By Antonio D. French
Filed Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 6:00 AM
Two well-known St. Louis Catholics are asking Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Jay Nixon to support Governor Matt Blunt's selection to the State Board of Education. Labels: Governor, Governor's_Race, Schools
PubDef.net has obtained a copy of a letter dated this week sent to Nixon from Rev. Sal E. Polizzi of St. Roch Catholic Church and Rev. Vincent Bommarito of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. In it, the two ask Nixon to support the appointment of conservative Democrat Derio Gambaro to the Board of Education.
"As the leading Democrat in our state and the only announced Democratic candidate for governor of our state we are writing to ask you to contact Senator [Jeff] Smith and ask him to support Derio," they wrote.
"As you well know, the Italian neighborhood (The Hill) is still a very democratic area and the residents would appreciate Senator Smith's support for Derio's appointment."
Gambaro was one of Smith's opponents in a crowded primary contest last year to replace the term-limited State Sen. Pat Dougherty. Smith has voiced some concerns about Gambaro's appointment.
Click here to download the letter
Click here to read Jeff Smith's statement on Gambaro
Click here to watch video of Blunt's announcement
19 Comments:
So let me get this straight..... The Catholic Church cannot suport a benefit concert for kids with cancer because one of the performers rejects a ban on embryonic stem cell research. But... a Catholic priest can write a letter of endorsement (on parish stationary) for a Governor's (who also opposes a ban on embryonic stem cell research) appointment. Come on Burke... take on Polizzi, your due for another humiliation in public.
6/16/2007 2:45 AM
I'm not anti-Catholic nor anti-Burke because he has stood firm on Catholic teaching and canon as well as Christian principles that date way back.
However, it appears questionable why an appointment for the Missouri Board of Education that oversees traditional public schools, not Catholic, parochial, private, or charter schools in essence, is being filled with men and women who are not advocates or supporters of public school education.
There ought to be qualifications that include support of public school education in all its facets in order to serve on the very board that oversees public schools.
The public should begin to challenge what is going on relative to such appointments.
Nevertheless, don't berate a Church or its leaders just because they hold fast to their doctrines, tenets, and creeds.
6/16/2007 11:34 AM
Yeah. If you vote for Kerry then you arn't Catholic. The same goes if you don't support Republican Gambaro.
6/16/2007 12:19 PM
Was gambaro opposed to the embryonic stem cell initiative or did he side with sheryl crow and john danforth?
6/16/2007 12:56 PM
Doug, can you stay on topic here? This is about an appointment to the State Board of Education, not the presidential primary, not the Catholic Church hierarchy, other than a priest or two on the Hill, or polity.
Can we get back to the subject of public education and the fact that, yes, some Catholic prelates wrote an endorsement and that is questionable?
6/16/2007 1:01 PM
Hey guys, many various Christian denominations are against embryonic stem cell research, but that is not the subject of this particular post.
There are proponents for and against embryonic stem cell research who are for public school education.
6/16/2007 1:03 PM
Uhhh righhhhhht,
So Jay Nixon who is in the number one governor's race for '08, who needs to stay tight with Democratic interest groups, who holds a different educational philosophy from Gambaro, and who is locked in daily battles with Governor Blunt...
is going to tell Smith to approve BLUNT's anti-public school nominee?
Somehow, I don't see it happening, fellas.
6/16/2007 2:04 PM
Anonymous said...
Hey guys, many various Christian denominations are against embryonic stem cell research, but that is not the subject of this particular post.
There are proponents for and against embryonic stem cell research who are for public school education.
6/16/2007 1:03 PM
Well, excuse me----but this topic is about clergymen putting pressure on our elected officials. The biggest clergyman of all in this church in this area---Burke---has a history of pressuring both candidates and voters---using whatever means he decides to to make things go his way.
If this is a case of financial considerations (enthusiasm for vouchers) trumping their so called morality (the murder of "human beings" to do stem cell research)----I think that is worth pointing out.
