deal with the devil

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jan 02, 2007

Back in 2004, Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote a pointed critique of the arguments that former New York Governor Mario Cuomo had advanced to justify a “pro-choice” stance. Cuomo, the archbishop argued, was in effect saying:

In brief, it’s OK to be Catholic in public service as long as you’re willing to jettison what’s inconveniently “Catholic.”?
That’s not a compromise. That’s a deal with the devil, and it has a balloon payment no nation, no public servant and no voter can afford.

Right on.

But for the benefit of those who might not remember Cuomo’s argument, let me provide a recap. Cuomo said:

I strongly oppose any effort that would seek to criminalize women or their doctors over this issue. I would strongly oppose legislation similar to the one recently passed by the South Dakota legislature. As governor, I would enforce existing laws, including Roe v. Wade. It's not part of my agenda to change these laws: Improving education, health care and our economy - which will be the top priorities for my administration - will do more to improve the lives of children and reduce the number of abortions in our country than a divisive focus on punishing the women who find themselves turning to it as a solution.

Oh, wait. That’s not a quote from Cuomo. It’s from Bill Ritter, the newly elected Governor of Colorado. But the argument is basically the same “deal with the devil” proposed by Mario Cuomo.

In another 2004 newspaper column, Archbishop Chaput took on the argument about “pro-choice” Catholic politicians who wish to receive the Eucharist:

Claiming to be Catholic and then rejecting Catholic teaching is an act of dishonesty and a lack of personal integrity. Worse, if we then receive Communion, we violate every Catholic who does believe and does strive to live the faith fully and unselfishly.

Obviously the archbishop doesn’t want every Catholic in Denver to be violated. So while he stopped short of saying that a “pro-choice” Catholic politician should be denied Communion, he certainly wouldn’t want to do anything to encourage that pol. Such as-- oh, say, scheduling a special Mass to celebrate his inauguration as governor. At Holy Ghost parish. On January 9.

Clarification by Diogenes

The purpose of my original post was to call attention to the January 9 plans. I did not intend to imply that Archbishop Chaput was involved in the planning; in fact I wanted to call those plans directly to his attention. If I unintentionally led readers to believe that the archbishop himself would be celebrating the Mass, then I owe him an apology. If the plans have been derailed, kudos.