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More on the story from USA Today.

No Wonder the "Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good" are so upset.

They have been masterly unmasked


Bishops lined up by the dozens Tuesday to add increasingly harsh language to a preliminary draft of the statement, to be crafted and signed by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Further elaboration on the nullification of all conscience laws (as we do here in the Archdiocese of Boston courtesy of the jellyfish at the Chancery and Rectories.):

To Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago Thomas Paprocki, that would precipitate a cascade of disasters: It would "nullify all conscience laws" allowing doctors, nurses and others to object to abortion, and would require abortions to be performed by all hospitals — which could lead to ending obstetrics services in all Catholic hospitals, even to closing the hospitals entirely. To sell a Catholic hospital to someone who provided abortions would also be "morally unacceptable," he said.

"I don't think I am being alarmist," Paprocki concluded.

The hammered out draft says in part:

"The common good of our country is assured only when the life of every unborn child is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies and legislation will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans and would be interpreted by many Catholics as an attack on the Church."

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D., suggested adding the First Amendment of the Constitution because "the free exercise of religion is what will be under attack."

And the following, is so amazing that words would do an injustice:

"Any one of us here would consider it a privilege to die tomorrow — die tomorrow! — to bring about the end of abortion," said Auxiliary Bishop Robert Hermann of St. Louis.

Here's where Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United got a can of whoopass:

Even the phrase "common good" didn't find common acceptance.

Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., complained that abortion rights advocates, including a group he mocked as "Catholics for Alliance for the so-called Common Good" have drained away all proper understanding of the phrase, making it one about material wealth, not spiritual rightness.

"Don't let people think common good is a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage," said Martino.

They are finished dividing Catholics from Rome and from the Truth.

But Martino was chiefly determined to blast politicians who are "stridently anti-life.

Although the session was billed as a discussion on "Catholic Teaching and Political Life," it focused entirely on the bishops' effort to reclaim influence in the wider public square among all Catholics.

Martino, from vice president elect Joe Biden's home town, insisted, "I cannot have the vice president coming to Scranton and saying he learned his values there when those values are utterly against those of the Catholic Church."

Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York, asked George to "speak clearly and with a punch" so the statement's message won't be lost in the noise of the public square.

George, who will write the final draft, told the bishops, "we haven't succeeded" in past efforts, so new language, stressing mutual responsibility, accountability and community, is needed to connect with the Catholic audience.

They're speaking to everyone, he said, but it is "Catholics who are under our authority — the word that sends everyone up the wall."

Thank you Jesus. A thousand thank yous. Thank you Mary, Pope John Paul II, St. Peter, St. Paul, everyone who prayed and worked their fingers to the bone all these many hard 40 years.
We are free at last.