Support for Obama from British Catholic clergy

Briefing: Catholic bishops and priests in the United States, who have risked the wrath of the liberal establishment by pointing out that it is wrong to vote for a man who has vowed to remove all legal restrictions on abortion in America, and will certainly appoint Supreme Court judges who are solidly pro-abortion, will be saddened to hear of the support for Obama from British Catholics whose liberal instincts seem to be stronger than their Catholic ones.

An American priest, David Cotter of St Aidan’s, Johnstone (Diocese of Paisley, Scotland) appeared on the radio to proclaim his support for Obama, dismissing the importance of abortion as an electoral issue, and ridiculing a recording of the Ave Maria at the same time. H-t to Catholic Truth, where there is more commentary. See the broadcast here.

Bishop Hollis of Portsmouth has this to day, in a 'Special Message' on his diocesan homepage: “With millions of others, I have been thrilled by Barack Obama’s victory and I thank God for it. For me, it represents a rare moment of hope and optimism which shows American democracy at its best and it is of seismic significance and potential for the whole global community. And so, more than ever now, he deserves and needs us to keep him in our prayers.”   

Prayers for his conversion would certainly not go amiss. Prayers in regard to the millions of abortions he is going to facilitate would be even more apposite. See John Smeaton on Obama's anti-life views, which are the most extreme of any major US politician.

By contrast, Bishop O'Donaghue said this about voting for the pro-abortion candidates:

So can a Catholic in good conscience vote and campaign for a political candidate who supports and promotes abortion ...? My personal answer to this question is: I can’t and I won’t.

See a longer extract here.