Cindy Sheehan Can't Speak at Church
You remember Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war activist. Well, she was scheduled to appear April 9 at St. John the Evangelist Church hall in Scranton to speak with Pax Christi of Northeastern Pennsylvania. That is, until the Diocese of Scranton got wind of it. Then...not so much.
Never one to shy away from publicity, Sheehan, a former Catholic, now has plenty to say about the Church because of it. And as you can imagine, she's not being so nice. According to published reports she's calling the Church not truly pro-life and hypocritical.
The Diocese of Scranton issued this statement:
The March 11 issue of The Catholic Light contained a notice about an upcoming appearance by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who was scheduled to speak at St. John Hall in Scranton on April 9.And now it's like the diocese lit the Sheehan fuse because now she's attacking the Church calling it not really pro-life, hypocritical and not caring about people who have already been born.
This notice was published in error. Neither Cardinal Justin Rigali, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, nor Bishop-elect Joseph C. Bambera had authorized the use of a Diocesan or parish facility to host this speaker. Although Mrs. Sheehan is well known for her anti-war stance against the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq , she also supports positions that are contrary to Church teaching regarding life and marriage issues.
Therefore, her appearance at St. John Hall has been cancelled and she will not be allowed to speak at any other Diocesan or parish facility.
The Standard Speaker reports:
She said this is the first time a diocese has banned her from speaking at a Catholic venue.So let me get this straight. She's telling a newspaper that she's for a woman's right to choose and gay marriage to explain that she never talks about a woman's right to choose and her support of gay marriage. That make sense to anyone?
She has received awards from a Catholic organization because of her anti-war views and spoke inside a Catholic church in Columbus, Ohio, and at a Catholic church hall in Cleveland, Ohio, she said.
"Those bishops didn't make a big deal about it," she said.
Sheehan, a former Catholic parish youth minister, said she left the church years ago because of its willingness to cover up sexual abuse by priests.
"Every time the church does something like this, it enrages me because first of all I feel I've dedicated my life to peace," she said. "I don't go to my events and say, 'I'm for a woman's right to choose' or 'I'm for marriage equality.' That's not what I speak about. I speak about ending these unjust wars that killed my son."
The church has failed to "take a lead role in demanding the U.S. end its military misadventures around the world," which would be a pro-life position, she said.
"Whenever they do something like this, they just call more attention to the hypocrisy of their positions," she said. "To me, it's more like they want to protect the unborn than they want to protect the people who are already born."
I'm sure we'll hear more about this from Ms. Sheehan. I'm sure that if she thinks there's publicity to be had she'll show up at Cardinal Rigali's office like she did near Dick Cheney's house a few months ago.
43 comments:
I believe the war in Iraq and Afghanistan should be fought but I also believe others have the right to their opinion. I think it is wrong to lie about the church because they won't let her speack at Christian facilities. There are other places she can speak.
Pax Christi is a radical leftist activist agitating organization posing as a Catholic peace movement.
If Ms. Sheehan can be believed, what I find extremely irrating is that other Catholic Churches have allowed her to speak at their locations. In this way alone the Catholic Church looks hypocritical. I am happy that the Cardinal and Bishop stepped up in this case but I have to wonder where the other Bishops/Cardinals where when she was speaking at the other Catholic Churches?
By the way, why is she not protesting Obama? He is keeping troops in Afganistan. She goes to the former Vice President's house why is she not protesting at the White House?
In fairness to Ms. Sheehan, the Church should have taken a far firmer stance against the Iraq War...
I always find people like Sheehan interesting. I don't doubt that when people left the Church because of the scandal that they did so out of a genuinely deep disappointment with the Church. And then I think of my friend, one of the most practical women I know. This woman has had tremendous heartache in her life. Her inability to NOT be scandalized by the worst of human behavior is to be admired. Through her, I've come to learn that when we are scandalized by terrible behavior, such as the scandal, then we not only fail to remember that we have original sin and that humans are capable of anything, but that we also commit the sin of piety, just like the Pharisee over the tax collector. We become so scandalized that we leave the Church exactly when She needs us most.
I find it weird,her comment "Every time the Church does something like this, It enrages me....because I've dedicated my life to 'peace'." Say whaaaa?
Only a radical loon would include rage and peace in the same sentence, as if it were a virtue.
She left the church because of it's stances on abortion etc, and now she feels entitled to speak......in a CHURCH???
This is the same liberation theology that is spewed from the America hating minister of Barak Obama, the so called Rev. Wright.
She seems weirdly captivated by attention of any kind, and is not taking her being pushed out of the limelight gracefully.
But sad to say, there are a lot of professed Catholics who would line up to see her.
Oh, Cindy...blah blah blah blah. Just wish you could get a life.
This one is to you G, she has her life dedicated to peace, she has her goals straight, she thinks she's doing the right thing she's just doing it wrong.
