Bishops to Biden: F in science & church history
September 10, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released its second statement in just two weeks correcting a prominent Catholic politician who has caused scandal by publicly defending abortion.
This past Sunday, during an interview on Meet the Press, Democratic VP-nominee Sen. Joseph Biden responded to questions about when life begins by saying that he agreed with the Church that, as a matter of faith, life begins at the moment of conception. However, he then defended his pro-abortion voting record by saying that he would not “impose” his faith on others. He claimed that to do so would be “inappropriate in a pluralistic society.”
Biden also appeared to contradict himself later on in the interview, saying that there was “debate” in the Church about when life begins, echoing claims made by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the same program several weeks ago, for which she earned the rebuke of over 25 bishops across the nation.
Today Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman, U.S. Bishops Committee on Doctrine, released a statement correcting Biden’s statements, saying, “Protection of innocent human life is not an imposition of personal religious conviction but a demand of justice.”
“The Senator’s claim that the beginning of human life is a ‘personal and private’ matter of religious faith, one which cannot be ‘imposed’ on others, does not reflect the truth of the matter,” write the bishops.
Instead, they say, the question of abortion rests on the answers to two questions that have little to do with religious faith.
The first question is a matter of biology - namely the question of when life begins - which the bishops says is easily answered by modern scientific advances. “While ancient thinkers had little verifiable knowledge to help them answer this question, today embryology textbooks confirm that a new human life begins at conception. The Catholic Church does not teach this as a matter of faith; it acknowledges it as a matter of objective fact.”
The second question is a moral question, namely, “Which living members of the human species should be seen as having fundamental human rights, such as a right not to be killed?”
The bishops are unequivocal in their answer: “The Catholic Church’s answer is: Everybody.”
Other bishops have spoken out as individuals. Notable among them is Washington, D. C. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl:
When life begins is not a matter of faith, but a matter of science. The scientific research available to us today confirms that the joining of the human egg and sperm begins a new human life. There is overwhelming empirical evidence that once conceived, that life will continue through its many natural stages, from embryo to fetus to infant to child and on until death. Religious belief does not change this scientific fact.
However, faith and the natural moral law guide us in how we treat this human life. The Catholic Church has been unwavering in its teaching, as we are told in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception…Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.” (paragraphs 2270-2271)
Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin, saw the Sunday morning Meet the Press interview, then scrapped his homily in favor of a sermon addressing the Senator and Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fallacious remarks about Church teaching on abortion. To hear the sermon, click here and scroll down.
For a complete listing of bishops’ statements, see Women for Faith & Family’s Diocesan Bishops’ Statements.
Sherry Tyree, 66, a graduate of John Burroughs School and Washington University, is a founding member (1984) and Vice President of Women for Faith & Family, a national Catholic women's organization that supports and defends traditional church teachings. Sherry is married to Dr. Donald A. Tyree, professor emeritus, School of Business, St. Louis University. 
The September issue of Discover magazine has some pages on the Pontifical Academy and how the Catholic hierarchy keeps up with science. The following link contains pretty much the same story.
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/sep/18-how-to-teach-science-to-the-pope/?searchterm=Vatican
Isn’t it also science that says Evolution is FACT and Creation is FICTION?
We certainly have our ways to accept the things that support our own desires is what this boils down to.
Furthermore, if the Church truly believes:
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The second question is a moral question, namely, “Which living members of the human species should be seen as having fundamental human rights, such as a right not to be killed?”
The bishops are unequivocal in their answer: “The Catholic Church’s answer is: Everybody.”
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If the ANSWER truly is EVERBOBY, where is your OUTRAGE concerning the DEATH PENALTY. Isn’t the Church being HYPOCRITES? It is very difficult for people to follow you if you have the appearance of hypocrites.
Is the Catholic Church making a fuss about Catholic politicians and members who support the DEATH PEANALTY? In fact, what is the Church’s stand on the death penalty of men and women?
See how Pro-Life Christians/Catholics appear almost Pharisee identical?
Lastly, don’t all Christians and Catholics understand they are to live holy lives? And, why are Catholics and other Christians so intent on controlling what sinners choose to do and not understand that only God has the authority to judge these outside the religion (church).
Life does begin at conception but the life is not a complete life until it that life growing within the womb can sustain life independently outside the mother’s womb. So even thought life begins the womb of the mother’s.
