The above video put out by CatholicVote.com has been seen on many blogs and it was done by the wonderful Grassroots Films for Fidelis which runs the site. I knew when I first saw it that progressive Catholics would be quite upset about it.
Catholic blogs such as Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex and Bettnet and no doubt others have received the same “comment” by someone named Kathy that includes the following.
If you forward this video or link to the website in your official capacity you may be in violation of IRS regulations and Church policy. You will also be distributing materials that contradict Church teaching.
It then goes on to say that their are “other intrinsic evils” involved this campaign season such as racism (I didn’t know anyone was running on a pro-racism platform). Ironic since I thought that lying and making false claims was also evil, though maybe the person is just woefully ignorant about blogs and the IRS along with Church teaching.
David at C-L-S does a good refutation of the claims made in the “comment” which are typical progressive boilerplate for why you should vote for Obama. Dom at Bettnet also has his own comments.
24 comments
I haven’t gotten that comment; now I feel left out!
I wish they would have added one more piece after “vote your conscience”: “Inform your conscience”. So many Catholics think they are voting their conscience, and vote anti-life.
That was a very powerful video. Thanks for putting it on your website!
How can I post this to my Facebook page?? Any idea?
Wow, that’s some video. Isn’t Grassroots that film group run by youth and sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal? Or am I getting it confused by something else?
How can I post this to my Facebook page?? Any idea?
Go to http://www.catholicvote.com/ click on “Embed” and copy the code. I don’t know where to put it on Facebook, but that is the code you need.
I just put it on my blog. IRS violation my foot.
Paul,
I will forward mine to you so you won’t feel left out.
The video ‘had me’ until the last scene – the ballot box – see the “Democratic Official Ballot” in full view. I can’t make out the date on it but the next slide/image presented is very strong – “Vote your conscience”…you decide…
i think all the bloggers should promote the new site:www.bornalivetruth.org [truth about obama.]
@Catherine: “The video ‘had me’ until the last scene”
That’s precisely what I dislike about this video. It tries to “get you” by means of grandiose dramatics. This tactic, even if the message is a good one, comes across as inherently manipulative. It leaves me feeling icky even though I approve of the content.
It’s propaganda, and propaganda has a certain bitter aftertaste. I say thanks, but no thanks.
Bleech.
Wouldn’t the “Democratic Official Ballot” be a primary election thing for registered Democrats?
As it happens, there’s an organization called votethecommongood.com which has a somewhat more bipartisan Catholics-should-vote video. I think it’s a pretty good video, as these things go. Except for the soundtrack.
@Tom
Wow that is a dreadful soundtrack indeed. Do I hear these singers chanting “imagine there’s no heaven… it’s easy if you try”?…. nope! I guess they didn’t need that bit.
“If you forward this video or link to the website in your official capacity you may be in violation of IRS regulations and Church policy.”
And what is this official capacity other than informed layman?
“You will also be distributing materials that contradict Church teaching.”
So it’s ok to do a “Catholics” for Obama ad, but not anything like this that doesn’t even mention any names?
Hey “Kathy” – take my tunic… and my cloak as well. Oh, and I’ll be praying for you. Have a godly day.
First off, there’s nothing more important than protecting Mother Gaia! We need to stop those power plants from releasing steam into the atmosphere. Steam turns to clouds which turns into rain which is a major part of all hurricanes!
Think of the children!
As for the ad itself, I plan to turn you in to the authorities. Right after I link to this post on my blog.
🙂
I still want to know what “IRS regulations” are ostensibly being violated by sharing this movie…
I still want to know what “IRS regulations” are ostensibly being violated by sharing this movie…
The section in question from Kathy’s message is this:
If you forward this video or link to the website in your official capacity you may be in violation of IRS regulations and Church policy. You will also be distributing materials that contradict Church teaching.
My guess is that this section was intended to dissuade priests and parishes from putting it on their sites as it would violate the rules of tax-exempt churches from endorsing politics. Even if it was posted on a parish site, there is no way it violates IRS regs as it doesn’t endorse a candidate nor does it even mention a specific legislation.
I’ll assume everyone here can see that the “distributing materials that contradict Church teaching” is a load of dingo’s kidneys.
Having said that, even though the Church’s enemies have no case, I still think it prudent for the Church to start preparing for the day it gets tax-exempt status pulled. The good will that existed in the past between churches and gov’t is largely gone.
“Kathy” is totally ignorant of both IRS regulations and Catholic Teaching. She is another annoying gnat lying to elect the son of Satan.
Obama/Biden practising what they preach:
http://aliarandamurderer.blogspot.com/2008/09/punished-with-baby.html
John 8:44
You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
There is one thing I really dislike about the video. It plays into the game. McCain or Obama, no third option, no reasonable option (and really, no truly pro-life option).
Is it a sin to vote your conscience even if it means third-party, or do we play by the rules of a corrupt game and vote the “lesser of two evils”, because we bought into the self-fulfilling prophecy that voting third party does nothing?
Hi Jeff,
I just stumbled upon your site. I agree that LIFE is the primary issue in this election, and that all others are ‘lesser’ causes. I also agree with you that Senator McCain needs to embrace a fully pro-LIFE position on embryonic research and oppose it. In my opinion we need to continue to educate (and I think Sarah Palin is going to be doing some of that too 🙂 him on our views WHY a pro-embryonic research position is incompatible with a true pro-life stance. In the meantime, he’s the candidate in the mainstream who most fully embraces the LIFE message and we’ve got to support his candidacy to get the ball rolling in the right direction. We’re on the right path….just a little more education (and kindness in educating) is needed. Thanks for your great blog! and I’ve embedded the utube video on mine as well….
God bless–
Ps. for a moment I was looking for a Greek translator on my computer for the ‘word verification’. LOL
Our parish received the same e-mail comments from
Maureen “dissenter” Fiedler of the “heretical” group Quixote Center based in Hyattsville, MD.
These “looney” lefties tried to intimidate us by pulling out the attached CatholicVote.com
I’m supposed to respond them but then I found out that these are mass e-mails, so I ignore them.
I still think it prudent for the Church to start preparing for the day it gets tax-exempt status pulled.
That will be a day of great empowerment for the Church. The gag will come off.
I got an email from her when I posted it.
I posted it anyway.
Comments are closed.