Then, “I urge you to seek the mercy of Jesus through the Sacrament of Confession that you may be absolved from the great evil this president says he will do.”
Why? “Those who voted for this president will now share in the indirect responsibility and guilt for these killings.”
Father John Cihak Gives Hope to the Pro Life Cause
Father John Cihak
Father John Cihak is the director of the Respect Life Office in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon and Pastor of Sacred Heart-St. Louis in Gervais. He is also responsible for a discernment weekend at Quo Vadis Days .
This was posted in this Church Bulletin after the election of Obama. His following prophetic letter includes the prediction of the disaster for the poor, closing of Catholic Hospitals, increased euthanasia and more innocent life lost. A special thank you to Mary Locke, a faithful subscriber, for finding this article.
Pastor’s Corner 11-9-08
Brothers and Sisters,
For most people this week, the presidential election was first and foremost in mind. As the pastor of the souls of this parish, for whom I will have to give an account to the good God, it is important to put before you a few observations. Voting in a democracy is very serious business. It is a sacred duty and the exercise of power that can have far reaching consequences for our lives and the lives of others.
A majority of Americans, including those who identify themselves as Catholic (54% if the exit polls are correct), chose to elect our new President. The election of this candidate to the presidency will have far reaching consequences. Our Lord Jesus tells us to judge a tree by its fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, a bad tree bad fruit. I would urge us a rational persons to look beyond the smile and mesmerizing words and pay attention to the deeds – these will show what kind of president we will have.
In my view as a priest, scholar and professor, never before has the Culture of Death been given so much power in this country. Our new president is committed to promoting and protecting with law intrinsically evil acts, acts that are never justified and should never be done by a rational person. The fruit of this conviction is that he is committed to creating and ratifying unjust laws. The clearest deed that will reveal this truth is when he signs the ‘Freedom of Choice Act’ into law, which was one of his campaign promises. This legislation will virtually abolish ANY restrictions on abortion that exist now. This legislation will result in the killing of tens of thousands of innocent children. The killing of the innocent is a sin that cries out to Heaven for justice (Gen. 4:10). Those who voted for this president will now share in the indirect responsibility and guilt for these killings. Such is the serious nature of voting.
But I Voted For Social Justice Issues
Those who voted for him may respond that their vote was not based on his pro-abortion stance but other social issues. The response I gave in a previous homily is that clearly and logically this election did not involve a situation of ‘proportionate reason’ mentioned in the USCCB’s Faithful Citizenship. The issues of quality of life come into play only when candidates vying for office are equal on the issues dealing with life itself.
My Predictions
The ‘Freedom of Choice Act’, and other unjust legislation like it that will likely be proposed, also has the potential to force the Church out of health care. The Church, as the bearer of the Gospel of Life, will refuse to take part in committing intrinsically evil acts. The names like Providence, St. Vincent, Sacred Heart may remain on the outside of the hospitals, but their internal policies may no longer meaningfully reflect the teachings of Christ and His Church. Thus the legislation would spell disaster for the poor and will create a huge societal problem since the Church is one of the major providers of health care in the country, especially to the poor. Moreover, if the Church is not providing health care, then those with terminal illness and those who do not seem to have a sufficient ‘quality of life’ will lose their last protection from those who will want to kill them to save health care dollars – still more innocent lives lost.
Some may be reading this thinking that I’m being overly dramatic, that I’m over reacting. I would ask you to pay attention to the fruit; pay attention to actions and deeds and not the smile or soothing words. Beneath the smile and words is one who has already identified himself through his actions that he is against Christ and His Church on fundamental, non-negotiable issues.
The Coming Tribulation
For those followers of Christ who are serious about following Him understand that we may be entering a very difficult and trying period of history. The Church has had such times in the past and will again have them in the future. In the late 1990s, then Cardinal Ratzinger commented that he thought the Church was entering a period of trial, a time when the Church was to be more of a persecuted Church, a time when it would be most costly to follow Jesus, and thus a time when many of those who identify themselves as Catholic will fall away. Now he is Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of St. Peter and our chief Shepherd. It will become increasingly evident as the years pass whether he is a prophet. Personally, I believe him to be right. In my prayer over the past few years, I have sensed the same thing. It may take many years for it to come into full view, but with this ascendency of the Culture of Death we may see the beginnings of it in the next few years.
