Doctors and nurses employed by planned parenthood had to QUIT, because they were gradually suckered into more and more extreme behavior, up to and including actively preaching abortion to young women who did not WANT abortions, in order to reach a quota. (That story was relayed by a former DIRECTOR of planned parenthood.) But at least with the issue of a JOB you can get a different job. We can not QUIT paying taxes.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@4meAndyou As I recall from the 60s, singer Joan Baez wasn't arrested for not paying all her federal taxes in her opposition to the Vietnam war. Nor was Jane Fonda arrested for giving aid and comfort to the enemy. There is enough leftist sympathy within our federal government and the media, regardless of which political party controls the white house and congress. I believe the headlines then had the hint of "I dare you" to arrest me, and if they had, it would have moved their causes higher up the flag pole. But I don't believe there would be comparable sympathy for conservative causes like abortion, not within the government itself, nor from the media.

The issue within the church is that not all Catholic institutions are branched through the local bishops. Many are chartered from Rome, or are legacy institutions that are too powerful on their own to be directly challenged by the local bishops. Within that jungle are dozens of issues, such as women clergy, married priest, divorce, remarriage, birth control, a dozen gender or sex related issues, etc.; all ready to pop to the surface in a food fight.

I remember from John-Paul 2's visit to the US, quite a few religious women's groups boycotted the appearances, even when he was just a few miles away. The issues were multiple. Many who had worked in 3rd and 4th world countries opposed his anti-birth control position, and many believed his position of not allowing women into the priesthood was so unreasonable that they refused to honor him when he visited.

While Joe Biden deserves to be called out, the bishops may instead be kicking a hornets nest.

4meAndyou · F

@Heartlander Celebrities, as we have noticed, are subject to a different set of rules and laws as the little people. What is highly visible is a celebrity protest...so they can get away with almost anything...while regular citizens can be hounded and victimized in the dark.

I applaud the actions of these 30 Bishops, who are finally speaking out, bravely, for the tenets of the Catholic Church. I LOVED the Bishop of San Francisco for his bravery in speaking out. These 30 Bishops are now on my list of personal heroes.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@4meAndyou I understand. But don't expect the whole Catholic world to support them. Even all the world's Catholic bishops may not support them. In one way I like what they are doing, but not because of what it's doing to leftist politicians but for the sake of an internal soul searching of itself.

4meAndyou · F

@Heartlander YES! You understand my point. It is for the SOUL of the church. It is a return to honesty.