Alaska bishop: both Biden, Ryan hold views that are ‘inconsistent’ with Church teaching
October 30, 2012
Both Vice President Joe Biden and candidate Paul Ryan hold views that are “inconsistent” with Catholic teaching, Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau said in a column that appeared in the city’s daily newspaper.
“Each vice presidential candidate has been inconsistent in the ways in which they have followed the moral teaching of the Catholic Church,” he wrote, adding:
Vice President Biden, while stating that he believes, as his Church does, that life begins at conception, and while professing his personal opposition to abortion, supports the virtually unlimited right to abortion that has resulted in deaths of millions of unborn children since the tragic Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. In addition to this position of his in conflict with the teaching of the Church, Vice President Biden has also come out in support of legalizing same-sex marriage.
By way of contrast, Congressman Ryan has been a resolute advocate of Catholic moral teaching on the defense of the unborn and traditional marriage between one man and one woman. However, the Federal budget that he has proposed could do harm to the poor and vulnerable by neglecting their legitimate needs. For example, Congressman Ryan proposed a budget that has received a critique by the Domestic Justice and Human Development and International Justice and Peace committees of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, stating that “a just spending bill cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor and vulnerable persons.”
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Nov. 01, 2012 8:48 PM ET USA
Finally,a prelate with the guts to speak directly. Catholics don't wish to hear facts,witness some of the email poison circulating regarding the poor.
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Posted by: djpeterson -
Oct. 31, 2012 5:13 PM ET USA
Sorry to say, but the bishop has a very valid point. In addition, it is clear that promoting huge defense increases is wasteful and insidious. Pro-life should not mean carte blanche to launch new Mideast wars like those of W. Bush. War also destroys human life.
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Posted by: claire5327 -
Oct. 30, 2012 6:42 PM ET USA
"The poor you shall always have!" We have been using the term "For the poor" for too long without doing it JUSTLY that Charity has became "entitlement." There is neither gratitude in receiving it nor is there LOVE from the hands passing them out~the Government. All are in the wash with no return in every turn. Soon we will all be on the receiving end and blame the Government for not creating more wealth to pass around! The doers will stop doing, why should they work hard for no return?
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Oct. 30, 2012 6:25 PM ET USA
It's because of bishops like Burns that we have so many confused and poorly educated Catholics who will vote for the baby killer over the guy that wants to try something different to help the poor get off the dole, after nearly 50 years of LBJ's War on Poverty, which has actually increased national poverty by a staggering amount.
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Posted by: Leferink557202 -
Oct. 30, 2012 12:20 PM ET USA
Does His Excellency not know the difference between intrinsic evils and prudential judgements?
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Oct. 30, 2012 11:24 AM ET USA
Notice that VP Biden's failure is a matter of irreformable and binding moral doctrine, while Rep. Ryan's legislative action is a matter of prudential judgment. Vastly different species of moral culpability. A potentially vigorous Ryan economy would allow private organizations, such as churches, to fill the want that the bishop apparently expects the federal government to fill.