Be Prepared! Seek Mercy!
And so as the pastor of your souls and as your spiritual father, I urge you to prepare yourselves spiritually, through prayer, fasting, virtuous living and most of all faith, hope and love, for what is to come. Let us recommit ourselves in joy to protect and cherish the weak and vulnerable among us. If you are one who cast your vote for our new president, I urge you to seek the mercy of Jesus through the Sacrament of Confession that you may be absolved from the great evil this president says he will do. Jesus Christ has already definitively broken the power of evil and death. He will never abandon us or the world. He may be asking the members of His Body to have a deeper share with Him in the Cross, that the world might be saved.
Be A Saint!
We do not have to be afraid. We did not choose to live in these times, but He chose us to live in these times (In. 15:16) – that is a comforting truth. It is in times of trial that the members of Christ shine more brightly. St. Paul tells us as he told the Philippians, ‘Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14). Now is the time for saints! We stand with Our Lord Jesus and His angels and saints and will bring down the Culture of Death through the might of the divine love because with St. Paul we can say, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. John Cihak
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dawn Hunt. Dawn Hunt said: Now is the time for saints!We stand w/ Our Lord&His angels&saints & will bring down Culture of Death..(courageouspriest)http://bit.ly/bOK9zF [...]
I have had strong feelings since the middle 1980′s and they had gotten stronger in the late 90′s that we were in for some very strong and turbulent times, my feelings were so strong that i have frightened my wife. Recently she is seeing what is happening in front our very eyes. We are being led like sheep to a dreadful slaughter. I have been very skeptical of Pres.Obama, I really do not feel that we are safe with another term with Pres.Obama. That is if he is re-elected for a 2nd Term.
Kudos!
Thank you so much for explaining the proportionate reason issue. So many people use that as an excuse to ignore a nonnegotiable issue, whether it be abortion or torture, for some other noble (but less fundamental) cause.
The social justice that Mr Obama speaks of is Marxism. It is forced redistribution of wealth not Christian charity. He will destroy our country to achieve his goals.
Father, I am a Canadian and You Are so right.
Obama should read newest book Release from Medjugorje
“It Ain’t Gonna Happen”….I Dare Him! He would laught @ it Along with Bill Maher that compared Medjugorje & Our Lady to “magic” They will get a big fright someday. The Book came out on 25 June, 29th Anniversary Of Lady Of Medjugorje.
God Bless You
Mary
Father:
Thanks…we are widely circulating your letter on Facebook.
In Christ,
Fr Michael T Barry
Check out Christ’s & Mary’s messages . . . see what they say regarding abortion . . .
spread the word
edited by administrator
Thank you so much Father. Our viewers went up 200%. Do you have written articles worth sharing? We are always looking for good content.
God bless you Father!
I am greatly concerned about his claims for “Collective Salvation.” I don’t understand that as Christianity. I would like to hear something about this.
Thank You.
Hell No!
From faraway in Australia, I was unable to see how any Catholic could vote for Obama on the fundamental issue of right to life.
All other issues are secondary. If there is no right to life there are no ‘rights’ at all.
However, I noticed that the Jewish vote went up too although Obama signalled he didn’t care what happened to Israel.
I suppose everyone had a different reason, so there is no point in looking for a common one.
So refreshing to find clergy who are willing to stand for something besides the next parish picnic!
I love Fr. Corapi and Fr. Eutenauer and know of a handful of others here.
I agree, we are in for a difficult road ahead, those of us who choose to stay the true Catholic course. But, we are in good company. We are with Jesus and his mother. God bless!
Don’t Mess With Texas..is what we say down here..I want to tell Mr. Obama Don’t Mess With The Lord Our God.
Praise The Lord for TRUE MEN OF GOD. Thank you for letting the Holy Spirit speak through you, Father John. I know we are being persecuted. As a nurse in Iowa and Minnesota I have lost jobs due to my boldness of my faith in Jesus Christ. I LOVE LIFE and I cry out for the Church to be obedient to Jesus Christ, obedient unto death. Our precious little babies are so innocent and this “culture of death” needs to be stopped. It starts with REPENTANCE IN THE CHURCH FIRST. ll Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” COME LORD JESUS, COME AND HEAL YOUR LAND!!!!!
