The following email was sent to CalCatholic on September 24.
I found this article on KXTV-TV’s iPhone App and thought you’d be interested:
Sept 20
‘Pro-life’ sign outside of Citrus Heights church sparks controversy
The bells of Holy Family Catholic church echo from above, but below, an anti-abortion sign makes an even louder statement.
“Even though, it’s not a specific candidate, it’s a direct reflection on the Republicans,” Citrus Heights resident Max Roelen said.
TV interviewee Roelen
Roelen drove down Old Auburn Road in Citrus Heights when he noticed the sign and he took offense.
“They’re telling me who to vote for and that’s totally wrong,” Roelen said.
The sign reads, “Don’t Support Abortion with Your Vote, Vote Pro-Life.”
Churches are not allowed to endorse political candidates as part of a tax-exempt status. So what about expressing their viewpoint?
“It’s their right to put their opinion out there,” resident Charlene Yates said.
During this round of elections, abortion is not on the ballot; however, some see this sign as a political statement.
“Everything is political, every hello and good-bye and everything in between,” lawyer Bill Portanova said.
Political or not, the sign as it reads is perfectly legal and protected by the First Amendment.
“If the issue is just the issue, people have a right to express themselves on the issue even if they are tax exempt organizations,” Portanova explained.
However, some abortion supporters see the sign as pushing the envelope.
“Being offended is part of the program,” Portanova said. “By being offended, we all think about things a little bit more.”
Read and view entire article at:
http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=210291
Roelen has no right to be protected from the truth. If he drools over the thought of abortion, let him dive head first into a hog wallow … so that hopefully he some of the mess he’s helping push can sink in a bit.
Roelen needs to read the Constitution!
If he is a member of the parish, he should be shunned just like the Bible says.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Another shining example if why the Roman Catholic Church’s tax-exempt status should be revoked.
PJT, the Truth hurts, huh? The First Ammendment to the Constitution protects my, and their, speech. That is first and foremost the issue here. If you, or anyone else has an opinion that it is political, you can also have that opinion. That’s okay too. But you cannot limit my speech in favor of your own, or limit my opinion in favor of your own, or anyone else who thinks abortion is not murder. In my opinion, it is murder of an innocent human being. So, take your best shot.
Why??
Why??? what?
Please make some sense with your comments!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Why?
The sign does not support any candidate.
If the Democrats are truly the Party of Death, that is their decision.
As it was pointed out, there are a few Dems who do not support abortion – and I would probably vote for them.
Holly,
Bishop Paprocki has stated it well. If you vote for someone who is pro-abortion or anti-God given family, no matter what their Party Affiliation is, you will most probably answer for it on your Judgment Day!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Of course, if the sign said to kill babies at any cost by voting anti-life, this person in such a sad spiritual state, would have been delighted. They killed Jesus because He spoke the Truth and as long as we keep on sinning, we keep Him crucified. It is amazing that this person realizes that the so-called ‘democratic’ party is anti-life 100%, while many of the ‘catholics’ could even care less as they will still vote for the party that the colleges and the media are telling them too with their lies. +JMJ+
There are a few good Democrats who have consistently worked for pro-life issues such as Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey.
Apparently the man in the article thinks 100% of the Democrats (albiet the majority are) are Pro-Death.
I’m offended that Obama is promoting Mommies to murder their babies for convenience.
And wants my tax dollars to pay for this killing of innocents.
Rep Chris Smith is Republican. He has never deviated from the pro-life cause. He is the only politician I ever shook hands with.
Oh, phew. Thanks JLS. I didn’t see how he could have been a democrat, but stranger things happen.
Mike Smith is an amazing person. I didn’t know he was a democrat! He does so much in trying to protect the most vulnerable and to uphold Catholic teachings. I’m surprised he hasn’t jumped the fence. I just finished writing that I wouldn’t be able to vote for a democrat because of their anti-life platform, but he certainly would be the exception!
I forgot a comma. haha Mike, Smith is an amazing person.
Mike,
Get your facts straight, Congressman Chris Smith is a life long Republican! Try again.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
It may not be on the ballot, but it is a part of the Democrat party platform. Abortion anytime and paid for. This parish has an active pro life group and they have adoration of the Sacrament chapel. If the man wants to take offense at the sign he should probably be offended at the presence of the church its self. Freedom of religion does not stop at the door of the church.
He might even be more offended at the Presence of Jesus.
I pray that every Catholic, every Parish and every Christian follows suit and puts this declaration up.
Every time I post on a Catholic site I am going to make the same suggestion:
Dear Bishops – Give up your precious tax exempt status and then come out swinging. The only legal restraint on church leaders is that exemption.
Giving up the exemption would also remove the cover it has provided for Bishops who are squishy on the non negotiables. .
“come out swinging”?! Sadly that is what they already too often have been doing.
