Friday, March 29, AD 2024 1:43am

Matt Birk #77 “Walks the Talk”

 

Kudos to retired Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk.

Birk

The six-time Pro-Bowler and member of the Ravens’ 2013 Super Bowl team chose not to attend a Ravens team meeting on Wednesday with President Barack Obama at the White House.

Why?

#77 is an ardent pro-life Catholic and his public criticism of the pro-abortion lobby now extends to President Obama for his very public support of Planned Parenthood.

On Thursday, Birk said in  an interview on KFAN radio in Minneapolis:

I would say this, I would say that I have great respect for the office of the presidency but about five or six weeks ago, our President made a comment in a speech and he said, “God bless Planned Parenthood”….Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year.

I am Catholic, I am active in the pro-life movement, and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that.  I couldn’t endorse that in any way…I’m very confused by [the President’s] statement. For God to bless a place where they’re ending 330,000 lives a year? I just chose not to attend.

Without fanfare, Matt Birk #77 represents well the “vocation of the laity” envisioned by the Second Vatican Council:

They exercise the apostolate in fact by their activity directed to the evangelization and sanctification of men and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. In this way, their temporal activity openly bears witness to Christ and promotes the salvation of men. Since the laity, in accordance with their state of life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ. (I.2.d)

Now that he’s retired from the NFL, perhaps #77 should evangelize those Catholics members of the U.S. Congress who don’t “get it.”

 

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Friday, June 7, AD 2013 11:07am

[…] For another take check out The Motley Monk’s comments over at The American Catholic. […]

Long-Skirts
Long-Skirts
Friday, June 7, AD 2013 1:11pm

“Matt Birk #77 represents well the “vocation of the laity” envisioned by the Second Vatican Council:”

THIS is what has been expected always by the Church, “What so ever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto Me.”

God bless Matt Birk!

Ed
Ed
Friday, June 7, AD 2013 3:38pm

Once you leave church on Sunday, does anyone know you are Catholic? God Bless this genuine Catholic. I have a “You cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion” sticker on my truck.I get more negative feedback in the parking lot after mass than anywhere else. God save us!

Cynthia
Cynthia
Friday, June 7, AD 2013 6:02pm

“Once you leave church on Sunday, does anyone know you are Catholic?”
I am a member of our parish Respect Life Committee. We brought in a speaker for Holy Week to talk about the Triduum, the family, and making it holy. Seems pretty safe, right? Nope. Not in my parish. The parish office will no longer send out emails for our committee to parish members because people complained about the topic. I was dumbfounded. I believe if it had been sponsored by any other group, there wouldn’t have been a problem.

So, the answer would be no.

Penguins Fan
Penguins Fan
Friday, June 7, AD 2013 6:19pm

Good on Matt Birk. Birk can teach Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Dan Rooney supported Obumbler in 2008 and was rewarded with the job of Ambassador to Ireland.

Jerry
Jerry
Friday, June 7, AD 2013 10:28pm

@Cynthia – perhaps the members can replace their contribution checks with notes explaining why envelopes are otherwise empty…

Does the pastor back the office refusing to send out your emails? If so, perhaps a discussion with the bishop is in order (depending on the diocese…)

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Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 12:03am

[…] Maria Wiering, OSV Number of Priests & Nuns in Marked Decline – Josephine McKenna, Tlgrph NFL Player Snubs Prez, Said God Bless Planned Parenthood – Motley Monk ‘I Didn’t Want to be Pope,’ Francis Tells Children – Estefania […]

Bob Adsit
Bob Adsit
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 2:13am

I PRAISE our Lord Jesus Christ for people like MATT! He doesn’t just “talk the talk”….He “walks the walk!”. Christ asks us to DO JUST that!….Amen

Phillip
Phillip
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 5:11am

Now here is a true act done in faith. Helping the weakest in accord with the Truth.

From today’s reading:

“….but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness.
A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness.”

suzanne
suzanne
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 6:21am

We need you Matt to keep speaking out and showing us pew sitters how to act, speak, and have the courage to do God’s will in this life!

Roman Revert
Roman Revert
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 10:49am

Perhaps Cardinal Dolan could learn a thing or 2 from Mr. Birk. I want to vomit every time I see that photo of him yucking it up with President Obama at the Alfred E Smith dinner. Who gave the better Christian witness – Cdl Dolan or Mr Birk?

Bill
Bill
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 12:25pm

Thank you for standing up publicly for the faith and telling the world the truth about PP.

Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy
Saturday, June 8, AD 2013 2:20pm

Matt Birk graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics. I think he should run for Congress!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Birk

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Monday, June 10, AD 2013 12:02am

[…] Religious Education Programs Thrive, We All Win – Martina, CSistas Matt Birk #77 “Walks the Talk” – The Motley Monk, The American Catholic Why Godparents Matter – Joel and Lisa Schmidt, Catholic […]

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Monday, June 10, AD 2013 3:42am

[…] Religious Education Programs Thrive, We All Win – Martina, CSistas Matt Birk #77 “Walks the Talk” – The Motley Monk, The American Catholic Why Godparents Matter – Joel and Lisa Schmidt, Catholic […]

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