Bishop of Memphis Meet African American Priest John Raphael, (Obama Racism Cont)

I talked about this issue and why despite these remarks I really appreciate the Bishop of Memphis. See A Response to the Catholic Bishop Of Memphis on Racism and Obama

It appears that the full transcript of the Bishops words are available via Whispers. See "Racism," Cont'd.

Let me hit this part:
"When President Obama was inaugurated four buses full of African Americans Catholics drove for more than 19 hours to be present for the historic moment. But they felt that their celebration was muted because they had heard that so many of our bishops did not seem to understand the significant moment.

They seemed not to understand what the whole world took to heart -- that President Obama's election was creating or beginning a whole new era that rejected racial stereotypes and it was opening the door to more embracing international relationships."But many of our Church did not share that jubilation.

And this, people, I will admit to you too. Nothing was done during other administrations, nothing was said when other presidents who favored the war in Iraq with its constant killing, or who favored capital punishment were given awards in the name of the Church, even though those presidents were not adhering to Catholic Right to Life principles. Because of his clearly unacceptable stand on abortion many who are leaders in the church are willing to pillory President Obama with direct confrontation rather than with clear moral teaching about abortion and public law."

Oh goodness where to start. First as much as the Bishop might want the Vatican policy line on State Execution or the Iraq war to be on par with abortion it is not. The Church is quite clear that abortion is a whole different kettle of fish. In those areas Catholics are allowed prudential judgement. On abortion they are not.

Further to say the Bishops were silent on the significance of the moment of the election of the First African American President I think is pretty much hogwash.

Also we see the Bishop's political projection upon Obama. Almost what he wants Obama to be and not perhaps what he really is. I am not sure why Catholics should be beholden to that or celebrating what the Bishop so wants Obama to be.

The political projection is key. Does the good Bishop not realize that there would have been a similar response if a President Giuliani was honored. Did he not noticed the Catholics against Rudy movement and the very huge threat and promise given that many Republican Catholics would split if he got the nomination. That many of the people that were leading the charge on the Notre Dame Issue were the same against Rudy?

What if a President Hillary Clinton had showed up on Campus after having reversed the Mexico City Policy and reversing policy on stem cell research and appointing a host of Pro-Choice radicals to the White House? Does he not think there would be outrage ON a similar scale?

However let me end with this. Meet African American Priest .Rev. John Raphael, SSJ . He is the Principal of the famous African American St Augustine Catholic High School in New Orleans.

First read this news at Obama's honor from Notre Dame upsets N.O. priest which is a good Picayune overview.

Then go and see the vid of the stirring address he did at the protest at Notre Dame.

New Orleans African American Priest's Speech At Alternative Graduation at Notre Dame

Here is just a part:
indeed you are a minority on campus—and I know a little bit about being a minority on campus, it wasn’t all that bad!—You are not a minority in the rest of this great nation of ours! Recent scientific polls (Rasmussen and Gallup) tell us that 60% of American Catholics are with you, 52% of all Americans are withyou, and even 51% of Americans identify themselves as being PRO-LIFE! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Your witness has been conducted with dignity, with charity and with respect for all. Like all witnesses for truth, you have come under attack. You have been called names and your intentions have been impugned. Because of the historic dimensions of the election of the first African American president of the United States, and because you have rightly challenged the university’s decision to honor him, you have even been called racist!

What shall I say…Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for such did they treat the prophets before you!

The truth is that you are anything but racist!

Racist is Planned Parenthood’s conscious targeting of African American and Latino communities for surgical and chemical extinction through abortion and contraception.

Racist is the fact that 37% of abortions in the United States are performed on African American women and their babies, who comprise 13% of the American population.

Racist is the genocidal magnitude of the 447,000 African American babies whose precious lives are destroyed each year before they ever get a chance to see the light of day.

Racist and sexist is the presumption that a poor, unwed mother, with the right kind of support and assistance, does not have the capacity to love her baby enough to allow him to live—with her, or with another loving family—despite the circumstances of his conception............

Amen more at the link

Update-

I wanted to highlight this small part from the New Orleans Picayune Link

"Part of me can say this is an unbelievable thing, " he said Friday as he sat in his school office. "As an African-American, I fully appreciate what this means."

But "no country is governed by symbols. We're governed by politicians, few of whom are free of shortcomings." Raphael said Obama's support for abortion rights compels him to speak out in an "alternative commencement" that a minority of Notre Dame students, faculty and friends of the university have organized to be held at the same time as the real undergraduate commencement.

May Father's political wisdom spread.