Does she realise her son volunteered and understood the risks .that he died serving his country faithfully and that he died because it was his time. That he is being dishonored by his mothers actions. Perhaps she should look at Mary Our Blessed Mother whose Son died unjustly before her eyes.Did Mary protest against the Romans or abandon her faith because of the treasonous Rabbis that handed Him over?Hey Cindy you are so lost take some time out for deep reflection and prayer..let God heal you and open your eyes you are a walking contradiction a banging gong.
HOW THE HELL IS SHE SPEAKING AT ANY CATHOLIC CHURCH. MANY PRIESTS AND BISHOPS ARE ON THE ROAD TO HELL AND THEY ARE TAKING MANY SOULS WITH THEM....Our Lady of Garabandal!
A life dedicated to peace by going around as an enraged dissident, causing dissension and spewing hatred and bitterness against anyone who doesn't agree with her --- you know, she's guided by the truth that we just are not blessed enough to know. How unique. The Church has never encountered forces like this before!
Poor Cindy Shehan has allowed herself to be duped into thinking that she's an advocate for peace. She carries a hatred in her heart and is so puffed up with pride that she can't think straight. She in fact needs our prayers so she will be open to the Holy Spirit touching her heart and healing her. Only then will she be qualified to speak of peace.
Why ANYONE pays any attention to this woman is totally beyond me. Just pray for her...
Precisely hate is not the cure for your pains Mrs.Sheehan. If you believe your political afilliation, and not God is the cure for our times illnesses ,you totally lost your mind. The same way you were wounded by war,you are wounding and hurting a lot of people with your extreme partisanship. I'm praying for you . Let our God,the all Powerful One, from the silence of His Will judge you.
Rule #54B--Never let a nut speak at your church.
I agree wholeheartedly with Sandra.
Kim Luisi,
Piety is not a sin, it is a virtue.
That statement is indicative of the underlying root of the problem - poor catechesis. There is an ongoing "practical schism" in the Catholic Church - watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE-f5RNlQyg&feature=PlayList&p=ADD2A63E2916A73F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
It's a shame that most of the hierarchy are either too afraid to oppose or are deliberately complicit in perpetuating false "Catholic" ideology. Even EWTN has become infected - read more here: http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/index.php/topic,3428235.0.html
Kyrie eleison!
Another Saul Alinsky-ite posing as a Catholic! Hooah to the Bishop! The Church also needs to clean house at CCHD (Catholic Campaign to Help Democrats). Check out Real Catholic TV report. Thanks be to God for Biship Ricken in Green Bay to suspending contributions to CCHD. To be Catholic is to accept the Church teachings without heresy of liberalism/progressivism. Pius XI condemned socialism. It was correct in the 1930s; it's correct now.
Your man Obama has expanded the wars of agression and is now openly speaking about attacking Iran, He's included abortion as part of pre-natal care for "potential" mothers as as a choice that must be available in his health care plan. Barry spoke at Notre Dame and the school officials had arrested former alumni who tried to protest for trespassing. But Cindy Sheehan they stop from speaking, and by the way, she's against Obama's wars, but of course you won't know that since they won't allow her to speak. Satan really has entered the Church, and he won't be leaving anytime soon.
I would like to know just where exactly she was in Cleveland, Ohio. Does anyone know how I could find out?
Thanks!
Why bother letting a former Catholic speak at a Catholic church? It's like asking someone to punch you.
Silence is golden. Thank you Bishop.
Cindy Sheehan is a voice that should never be heard in catholic churches or Catholic cirlces. She is a poor lost soul who needs our prayers
Does anyone find it strange that Sheehan was given the pulpit to exposit her POLITICAL views? How often are we told that the Church is in danger of losing their tax-exempt status if they engage in politics? I guess if you are reflexively leftist, the IRS will forgive you.
Ms. Sheehan has been through a heart wrenching ordeal and needs our prayers, compassion and love.
Let the truth be spoken humbly in our hearts and pervade over our land. Dear Jesus, in Your Mercy, heal us all where we need it, for the good of our souls and always for Your Glory. Amen.
God bless us, everyone.
Anonymous:
Please understand what is meant by piety. Piety is a false sense of piousness. Piety and piousness are not the same thing. One can do a pious act, such as pray the rosary, without engaging in piety. The example I gave with the Pharisee and the tax collector shows the Pharisee practicing piety: a shallow faith, while holding all the "outward" signs. But the tax collector, showed true piousness: an act of selflessness through his prayer. He was truly humble.
Using your example of EWTN, we could probably say that piety abounds there and piousness is lacking.
Cindy can't speak because she is pro-abortion. So how does Notre Dame get off?
Kim - piety is one of the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens us in our duty to God. It is no way a false sense of piousness. False piety is the example of the Pharisee in Christ's parable.
The opposite of piety would be irreverence.