Soon the bishops will not have to worry about their government aid. It will be taken away if o wins in Nov. There is no way he will allow the Church to go on as it has in the past. They might as well speak up now and risk the lose, and perhaps the country will gain by their courage. To remain silent is a sure way to lose/lose.
JimAroo – - – - Because they would go broke. The taxes on private school elemenetary and high school buildings alone would make the tuition astronomical.
Each Church in the Diocese belongs to the Church. How much do you think the taxes on all Church buildings in very Diocese would be?
They do not need to give up anything. As long as they do not mention a specific candidate’s name they are within the law.
They certainly have the right to teach the tennants of their Faith.
And the Consitution guarantees them freedom of speech.
Churches do pay property tax in California. What they don’t pay taxes on is “profit” (assuming there is such a thing for a non-profit organization). There may be some other taxes they would pay if the tax-exempt status is revoked but I am not an expert in the field so I will have to leave the answer on that question to someone smarter than me.
Jim Aaroo,
I know a very well known Pro-Life Activist priest who long ago in a phone conversation said the same thing to me. He travels all over giving Pro-Life Missions.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
The reason we are headed for dictatorship in the US is failure of many citizens to uphold freedom of speech. Many want the Church and other people to shut up. The exemption from taxes is part of the First Amendment to the US Constitution as it naturally follows from Congress enacting any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. All this IRS talk is nonsense. That could never be endorsed in a free America.
To paraphrase Pope Pius XI: No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true democrat.
Lots of folks have to make a decision–find a new party to be a member of/vote for or stop pretending to be Catholic.
Wow, a Catholic church in the Sacramento Diocese that dares to take a public (for all the world to see) stand on the sanctity of human life. Wouldn’t it be something if ALL Sacramento churches proclaimed the Gospel like Holy Family?
I’d be more comforftable if it simply said it opposed abortion instead of the vote prolife statement. That will need to be tweaked a little bit. Correct sentiment, thoujgh.
The sign is correct. It does not tip toe around the non-negotiable issue.
Don’t Support ABORTION with your Vote.
Vote PRO-LIFE.
Baby killers should not be elected. And make no mistake, they are baby killers when they support pro-abortion legislation. Murder for convenience. And they want our tax dollars to pay for this genocide.
“Separation of church and state” is a myth. Black Democrat politicians have traditionally been campaigning in Black churches’ pulpits and nobody cares. It’s only when Catholics are exhorted to vote pro-life that people complain.
Mousey,
Not only Black Demoncrats but White, Mexican, Latino, and Asian Demoncrats speak at many so called churches that are Pro-Test-Ant! Probably Republicrats do so as well!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
As long a churches do not support a specific candidate, they have every right — in fact, an OBLIGATION — to address moral issues! Abortion is a moral issue that has been politicized! Further, now that it has been documented by many studies that abortion increases the woman’s risk of breast cancer (by at least 40%), why are we still including it in “health care”?! How dare the government use our tax money to cause cancer?!
Elaine,
When a Demoncrat Incumbent or Candidate speaks at a Church, they are not usually campaigning for anyone but themselves!
It is unconstitutionally included in “health care” because they have been able to get away with it!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Doug Kmiec and his minions said in 2008 that a vote for Obama was a pro-life vote, so they can’t say now that a sign to “Vote Pro-Life” is a direction to vote Republican.
And it should be added the Democrat party also has the promotion of sodomy as a major plank of their platform. This in addition to their support of abortion, contraception and booing God. I guess liberal “Democrats” would have been the ones chanting for Barabbas. Only now, they jeer God and root for Barack.
Clinton R.,
You got that RIGHT!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Here is the contact information for “Holy Family Catholic Church”:
Fr. Manuel Soria, Pastor
Holy Family Parish
7817 Old Auburn Rd
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Phone: (916) 723-2494 Fax: (916) 723-0199
A Parish of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento CA
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Please visit the Official Website of Holy Family
http://holyfamilycitrusheights.org/
“Churches are not allowed to endorse political candidates as part of a tax-exempt status.” Unfortunately this is true today, hopefully we can change this violation of freedom for churches to freely preach without penalties BUT I keep asking myself how come Planned Parenthood can? They endorse Obama, they get our tax money, so why are they not penalized for doing so?
Awesome! Another sign that a church can have freely is Do not support Sodomy!
Holly & PJT: Please endeavor to find a way to get your moral consciousness raised, hopefully, if you’re Catholic, through the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, then reflect on your positions: they’re totally WRONG. The Catholic Church does not need to be more bashed than she currently already is; BTW, the abomination known as ” “**** Christ” is back on display in New York City,(where is Cdl. Dolan when he’s so needed?), for the Catholic Church has EVERY RIGHT (and I would say DUTY) to interject herself in ALL the great moral and spiritual debates, crises RAGING within the world, and the world’s BETTER OFF when she successfully does just that. More later GOD BLESS ALL, MARKRITE