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| Vital Services? |
It appears that these blog topics were somewhat prophetic, as news has come out today regarding further clarity on exactly where Senator Lisa Murkowski, a self professed Catholic and Republican, stands on the issue of abortion. Josh Mercer of CatholicVote.org and Dan over at GLACC have posted a Politico.com story about Murkowski and the recent bill to defund Planned Parenthood - the largest provider of abortions in the country.
From Politico.com:
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has come out in opposition to the House’s attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, making her the first Republican senator to specifically support the beleaguered organization.Vital services? Where does it talk about those in the Catechism of the Catholic Church? The Politico story goes on:
“I believe Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with their funding cuts in the bill,” Murkowski wrote in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). “I ask you to consider these programs going forward to determine if there is room for allowing continued funding.”
In an e-mail to a constituent, Murkowski expanded on her position, also taking shots at the House Republicans’ attempts to end Title X funding. “I do believe that Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with its funding cuts contained in the H.R. 1 package,” she wrote in a Friday e-mail, obtained by POLITICO. “From 2002-2008, Planned Parenthood received $342 million in federal taxpayer money through Title X funding alone. With these funds, Planned Parenthood has provided women throughout the U.S. with important family planning and contraceptive services as well as screening for breast and cervical cancers for low-income women. I believe it is important that Title X organizations continue to receive funding. In Alaska, this includes five centers — two health department clinics, two Planned Parenthood clinics in Sitka and Soldotna and one independent clinic.”This is problematic because she is causing scandal amongst the faithful. How do I know, well just today there were folks praying in front of the Planned Parenthood in Soldotna. How then do they reconcile their actions and beliefs against those of Senator Murkowski, and elected official that is a professed Catholic. One of these sides must be in line with Catholic teaching, the other must not for they are mutually exclusive.
It seems that she continues "obstinately persevere in grave sin" by supporting, promoting and funding abortion via her office as an elected official. What message does it send when she attends Mass with her constituents and fellow Catholics? Let us pray for her conversion, repentance, and return to a full understanding of the teachings of the Church.
For that to occur though, the Archbishop must act in some manner - we need a shepherd that is courageous. We cannot demand that he act, nor can we demand the manner in which he does act if he chooses to do so. But we can pray, and and can urge him to act. The way in which we should do so is to write a letter or email to him with charitable comments and an explanation of how this causes scandal amongst us the faithful. I don't know if it would be proper to suggest Canon 915, but we surely can prayerfully urge him to make some statement or take some action.
For ease his is Archdiocesan contact information:
Most Reverend Roger Schwietz, OMI
Archbishop of Anchorage
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-297-7700
Kim Bacik
Archbishops Assistant
Reverend Tom Lilly
Vicar General
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