Ms Sheehan does NOT accept the Magesterial teachings of the Holy Mother Church.
She is therefore a non- Catholic with absolutely no right to speak with her forked tongue in any Catholic Church or property.
She preaches peace on the one hand and supports; "War In The Womb" on the other.
She also subscribes to the support of anti-life"Sodogomous" unions.
Catholic indeed????
Ms Sheehan needs to remember that"A House Divided against It's Self Cannot Stand"
She is in dire need of prayer.
Would Sheehan allow someone with whom she disagrees to speak in her home? No, of course not! She is a typical former Catholic become anti-Catholic. They are the most viral and bigoted against the Church, because they want a Church in their likeness.
Larry D:
I do understand that piety is one of the gifts of the HS. However, I am making a distinction between true piety (piousness) and false piety (piety). I thought that was clear.
Does anyone see a healing of the church in the near future? Reading all of the above is depressing. With the Church experiencing a cleansing of sorts and world the way it is, I'm thinking we are possibly witnessing end times. There is so much negativity, how do we get back to a place of truly living Church teaching and peace?
Anonymous:
"how do we get back to a place of truly living Church teaching and peace?"
The truth is, we've never been there to begin with. Throughout Her history, the Church has always been rife with scandal, even as far back as the Council of Jerusalem. We are constantly undergoing a cleansing because we are constantly plagued by scandal. You would think by now that we would no longer be surprised by scandal,but alas, that's not true. We always seem to think that whatever the current scandal is, it is the worst in Church history, and surely the Church is falling apart? Surely there was a time when we were peaceful? But closer look at history does not bear this rose-colored view out. We have always been plagued by scandal and we always will be until the end of time.
The problem is not that there is scandal in the Church. It's pretending that scandal isn't really scandal. Same-sex marriage and abortion are objectively wrong, no matter who tells you that. They are not the only wrongs out there, but they are the ones with a significant constituency trying to tell us they are not wrong. One can be honestly in error about whether x war is just or not. There is no such wiggle-room on abortion and ssm. People can dive down the ad hominem escape hatch if they want, but it doesn't change the truth.
When we get to the point of not being surprised by scandal, that will be a dark day indeed, for then the actions/behavior will no longer BE scandalous, but accepted. I agree that there never was, and never will be on earth, a perfect time in the Church, but we must always remain vigilant against the scandals and heresies that do harm to the faith.
Lori:
I disagree. We should never be surprised by scandal. Christ was not surprised by scandal. However, don't confuse not being surprised by it with accepting it. The two are not the same. Christ said to be as wise as serpents. Because we are still surprised by human behavior, that means we still have a long way to go with being wise.
"The problem is not that there is scandal in the Church. It's pretending that scandal isn't really scandal. "
Exactly, romish graffiti. And I think that's why amiguity and apathy are so wrong.
Kim - I have to protest mildly. We understood the distinction you made between true and false piety, but you left us puzzled by your terms:
I am making a distinction between true piety (piousness) and false piety (piety).
This strongly implies that you think ALL piety is false. That's why Larry D pointed out that piety is from God. I think it's more accurate to have drawn the distinction between true piety (piety) and false piety (smugness, pride).
No big deal, since we know now what you mean... but not every visitor might!
nightfly:
I think the problem is in our English language. We have too many words with several meanings. I do like to make the distinction between false piety and true piety with different words. For me, it's like the difference between morality (good) and moralism (bad)
I do understand that piety is one of the gifts of the HS. However, I am making a distinction between true piety (piousness) and false piety (piety). I thought that was clear.
It's not clear at all. That's like saying true charity is charitableness while false charity is charity. You can't define something by the same word - that's why it was unclear to me what you were trying to say. The Pharisee wasn't displaying piety, he was displaying pride.
Nightfly had it right.
And that's all I'm going to say on this to avoid the risk of hijacking the thread.
Regardless, Larry, I thought my meaning was clear the first time I said because I gave the example of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Even if my use of the word threw you a little, the example should have gotten you back on track.
What do you expect from a clergy that is infamous for protecting child rapists in its own ranks?
The comments on this forum about Cindy Sheehan, a woman whose son died in Iraq, which is a war based on lies, a war in which almost a million innocent Iraqis also have been killed, a war which Pope John Paul named an unjust war, are beyond saddening.
How can those who claim concern for the rights of the unborn while ignoring the well-being and right to life of the living claim to be following the Christ as expressed in the gospels of peace, love and forgiveness?
The Diocese of Scranton seems far removed from Christian charity. One can pray that the Holy Spirit brings healing and opens eyes blind to the suffering of those for whom Cindy Sheehan speaks.
Cindy Sheehan is a hypocrite. She is self-serving and always has been. Interested in making a name for herself and using the death of her son to do so. She should be ashamed and hide her face in her hands, ask God to forgive her.
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