No I didn’t vote for him because my conscience would have truly bothered me. His philosphy is against everything I grew up believing and still believe!
A person who told his daughters that a baby is a “punishment” will never get my vote. I feel sorry for those young ladies. No regard for life in any form; elderly, disabled[he regretted voting for Terri Schiavo]. No thanks!
I agree. And i have had a strong feeling that the anti – christ [those who oppose the Lord and His Laws] would soon come since the 90′s.
I am confident we are in that time. To be against His Laws is to be Anti.
Come Lord Jesus, have mercy on us all.
Thank you for sharing Father.
Everyday Obama goes before the people and tells his lies. He is a Deciever and a Liar. For those of you who do not believe this. Do your own research, because the main Media is not doing it. Why do you think Obama wants to shut down the conservative talk shows? Because they are telling the truth and they do the research others do not do. Alot of damage has already been done, God knows how long it will take to undo his mess. Pray for our children. They may never know the freedom we had. Even now we are losing that.
“A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,”…
Can. 1398 A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a lataesententiae excommunication.
…”by the very commission of the offense,”…
Can. 1314 Generally, a penalty is ferendae sententiae, so that it does not bind the guilty party until after it has been imposed; if the law or precept expressly establishes it, however, a penalty is latae sententiae, so that it is incurred ipso facto when the delict is committed.
…and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.
Can. 1323 The following are not subject to a penalty when they have violated a law or precept:
1/ a person who has not yet completed the sixteenth year of age;
2/ a person who without negligence was ignorant that he or she violated a law or precept; inadvertence and error are equivalent to ignorance;
3/ a person who acted due to physical force or a chance occurrence which the person could not foresee or, if foreseen, avoid;
4/ a person who acted coerced by grave fear, even if only relatively grave, or due to necessity or grave inconvenience unless the act is intrinsically evil or tends to the harm of souls;
5/ a person who acted with due moderation against an unjust aggressor for the sake of legitimate self defense or defense of another;
6/ a person who lacked the use of reason, without prejudice to the prescripts of cann. ⇒ 1324, §1, n. 2 and ⇒ 1325;
7/ a person who without negligence thought that one of the circumstances mentioned in nn. 4 or 5 was present.
Can. 1324 §1. The perpetrator of a violation is not exempt from a penalty, but the penalty established by law or precept must be tempered or a penance employed in its place if the delict was committed:
1/ by a person who had only the imperfect use of reason;
2/ by a person who lacked the use of reason because of drunkenness or another similar culpable disturbance of mind;
3/ from grave heat of passion which did not precede and hinder all deliberation of mind and consent of will and provided that the passion itself had not been stimulated or fostered voluntarily;
4/ by a minor who has completed the age of sixteen years;
5/ by a person who was coerced by grave fear, even if only relatively grave, or due to necessity or grave inconvenience if the delict is intrinsically evil or tends to the harm of souls;
6/ by a person who acted without due moderation against an unjust aggressor for the sake of legitimate self defense or defense of another;
7/ against someone who gravely and unjustly provokes the person;
8/ by a person who thought in culpable error that one of the circumstances mentioned in ⇒ can. 1323, nn. 4 or 5 was present;
9/ by a person who without negligence did not know that a penalty was attached to a law or precept;
10/ by a person who acted without full imputability provided that the imputability was grave.
§2. A judge can act in the same manner if another circumstance is present which diminishes the gravity of a delict.
§3. In the circumstances mentioned in §1, the accused is not bound by a latae sententiae penalty.
Fr. Cihak’s letter was written immediately after the election. His concern, in large part, was that if Obama was elected the Freedom of Choice Act (FCA) would be signed into law. It has now been a year and a half into Obama’s presidency and the FCA has not made it out of committee. After taking office in April 2009 Obama acknowledged the FCA is not his highest legislative priority.
Fr. Cihak states that by voting for Obama I will now be indirectly responisble for abortions under his presidency. (Even though I did not vote for Obama for his stance on abortion and I oppose his stance on abortion).
