Candidate Chris Royse is running for supervisor of the Woodbridge Magisterial District and has challenged Supervisor Frank Principi, again. Royse did something a few years ago that I haven’t quite gotten over–something I think was unconscionable for a public office seeker to do. He called on the leaders of the Arlington Diocese to withhold communion from both Supervisor Principi and Congressman Gerry Connolly. What a nerve!
Royse identified both men as Catholics and accused them in a public letter in the News and Messenger of “supporting pro-choice agendas in direct violation of church teachings.” In the first place, since when did Royse become the ” mind police or the arbiter of who is and who is not right with the Church?” What pro-choice agenda has Frank Principi supported as a supervisor in Prince William County? What does Prince William County have to do with abortion services? Do we have a hidden clinic no one has heard of?
In the many times I have talked to Mr. Principi, the subject of choice has never come up. Why would it? Furthermore, I am of the mind set that people may hold independent political ideas without consulting the Pope or the Arlington Diocese over such matters. To call for someone to not receive communion is very serious. Is this what Royse would do if he were elected supervisor? Would he sic the Church on those he opposed?
See the letter that appeared in the News and Messenger in December 2008 from Chris Royse. Let’s hope he will leave the Lord’s business to the Lord and that he now attends to earthly business. Pride goeth before a fall.
This time of year is special to Christians as Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
Birth and life are very important concepts to Christians, and in particular Catholics.
We are commanded by the Pope to love and protect the unborn since God sent his only son to be born, raised and crucified among us.
This year, shortly after Christmas, we will inaugurate President-elect Obama who has publicly referred to pregnancy as “punishment,” and we will see his local followers, Congressman-elect Gerry
Connolly and Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi — both Catholics who support pro-choice agendas in direct violation of the Church’s teachings — continue on their path of supporting the destruction of
human life.This holiday season, a season which includes the celebration of birth, I request that leaders throughout the Arlington Diocese call on Connolly and Principi to stop their hypocrisy and to consider denying
them communion until they realign themselves with the teachings of our church.As Jesus taught us in Matthew 23:12 “and whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” Christmas is the perfect time for the humble unborn to be exalted and
those local “leaders” who exalt themselves by publicly defying their own faith to be humbled.Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
CHRIS ROYSE
There needs to be a clear separation of church and state always. Obviously Mr. Royse does not agree since he called on the Diocese to withhold communion from Supervisor Principi. Mr. Royse’s tattle-tail lies to the Arch Diocese are not becoming of anyone seeking elected office. Frank Principi clarifies his pro-life position here. Maligning an elected official with false accusations does not demonstrate leadership qualities.
Moonhowlings’ earlier coverage
“Tattle-tail” is a perfect description. I’d add “nanny” as well.
I thought JFK went to great lengths to ensure voters that he did not take his marching orders from anything but his own mind and the Constitution. If some little tattle tail is going to start reporting people to the Pope because they are democrats, then we have a problem, Houston. Frank Principi has no pro choice agenda.
Kennedy’s speech to the Houston Ministers in 1960. Kennedy’s speech needs to be a model. We shouldn’t have to fear voting for someone because of their religion.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16920600
Bad choices like that letter to the editor and threatening one’s former opponent with loss of communion should follow a politician.
Chris is welcome to come here to try to justify his poor judgement in threatening an opponent he had lost to.
What I find disturbing is the intent to use religion as a political bludgeoning tool. Didn’t Kennedy have to convince the voters that he was an independent thinker, not ruled by the Pope, and yet, today, 50 years later, some are making a complete reversal.
Again, here is Kennedy’s speech. It really is a classic piece of American thinking in a pluralistic society. When Kennedy was running Catholics were feared by protestants, much the same same way some folks fear Mormons today.
Rev. Jeffress and Chris Royse both need to listen to Kennedy’s speech to the protestant ministers of Houston. That speech is as relevant today as it was in 1960.