Of course, as was shown earlier this week, Burke and his possee will back away from discussion if it becomes inconvenient for them.
6/16/2007 3:25 PM
it is St. Roch. Not St. Rock.
Thank you.
6/16/2007 4:40 PM
As a Catholic and as a candidate for the school board elections, I've got to say:
STAY OUT
If the priests want to write a letter as a private citizen, that is there choice, but to write a letter reflecting their parish (as they did on parish stationary), then they write on behalf of the archdiocese...Burke and his priests need to be reminded of that pesky constitution: seperation of church and state.
6/16/2007 6:10 PM
Thanks, St. Roch Alum. It's been corrected.
6/16/2007 6:26 PM
So, KJoe..what's wrong with the clergy pressuring elected officials?
It happens every day. It's just that you don't like THAT clergy pressuring elected officials because you don't agree with THAT clergy.
And besides, since when is it against the rules (and God forbid fascists like you would ever set them) that clergy write letters to politicians?
Ever hear of the Clergy Coalition bitch?
And don't play the separation of Church and State crap either. There's no such thing.
Just because you hate priests and never sat your ass in a pew doesn't mean we have to put up with your intellectual dishonesty.
You obviously think it's OK for YOU to pressure elected officials, but not those you don't like.
You're the reason ths country sucks.
6/16/2007 10:42 PM
Wow kjoe you must be pretty powerful! How does it feel to be solely responsible for making the world suck?
Anonymous, feel free to take yourself OUT of this world at any time.
6/16/2007 10:57 PM
My mistake you are only responsible for making this country suck. Not so powerful after all.
6/16/2007 10:59 PM
Happy father's day, anonymous.
let's just sort out your rant.
So, KJoe..what's wrong with the clergy pressuring elected officials?---absolutely, vehemently, nothing is wrong with it. It should be part of their duties as better informed citizens.
And besides, since when is it against the rules (and God forbid fascists like you would ever set them) that clergy write letters to politicians?---see above.
Ever hear of the Clergy Coalition bitch?---no. who is she? seems like it would be a strange gig. Kind of a demeaning title.
And don't play the separation of Church and State crap either. There's no such thing.----I disagree. It is covered by the first amendment. I read it to mean that the government should not do things to prevent people practicing their religions, nor should they do things to establish religions with special preferences.
Just because you hate priests and never sat your ass in a pew doesn't mean we have to put up with your intellectual dishonesty.---I hope that means you will ignore it or challenge it as you are doing here. There are priests I have more admiration for than their own archbishop does. Sometimes i sat in pews--sometimes I sat on the organ bench.
I made a search in my post for what I advocated doing about the pressures of the priests. I said---"I think that is worth pointing out."
You mentioned the word fascism---I still think there is value in the 1941 book by Eric Fromm--"Escape from Freedom". So keep on expressing yourself to citizens like me, or politicians with whom you disagree. If there are thingsw worth pointing out---"point them out".
6/17/2007 1:46 PM
> Catholics Pressure
> Nixon on Gambaro
Or maybe its "Italian-American Community Leadership Express Support for One of Their Own"
Same story, different lead.
t
6/17/2007 7:03 PM
Tom again? Hail to he the almighty.Did Star catch up with you yet?
6/17/2007 7:12 PM
Tom, I think you made a reasonable point.
The clergy have spiritual beliefs which should not be forced upon those who do not agree with them.
They are well informed and have a right to political beliefs just like other citizens.
They deserve to be paid attention to when they are active politically--as Mike Clasiborne might say---for a number of reasons.
6/17/2007 10:34 PM
Hey all,
Separation of Chrurch and State? Not in the Constitution. It's called the establishment clause, and says that the state cannot attempt to establish or outlaw any religion...not the same as "separation of church and state," a phrase that is not in the Constitution. It doesn't mean that religious folk can't express opinions about politics or vice versa.
6/18/2007 10:48 AM
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