If that is so, I guess I need to spend more time in the confessional. I guess my two previous votes for President George W. Bush make me responsible for the deaths of over 151,000 Iraqi civilians and over 5,582 US military men and women that have died in Iraq. As Pope John Paul II stated the war was “unjust and had no moral justification” I guess its indirecttly my fault as well. I should have known better when I was 19 and 23 and cast my vote.
While I am in confession I guess I need to start bearing my soul on the stem cell research that Bush allowed. While I agreed with the Pope’s reasoning and was not for stem cell research President Bush felt differently – so I guess indirectly I feel differently as well.
Over the last ten years I have also discovered I (indirectly) have a penchant for torturing people. The president I voted for condoned water boarding (a practice Obama and McCain condmened as torture) and when it came do doing the really dirty work we practiced rendition and sent the bad guys to countries that would carry out our dirty work for us. I guess this is indirectly my fault as well.
While I’m in the confessional booth, I also better not forget to ask forgiveness for indirectly letting my fellow americans die in the streets of New Orleans, because of my president’s failed response to Hurricane Katrina. If only I had known.
While we are on the topic of the Culture of Death I guess I should of saw it coming when I voted for Bush. His penchant for death was evident through his crusade in Iraq, his support for torture, and his turning a blind eye to the poor following Katrina. I guess you are right, Fr. Cihak, if I looked beyond the charming smile and friendly country boy demeanor of President Bush I would have seen him for what he truly was, a governor who personally took part in 152 executions by signing the prisoners’ death warrants, more than any other governor in US history. At least Obama hasn’t handed the doctors a scalpel.
I should also apologize for the actions of some of the supreme court justices whom I supported – by supporting the presidents who appointed them:
In 2002 in Atkins v. Virginia the supreme court held executing mentally retarted people to be cruel and unusual punishment. A good thing. However, former Chief Justice Rehnquist, and Justices Scalia and Thomas favored executing the mentally infirm. Later in 2005 in Roper v. Simmons the supreme court held it was unconstitutional to execute people for crimes they commit when they were minors. Prior to 2005 only the United States and Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria, Congo, and China condoned this practice. However, once again the “pro-life” justices Justice Rehnquist, and Justices Scalia and Thomas and declared their penchant for death. Most recently in Kennedy v. Louisiana, the supreme court reaffirmed that only people who commit murder can be executed – this blocked a move by many states to try to extend the death penalty to sexually based offenses. Once again the “pro-life” conservative justices Alito, Scalia, Thomas, and Chief Justice Roberts dissented, in favor of expanding the reach of the death penalty. In all of those cases the Bush administration filed briefs before the court in favor of expanding and upholding the death penalty’s application. So my bad as well, I guess.
I do find it truly remarkable that when these three decisions were decided I did not hear a peep from the US Catholic Church condemning the death penalty. Indeed, when states have sought to expand the death penalty I have not heard a peep from the church in opposition. Have you opposed these practices Father Cihak? Maybe we both need to goto confession under your theory of vicarious moral culpability.
The fact is informed citizens vote for (or should) the individual who they feel will best serve the country and lead it in the proper direction. Fr. Cihak at the time his letter was penned feared an outcome he perceived as inevitable, passage of the FCA. However, to date no actions have been taken towards that end, yes the bill has been proposed but it was proposed under Bush’s presidency as well, and the bill then as it has now reached the same fate – it was killed in committee.
In the end I believe I have nothing to confess. I have never heard of the doctrine of indirect responsibility and indeed such a doctrine does not exist. Fr. Cihak misrepresents the church’s teachings in his letter so I feel the need to finish my lengthy comment with United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ teaching in “Faithful Citizenship:”
“A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil. At the same time, a voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity.”
As a Catholic revert (who also keeps an ear toward Evangelical Protestant radio broadcasting) I can’t help but do a bit of comparing and contrasting on homily quality.
And, it can be said that, we as cradle Catholics should already know our faith and that we will always butt heads with society.
However. Never have I heard a homily from my local parish that specifically addresses same sex attraction, or chastity, or JPII’s Theology of the Body.
Nada, zip, nothing.
I did hear it (and I continue to get an understanding of the issues) on EWTN.
As a revert Catholic, I would like to know why so many anti-Catholic Catholics (individuals and groups) aren’t being addressed by their priests & bishops in public open letters.
These individuals and these groups publically dissent from the Church and they use the word ‘catholic’ to label their group and to confuse those who are weak in their faith.
