A Challenge to Brownback

"I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos." Sir Thomas More - A Man for All Seasons

Was Fr. Euteneur Out Of Line?

Posted on March 06, 2009, 11:12 AM Steve Skojec

Deal says that Fr. Euteneur's criticism of Sen. Brownback's endorsement of the Sebelius nomination was "way over-the-top and, frankly, uncharitable."
I couldn't disagree more.
In his joint statement with Sen. Pat Roberts, Brownback states:
"Congratulations to Governor Sebelius on being nominated to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services," the Senators said. "It's an honor for the State of Kansas to have an elected official appointed to the president's cabinet. We are hopeful Governor Sebelius will be a voice for Kansas and rural America at the Department. We look forward to working with her on issues important to the state including a National Cancer Institute Designation at the University of Kansas Cancer Center."
Sebelius, who has served as Governor of Kansas for six years, was today nominated by the president to serve as Secretary of HHS. Her nomination now heads to the Senate, which will decide whether to confirm the nomination.
"We will be able to pick up the phone and talk directly with the secretary about issues that are important to Kansas. We know we can have a strong dialogue with Governor Sebelius on issues we've been working on including fighting Medicare reimbursement cuts to home health care providers and ensuring the hundreds of billions of health care dollars in the stimulus are wisely spent.
It sounds as though Sen. Brownback would be perfectly happy to have Sebelius in HHS, to hell with her record on abortion. Oddly, he didn't have any problem voicing other objections to anticipated HHS policy under the Obama Administration:
"Obviously we will have different viewpoints than the Administration on many issues including health care reform especially given the huge price tag. We have real concerns about the president's budget which includes an additional $634 billion for a health care 'reserve fund' which is made up of tax increases and major cuts to programs critical to Kansas seniors. We look forward to talking with Governor Sebelius about the details of the president's plan.
Was it too much to ask for Sen. Brownback to talk about the thing he differs MOST with the administration about? I've been critical of the senator in the past, notably when he gave up without a fight when the Democrats objected to language in a Senate resolution honoring the pope's defense of human life during his DC visit last year. That was disappointing. This is abject failure to stand up for the most important issue in America today. There are far too few pro-life Catholics in our nation's government. Brownback is supposed to be one of them. If he lacks the will to object to the nomination of Sebelius, and instead treats this nomination as though it is nothing more than an opportunity for bipartisan work on healthcare policies, then he is betraying his beliefs. How can we construe it otherwise?
We are at a crossroads in American politics, and the pro-life movement is on the mat. Now, more than ever, we can't afford to miss substantive opportunities to fight this fight. Sen. Brownback is in a position of influence and power, and he failed to use it to even pay lip service to the defense of the unborn.
If, as Deal says, "Sen. Brownback has been a leader for many years in the pro-life, pro-family movement," then we should expect more of him, not less. Leadership counts most not when it's easy, but when it's hard. When it's unpopular. When it might make you more than a little uncomfortable. Whether or not Sen. Brownback has a solid pro-life record in the past, what matters most is his record of the moment. Every day, we get up and fight this battle anew. The past is done. The urgency of the present is upon us.
From where I stand, Fr. Euteneur is one of the few voices in the fray willing to risk whatever political capital or friendship his position may afford him to speak truth to power. He has stood against this growing evil at his own cost, and has made a point of calling out Catholics in public life for their less-than-Catholic stances, refusing to shrink from controversy. He is a man with less influence than the Senator, but apparently more conviction. I can't help but respect him for it.
I sincerely hope Sen. Brownback takes the opportunity to correct his ommission, even though his moment of greatest potency on the issue has passed. Until then, I'm grateful that men like Fr. Euteneur aren't afraid to risk prestiege or popularity when it comes to the defense of the unborn, even when it means chastising an ally.
"But when Cephas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." - Galatians 2:11