Benedict Brownback
I have one more post left in me to write about Senator Sam Brownback’s endorsement of KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for HHS Secretary, and then I’ll move on.
First, read today’s “Brownback – Turncoat” by Fr. Tom Euteneuer of Human Life International. Here’s an excerpt, but the entire piece is a must read:
Senator Brownback seems not to understand the Church’s profoundly wounded heart with regard the slaughter of the innocents. The Church tells us never to participate in that slaughter, no matter what the cost; we do not give aid and comfort to the enemies of human life, we do not stand by while the innocent are being dragged off to a violent murder, and under no circumstances do we endorse the political aspirations of their executioners. Politicians who sell the lives of babies for political gains are the worst kind of turncoats….
Contrast that with this, sent yesterday…
With all due respect to Kansans for Life, and I have friends in that group, please don’t tell me not to get upset with Sam Brownback. He may have done great things in the past, but as of now he is no different than Doug Kmiec. It is of no help to the movement to excuse major betrayals….
Sam Brownback is the Senate Pro-life Caucus leader, for heaven’s sakes! He’s supposed to be the standardbearer! Would Louise Slaughter, Democrat co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, ever endorse a Republican pro-lifer – particularly hard core – for anything, never mind HHS Secretary?
Some pro-lifers say if we’re nice to Brownback he may reverse his support, but if he feels backed into a corner he won’t. Let me tell you something. It was after Tuesday’s VAT meeting with national conservative leaders the Kansas City Star blog reported this:
After a day of uncertainty, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said Tuesday he would vote to confirm Gov. Kathleen Sebelius….
“The President won the election and has nominated a Kansan to the cabinet,” Brownback said in a statement. “Despite our profound policy differences, I will support my fellow Kansan.”
What kind of excuses were those? Brownback had a golden opportunity to recant. He admitted in that meeting he knew Sebelius was bad and in fact had more dirt on her than anyone in the room. Yet what did he do? He issued a second endorsement statement of the most pro-abortion governor in the country.
And there was this extra tidbit:
Brownback’s position had been a concern to the White House. Two sources have told The Star that Obama himself called Brownback last week to gauge his reaction. The president wanted to be sure that Brownback wouldn’t work to derail the nomination, a top Democrat said.
The problem here is not having faith in the truth, of relying instead on expedient political calculations that may or may not play out. We can’t judge how God will orchestrate the future. But the one thing pro-lifers do know is right from wrong in the moment. Brownback knew right from wrong. He did wrong and then got obstinate about it. He can still man up, and I pray for that, but whitewashing his behavior is of no help to him or the babies.
I have a personal fear of screwing up. I’ve made giant mistakes in my life and don’t want to ruin my testimony any more than I have. Despite all that, God has graciously given me a platform, and I don’t want to let him down. So I have this excerpt from a devotion taped inside the front cover of my Bible, and I read it often:
We are children of the King with a standard to uphold and a Father to represent.
“God, may I finish well?” [Joni Eareckson Tada] prays. “Can I just make it to the finish line without doing something really dumb that brings shame to your name or stains your Gospel?”
The plea to finish well is one she has heard expressed by James Dobson and discussed with Charles Colson over dinner.
The notion originated with Paul, and she reads the passage with emphasis, “‘I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).’ Yep, that’s what I want to do, right there,” she says tapping her arm brace against the open book. “Good verse.”
Brownback can still finish well. He can still pull this out. He is going into this debacle with eyes wide open. If he doesn’t, don’t tell me, “Senator Brownback is pro-life and no one should forget it.” I’ll forget it.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
“but as of now he is no different than Doug Kmiec.”
Very harsh, very harsh indeed. But true :(
I’m glad you’ve decided to move on. I hate to see people eat their own, leaves bad indigestion.
Andrew, like Brownback?
Jill,
you are totally wrong and are part of the problem.
don’t come to kansas, you are not welcome.
and don’t come to kansas after brownback is governor and closes down Tiller and pose for pictures.
Kansas,
Why did Brownback even have to endorse her at all? He could have kept his mouth shut and not given people like Chris Matthews anything to twist. He screwed up.