Is it inappropriate for priests and bishops to publically explain why these people and their groups are wrong in thought and actions as it pertains to Church teachings?
After years of communication that went no where, Kathleen Sebelius’ bishop said he publically informed the faithful that he had asked Sebelius not to present herself for the Eucharist.
Why didn’t Kennedy’s, and why haven’t Biden’s and Pelosi’s bishops done the same? From their voting records alone, we know there is an entire list of unfaithful Catholic public servants who we Catholics voted for assuming they understood what it means to be a Catholic Christian.
The same holds true for these anti-Catholic Catholic groups who want the approval of contraception, choice for abortion, women priests, homosexual marriage, etc.
It would be charitable in my opinion, that someone in authority explain to these grown adults where their errors in logic are and what the Church teaches about self excommunication.
@Patrick, wondering how you might gave missed it, Bush vetoed bill allowing embroyonic stem cell reseach. Also Bush did not campaign on getting into the war with Iraq nor did he campaign on all the other things you mentioned.
Rhonda,
Bush campaigned on “Staying the course” in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004. He also openly supported water boarding and other practices widely regarding as torture during his 2004 re-election campaign.
As for the death penalty in a presidental debate in St. Louis October 17, 2000 against Vice President Gore, then Governor Bush proclaimed he was supported the death penalty. Thus, he campagined on it and once he became president he enacted laws and appointed judges who favor expansion of the death penalty.
As for the stem cell controversy, look again. In 2001 Bush allowed federal funding for stem cell research. The bill that he vetoed in 2006 would have expanded federal funding for stem cell research. But nonetheless, what I said was true on April 9, 2001 Bush stated “I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines.”
Finally! Someone who speaks the truth about the arrogant leader(?) bent on reigning instead of listening! A breath of fresh air. Thank You Father!
[...] Man…Model St. Joseph. Do you remember Father John Cihak? He wrote one our most popular post, “Warning Did You Vote For Obama.” Well if you liked that post, then you will enjoy listening to him speak about how modeling St. [...]
[...] you remember Father John Cihak? He wrote one our most popular post, “Warning Did You Vote For Obama.” Well if you liked that post, then you will enjoy listening to him speak about how modeling St. [...]
Thanks be to God’s grace, I did NOT vote for him. I always try to vote pro-life. By their actions you will know them. Anyone that can promote abortion as the current president does, should be shunned, prayed for but shunned.
How come so many so called Catholics voted for him Fr. John? Where are all the other priest’s and bishops voices? He would not BE president today if Catholics voted pro-life!
Our Tucson bishop printed favorable articles about Obama in the diocese’s paper right before the election. Funny, how our bishop never mentioned Obama’s pro-abort voting record. It’s no wonder Catholics are confused. Sad to say, some of our leaders are compromised. Prayer needed here.
Thanks for giving us straight Catholic talk Fr. John. Wonderful post.
Thank YOU and THANK YOU AGAIN Father, IF ONLY, IF only every pastor of every Catholic Church HAD the courage to speak what is TRUTH as to mr. obamas garnering 54% of the Catholic Vote in 08. NOW as we enter INTO another election cycle WILL CATHOLICS still insist on voting for ‘baby killers by fiat?’. Intersting thought eh?
Praise God for your courage and PLEASE NEVER CEASE w/the TRUTH! Many priests in AMERICA are suffering unjustly for doing as you have done!
YES INDEED the chastisment is here and we better UNDERSTAND the ‘hell on earth’ that is coming forth, annd THAT which has STARTED from the obama types, BABIES NO LESS….HIS TARGET…MURDERER VIA FIAT by the millions!
Sincerely, I did not vote for Obama not because of his color skin. Just because I vote for Jesus Christ,for the sake of his kingship and his power to reign since I was a child, I always dreamed to see Jesus being crowned by my hands. But, I have crowned Jesus Christ than any president and any king and queen and anyone here on earth by such a vote that is very important. Because Jesus suffered so much. It is my love for Jesus Christ I dedicate to the whole of my heart that I have no voted for anyone and I chose a ballot for Jesus Christ. Live Long Jesus Christ, the King! I have cast out the ballot for Jesus Christ. No Obama. No anyone. Only Jesus Christ.