Newark Archbishop John J. Myers issued a pastoral letter
Wednesday that expresses his traditional Catholic positions on human sexuality,
but makes no mention of the clergy sex abuse scandal that has thrown his church
into crisis.
“his traditional Catholic position”, yep no reporter bias here. Of course the
title of this article “Archbishop offers views on sexuality” display that bias
right off the bat.
The 13-page document, titled “And the Word became Flesh,”
is Myers’ most explicit statement of principles since he became spiritual leader
of the archdiocese 14 months ago.
The letter dwells on the sanctity of the human body, and
how some behavior – including sex outside marriage and sex with contraception –
damages the spiritual integrity of the body.
…”How often do proponents of ‘choice’ mention the
little arms and legs ripped off in vacuum aspiration abortions in the first
trimester of pregnancy?” Myers wrote. “When was the last time an abortion
propagandist in the media spoke or wrote of the scalded skin of a body aborted
… in the second trimester?”
This is the true picture of ‘choice.’
And then the reporter must find the local dissident to quote. I wonder how
many times he went to the klan for an alternate opinion after the NAACP has
issued a letter.
…”The whole thing he did missed the point of what is
needed at the moment,” said Eileen Flynn, a theology professor at St. Peter’s
College in Jersey City, who supports ordination of women and allowing priests to
marry. “People have lots of questions. They want answers and
information.”
Enquiring minds want to know.
..Flynn said she was surprised that a pastoral letter
focusing on the sacredness of the human body failed to mention the death
penalty, the poor, or the Bush administration’s plans to wage war against Iraq.
“What about the Iraqi bodies and the bodies of American soldiers?” she
said.
The letter was focusing on human sexuality not the just war theory or
economics. This was a 13 page pastoral letter not the Catechism (which you don’t
agree with anyway).
Now back to sanity.
“This kind of giving and receiving without reserve
requires the foundation of stable permanent love,” Myers wrote. “Intercourse
outside marriage and contraceptive intercourse are lies told with bodies; the
two parties do not truly give and receive openly and unconditionally but only
use each other for pleasure.”
Myers goes on to condemn homosexuality,
pornography, euthanasia, and in vitro fertilization for creating a damaging
impact on the integrity of the body.
[Full Article]
I guess he did talk about the poor after all Ms. Flynn. Broken families,
contraception/in vitro fertilization, pornography are all tools of the culture
of death that destroys families; which is the main cause of poverty.
Looking at some of Ms. Flynn’s books on theology:
Human Fertilization “in Vitro”
Reviews and
evaluates the Catholic moral position on “in vitro” fertilization. In order to
reach a conclusion on this complex moral question, several related issues are
considered including medical literature, testimony of Scripture, ethical
literature, and the parameters observed by those directly involved with the
procedure. Based on these considerations, the author concludes the “in vitro”
fertilization is morally permissible.
Gee, why do I waste my time with Papal Encyclicals with her writing being
available. She also has a book “Why believe?” published by Sheed & Ward. I
had heard this publishing company had gone down hill, I just didn’t know how
far.
