by Jim O'Hara
Submitted to the Star Banner, May 9, 2002
Editor,
Several letter writers asked for the source of comments I made in an earlier letter about the Roman Catholic church.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
See the pope's encyclical, Veratis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth). He claims "true
freedom must be united with moral truth otherwise...moral confusion reigns...the church
must...respect the freedom of people to learn the truth (of the Catholic faith) as revealed by
the Lord."
GREEK ORTHODOX SERBS MUST CONVERT TO CATHOLICISM OR DIE
In the Jan-Feb., 1993, The Human Quest, Phillip Berwick reports that under the leadership
of Archbishop Stepanic, starting in 1941, "more than 200,000 Greek Orthodox Serbs in
Croatia were forcibly converted to Catholicism or expelled, disemboweled, gassed, burned
alive." In 1995, Pres. Tudjman had his troops kill or ethnically cleanse more than 120,000
Greek Orthodox Serbs from Croatia.
IMPOSE PAPAL TEACHING
See the pope's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life). He states the "moral value of
our laws "depends on conformity to the (Catholic) moral law." He instructs Catholics "not
to cooperate" if our laws "are contrary to God's law." Catholics must "defend life even at
the cost of martyrdom." He requires that Catholics make disciples of all nations.
CATHOLIC POLITICAL POWER
See The Bishop's Call to Responsibility by Mark E. Chopko in the September, 1996 issue of
LIGUORIAN. He reports American bishops in 1975 issued their Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life
Activities which was updated in 1985. It is a blue print for the church to become a political
power and elect Pro-Catholics to vital public offices at all levels of government. Starting
with the election of Pres. Reagan, the plan's success in making Catholic doctrines the laws
of our land is truly remarkable.
Jim O'Hara