Addressing Issues of Life from the Pulpit
MISLEADING THE FLOCK
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San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy recently has been providing voting advice to young students. You might be thinking, "That is so nice to have a Bishop encourage young people to do their civic duty." Well, not so quick, folks. He might be encouraging these impressionable young people on being civically responsible, but he is flagrantly contradicting the teachings of the Church as well as the position of Pope Francis.
Bishop McElroy claims Catholics need to consider the "Common Good" when voting, and we should not vote based on a single issue, including abortion. He said, "the death toll from abortion is more immediate, but the long-term death toll from unchecked climate change is larger and threatens the very future of humanity." He added, "Both abortion and the environment are core life issues on Catholic teaching." These statements come after the Pope announced, "Protecting life is the preeminent social and political issue." To be clear, the word preeminent means surpassing all others.
This Bishop has never refrained from sharing his disdain for the current administration or numerous conservative issues. His rhetoric on climate change falls right in line with the far left, as well as his desire for open borders and disdain for I.C.E. So when he pontificates his leftist propaganda, he is telling these young people HOW to vote.
It is no secret that all Democrat candidates are climate change alarmists and that most Republican candidates take a more conservative approach (like having it proven first). And, it is no secret the Democrat platform has gone all in for abortion, up until the mother is in labor and if the baby survives the abortion, let it die. And using the excuse the Democrat candidate is pro-life doesn’t fly either….the platform rules.
So … What is Bishop McElroy telling young Catholics? What is he telling ALL Catholics? He is telling us we can sin by cooperating in abortion by voting for a pro-choice candidate as long as that candidate is eco-friendly.
The Pope and Catechism both are abundantly clear. I find it disheartening and reprehensible that a Bishop feels he can reinterpret church teachings and mislead his flock, especially at the expense of the unborn.
About the Author
Patti J. Smith is a devoted Catholic and pro-life advocate. She shares her journey from a life of sinful excess to redemption across the country, including pro-life conferences, to members of Congress, at the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and the Walks for Life in San Diego and San Francisco. She has been a guest on several radio shows, including Immaculate Heart Radio and Radio Maria. She also appears in two documentaries, "The Sidewalk Chronicles" and "Hush."
Patti writes Christian devotionals. One of them, "Redeemed – Rosary Meditations for Post-Abortive Women," is used at healing retreats and written in a way to be used by all denominations. Her most recent release is "And God Still Loves Me – A Story of Hope and Healing." She has also had articles published in the National Catholic Register, Life News, and the Southern Cross.
She is a retired background investigator, has a son, step-daughter, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. She lives with her husband, Michael, in Defuniak Springs, Florida.