THE QUESTION (ARGUMENT) SHOULD NOT BE:
“When does LIFE BEGIN”?
But,
“When is LIFE COMPLETE”?
To me, it is clearly evident that many are totally wrong in their approach on this issue and the issue of the death penalty, even though not many in grave error cannot see the death penalty as an issue.
Furthermore,
If a the life growing within the womb is intentionally aborted before the life is complete, I truly sees it as a rejection of a God’s creation, much like the rejection of a gift that the mother must face God concerning and where God will deal with and judge this mother in His timing, not ours.
Because the abortion I am certain is not the most important issue that God needs to deal with such a woman/girl about in her life.
Is it true that Catholics do not believe that babies go to Heaven unless they have been Christened? I heard Father Corapi say this and I do have such high respect for Father Carapi and actually look forward to listening to him. However, I totally disagree with that belief and can find no scripture to support such a belief.
But the Catholic Church is very upfront and makes known the Catholic Church rules and what one must accept and believe to be a Catholic in good standing. One of the reasons that I did not become Catholic was that I truly do not believe nor do I feel that many of the Church’s teachings are scriptural and because I do not believe these things I would be made to feel bad and in error about something that I could not se as being correct and biblically.
More right-wing propaganda from Sherry Tyree pimping the abortion wedge issue. A great example of why seperation of church and state is vital to a democracy. H.G. Wells was right when he wrote that the Catholic church is far more interested in the kingdom of Rome than in the kingdom of Heaven.
beenthere - thanks for tagging another Tyree Tirade.
The Title of this one is “Bishopes to Biden - F in science & church history”. I’d like to hear Sherry’s opinions about the tenets of Palin’s religion, which interprets the Bible literally, and how well these stack up to science. Did Adam and Eve really live with dinosaurs 6,000 years ago?
Tyree Tirade - I like that. If Sherry Tyree really is the Catholic she claims she is, rather than just being a shill for right-wing politics, then she would consider Sarah Palin and her chruch to be heretics, since they broke away from the Catholic Church.
Why not ever engage her you two clones? If you’re so right, why can’t you argue your point? Silence the opposition, burn a book, “tag” a blog. Get a life.
The issue is regarding life and when a human life begins. Science is clear on this. It’s not a matter of faith. Biden certainly shows his cowardice on this issue. He also exemplifies why the left will not win over the religious vote. He shows that his faith is fake. If democrats keep this up, they will effectively run out any true believer in any faith system. What he says by this is that your faith is a make-believe thing you pretend to have on Sunday, but it’s just a nice play-pretend system to make you feel good because that’s how you were raised. Good luck with that philosophy.
How can you have faith in something you find to be illogical and demonstrably false? You can’t, despite popular belief faith is not believing in the impossible, illogical, or beleving in whatyou know to be wrong. That would be self negating. You can’s simultaneously believe and not believe in something.
An F would be a gracious grade for him on this.
Mike:
Biden’s faith is FAKE? Do you mean Biden’s faith in Christ or Biden’s faith in the Catholic Church?
Mike, it is obvious that you are the one who is confused about the Christian faith, but you are well grounded in the Catholic traditions and teachings which are fallable and have been proven falliable as all men and women are, even the church but, never one’s faith in Christ.
Now are you saying that Biden’s faith in Christ is FAKE and why exactly and in order to make your point it must be able to be supported by scripture are a number of them to make your point. Otherwise it means NOTHING other than your own thoughts and opinions.
Mike - You want me to argue the point? Well, if right-wingers really were against abortion, they would be working to make sure that contraceptives were available free or at low cost so unwanted pregnancy could be prevented, but they don’t. The Catholic Church can’t even support the use of condoms.
If they really were against abortion, they would make sure that the morning-after pill was available in cases of rape or accidental failure of some other type of contraceptive, but they don’t. They try to ban it.
If they really were against abortion, they would work to ensure that a comprehensive sex education program was taught in schools so young people could understand how to not get pregnant and understand that having sex has consequences, but they don’t. They fight sex education programs.
If they really were against abortion, they would support same sex marriage. Have you ever heard of a gay couple having an abortion? But, once again, no, they are against it.
So, what it actually comes down to is that the Catholic Church is not really against abortion … it is against sex! Sex is supposed to be only for procreation and, even then, you shouldn’t enjoy it. It’s original sin.
But, in essence, the question on abortion comes down to this … if you don’t believe in abortion … don’t have one.