Brownback’s endorsement of Sebelius is an endorsement for abortion.
Those are the facts. He CHOSE to endorse her.
What else is there? He wants to have his cake and eat it, too? Get real.
Senator Brownback has to be playing some game of hide and seek. Hopefully he is not changing his spots like a chameleon lepoard. Read Catholic Catechism Paragraph 2271:
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves.
Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.
If Sen B-back has done this without some considerable concession from the Executive Branch, prayers for his soul are definitely in order.
Insequor Sarcalogos Est Defendo Vita
– – –
Tom Martin, Indignus Vernula Pro Deus
Albuquerque, NM
“The President won the election and has nominated a Kansan to the cabinet,” Brownback said in a statement. “Despite our profound policy differences, I will support my fellow Kansan.”
That statement totally disgusts me. I have met Senator Brownback and now to see him bow to political pressure and then try to say he did this to help the pro life movement in the long run. I was disappointed in the mild rebuke. We must remember that the ends does not justify the means.
He could have said nothing but he sold his birthright for a bowl of porridge. I could cry
“Benedict Brownback” says it all……
As Christians dedicated to finding common ground solutions to reduce the number of abortions in America, we welcome President Obama’s nomination of Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Under Governor Sebelius’ leadership, abortions have decreased in Kansas by 10 percent, adoption funding and incentives have increased, healthcare access for women and families has expanded, prenatal care has become more widely available, and legislation protecting the unborn from crime has become law. Such a record demonstrates a commitment to results rather than rhetoric on life issues.
She is a Democratic Governor who has been elected by wide margins in a state where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats two to one. Her nomination has already won not only the support of Democrats, but also praise from Republican pro-life Senators such as Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Governors such as Sonny Perdue of Georgia. Her record and her relationships with leaders in both parties are proof that pro-choice and pro-life leaders can work together to advance a pro-family agenda.
The governor, who is by all accounts a person of deep faith, deserves a fair hearing in Congress and in the public square. Efforts to discredit her will no doubt arise, but we hope that such tactics will not succeed in taking focus off of her record of reducing abortions and supporting women and families in Kansas – and the task that lies ahead of us all: working together to improve health care and reduce the number of abortions in America.
http://faithinpubliclife.org/content/press/2009/03/top_christian_leaders_welcome.html
Boy, the cynical side of me is really starting to think that Brownback just really, REALLY wants to get Sebelius out of the way so that it will grease the skids for his OWN run for Senate and at the same time keep Kathleen from running for Senate herself in 2010.
If that’s his motivation, may God help him – because I won’t.
Whatever happened to principle? Whatever happened to the civil rights of the unborn? Sam, as much as it might damage your POLITICAL aspirations to have Kathleen still in Kansas and stirring up trouble, you are SACRIFICING YOUR PRINCIPLES if you let her get into HHS unscathed. Sam, DO THE RIGHT THING – not the POLITICAL thing!!!
Beliefnet: Sebelius + HHS = Fewer Abortions
My mistake – I meant to say that Brownback was looking for Sebelius to leave so that he could grease the skids for his own run for GOVERNOR in 2010.
Proofreading is fundamental…
From Realities article:
“but also praise from Republican pro-life Senators such as Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Governors such as Sonny Perdue of Georgia. ”
Thanks for proving the point, Reality.
Steve S,
Sebelius cannot run for governor in 2010. She will have served two terms and in KA you cannot run for a third term as governor. So, whether she stays in KA or goes, she will not be running for gov in 2010. Therefore, this can’t have anything to do with Brownback’s disgusting endorsement.
I got that KFL email. I was pretty surprised at the request to not get upset… because we SHOULD be upset! Brownback has brought this all on himself. What was he thinking? I’m still waiting for his justification, and probably will be for a long time.
Reality,
that article is rife with errors/lies.
How does a “person of deep faith” hold a dinner in “honor’ of the most infamous baby killer in America?
Let me guess….. he’s probably a “person of deep faith” as well. And he even ADMITS he has aborted babies that were of full term.
Not all “people of faith” oppose abortion. Not all who oppose abortion are people of faith.