Lisante Apologizes… But Not Really
I wrote a few days ago about Msgr. Jim Lisante, a priest who made a pro-McCain, anti-Obama speech at a Republican event and used a prayer to make a cheap partisan quip.
Well, now Lisante says he should not have done so during the invocation — but reserved the right to publicly back McCain. “I do not as a priest forfeit my right as a citizen to a point of view, even when it comes to standing by a particular candidate,” he claimed. But that is disputed. Cardinal George’e response to Pfleger suggests otherwise, and his own diocese of Rockville Centre formally reminds priests every year that they are prohibited from publicly backing candidates or parties, and that parishes cannot host meet-the-candidates nights. And yet Bishop William Murphy is refusing to comment. Why?
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Hmmm…
I did a quick search on Msgr. Lisante and I was surprised to find this:
“9/11 Fox News censors Monsignor Jim Lisante”
It seems that he was arguing that as a consequence of 9/11 we need to rethink why they hate the U.S. so much:
It is interesting to note, that just 15 hours after the attacks Monsignor Lisante observes that we should examine why the attackers hate us so much, and that the policies we conduct around the world might not only have helped to cause the attacks, but that our response should be measured so as not to facilitate its perpetuation. Gibson becomes visibly uncomfortable, and immediately announces that they will continue the discussion after a commercialess break. As the show continues, Gibson acknowledges that Msgr. Lisante is present, but essentially ignores him in favor of rehashing that attacks have occured and taking reports from associates in the field.
That’s not a widely accepted “Republican” position or Democrat, for that matter… I haven’t seen the video because I’m at work, but if Msgr. Lisante said what is stated above, then that is a brave stance and just doesn’t seem to connect well with what he did in the incident you mention.
MM – Not being on the ground there who knows. I suspect it is a matter of degree of the two priests actions. Also as to the Priest in Chicago thios might have been the straw that broke the camels back as it were after a ton of incidents
Katerina-
I do think for themost part after 9/11 at least from leaders there was a sense of not just bombing the first thing and in fact getting the facts as to a response on both sides
I really see no disconnet between the above statement and his other one
My ex-pastor and his neocon parochial vicar had $1000 a plate paid for the each of them to attend a George W. fundraiser in 2006 for the now ex-Senator Rick Santorum.
They even drove to the posh, private club event in the vicar’s new Grand Crerokee, with Bush 3 bumper stickers on it, left over from the 2004 election.
I know of parishioners who could not get themselves to attend Mass at their particular Church for over a year, because of these two figures’ pastoral antics-abuses from the puplit during the 2004 presidential election.
“I do think for themost part after 9/11 at least from leaders there was a sense of not just bombing the first thing and in fact getting the facts as to a response on both sides.”
Astounding. Did we live in the same past seven years?
“…for the most part?”
Mark yes I did. We are talking in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Tempers were hot. Feeling were huge. I note unless I am forgetting something that we did not just start bombing terrorist places all over the Middle East and get a quick strike in to make us feel better.
The Camapign that resulted in Afghanistan did not just occur the next day. There was an effort first off by the administration and others to make sure there was no backlash to Arabs here in the USA. So yes many things were going on
Immediately after 9/11, the Project for a New America’s plan to transform unilaterally with military hegenomy the Middle East through “coercive democracy” grabbed onto its new ‘reason’ to set to stage for its first task, our invasion of Iraq.
And the demoralized and scandal-laden U.S. bishops and their brother priests said all of the right objections, but only most tepidly, if it all audibly.
THe question is why they hate us. Much is misinformation among other reasons. Some reasons are valid at first look that being a Western Culture that seesm to be devoid of Morals and God. There is misinformation on our side that was shown in the most sad bit of ARAB and ISLAMIC bashing I have seen as to the historyof the Dubai Temianl LEase deal. Something that was joined in by all sides I might add and there were few calm voices
History will judge the final outcome of course but signs are promising as to at least this brand of Islamic MIlitant though that was a threat the street has turned agaisnt it and not us.
5O Permanent Military Bases in Iraq and a Bush Declaration of ‘Victory
From Today’s British Independent:”
“The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq’s position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country”.
According to the article the another intent of the agreement is to allow Bush to declare “victory” in Iraq while simultaneously uncutting Obama pledge to get us the hell out of there.
“But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November.”
What won’t I believe now?
I haven’t figured out why Hitler or the bushido bushwackers hated the US. They don’t any more.
If you people can bring yourselves to equate whatever Msgr. L. said to the hatreds Pfather Flogger spewed for the cameras (to cover Obama’s throwing his segregationist church ‘under the bus’), you people are completely erroneous and deceitful. I’m not saying that being an idiot is worse than being a liar. That’s a question for you theologisticians.
We have not seen the realObama. I’m thinking he could be the perfect senator: both a liar and an idiot.
McBush is looking very old and tired these days, like a man who knows he is going to lose. His June 3 speech in Kenner was truly pathetic. Even the small group of hand picked supporters looked ready to fall asleep. But I’ll give McBush one thing, at least he’s smart enough to know he’s toast.
Kat: yes, he said it, and yes, he deserves credit for saying it. I’m sure he is a good guy, just as I know Fr. Pfleger has done great good in Chicago. I just wish they did not feel the urge to stand on partisan soaoboxes.
I just wish they did not feel the urge to stand on partisan soaoboxes.
Yes, me too. It’s sad that a shadow is cast upon the work done by both of them.
Pfleger and Lisante is not a fair comparison. Pfleger was an open supporter of Obama for the past year. During that entire time Cardinal George did and said nothing about it. It was only after his racist rant that he got called on the carpet so to speak. Lisante is in the same boat that Pfleger was a year ago. Were your criticizing Cardinal George a year ago for not reigning in Pfleger? That would be a fair comparison.