Catholic Governor’s Veto Prompts Bishops Action

Catholic Online ^ | 5/12/08 | Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann

[tcg]

What makes the governor’s actions and advocacy for legalized abortion, throughout her public career, even more painful for me is that she is Catholic. Sadly, Governor Sebelius is not unique in being a Catholic politician supporting legalized abortion.

Since becoming archbishop, I have met with Governor Sebelius several times over many months to discuss with her the grave spiritual and moral consequences of her public actions by which she has cooperated in the procurement of abortions performed in Kansas. My concern has been, as a pastor, both for the spiritual well-being of the governor but also for those who have been misled (scandalized) by her very public support for legalized abortion.

[tcg]

Governor Sebellius is a huge supporter of the Obama campaign. Her actions have gone beyong supporting the so called "right" to take the life of innocent children in the womb, she has vetoed legislation aimed at limiting abortions. She has also directly disregarded the direction of her Bishop and caused scandal among the faithful.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Looks like the Bishop excommunicated her.

Good for him!!

[Ann Archy]

GO ARCHBISHOP!!! Catholics have been led astray by people in AUTHORITY NOT SPEAKING UP ON THIS ISSUE!! God will smile on the Archbishop.....the Governor needs prayers.

[DarthVader]

Good for him, now they need to get Kerry, Pelosi, Kennedy and et.al.

[ought-six]

Is the link open only to subsribers or something? I can’t access it. I get the heading, but nothing more.

[ought-six]

“Looks like the Bishop excommunicated her.”

No, he didn’t. He just requested that she refrain from taking communion; she is still allowed to accept the other sacraments. If she ever is excommunicated she will be forbidden from taking any of the sacraments, and will be dismissed from the Church. The Archbishop’s actions are a far cry from that.

[narses]

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[caisson71]

Maybe he’s firing a shot across her bow. The next shot may be the direct hit. In any case, I’m glad to see somebody take some action on high profile politicians.

[TNCMAXQ]

I find Sebelius disgusting because she opposes the death penalty for the most heinous killers while she has no problem with innocent babies being aborted. She was elected governor in 2002 the same week that the scumbags in the “Wichita horror” rape/murders were convicted. Yet she would let those 2 live while saying babies should die.

[Norman Bates]

How is this woman governor of Kansas?

[TradicalRC]

Exactly right. I would think that he could talk to the Eucharistic ministers at her parish and order them to refrain as well from distributing to the governor. Excommunication would be ideal, though as the message is then -Unmitigated.

[castlebrew]

It looks like ‘strike 2’ with the second written communication. The Archbishop should instruct the parish priests to turn her away at Communion, lest they be implicated in the damage she does.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step...

[A.A. Cunningham]

I would think that he could talk to the Eucharistic ministers at her parish

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The term Eucharistic minister was done away with several years ago. Naumann needs to instruct every Priest, Deacon and EMHC in the diocese, not just the ones in the governor's parish, that until they hear differently from him that she cannot receive Communion.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Governor’s Veto Prompts Pastoral Action

On the day of my return (Monday, April 21) from the exhilarating experience of participating in Pope Benedict’s pastoral visit to the United States, I learned that Governor Kathleen Sebelius had vetoed the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act (HS SB 389), which had been passed by significant majorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. Last week, an attempt to override the governor’s veto failed in the Senate by two votes. Governor Sebelius in her veto message claimed: “For years, the people of Kansas have asked their elected officials to move beyond legislative debates on issues like abortion.” From her veto message, I received the impression the governor considered it a waste of the Legislature’s time to pass a statute that attempts to protect some women by making certain they have the opportunity to be well-informed: 1) about the development of their unborn child; and 2) about abortion alternatives available to them. Evidently, the governor does not approve of legislators devoting energy to protecting children and women by making it possible to enforce existing Kansas laws regulating late-term abortions.

The governor’s veto message demonstrated a lack of respect to the members of the Kansas General Assembly who had carefully crafted and resoundingly passed the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act, as well as to the many Kansans who find it more than an embarrassment, in no small part due to several previous vetoes by Governor Sebelius of earlier legislative efforts to regulate abortion clinics, that Kansas has become infamous for being the late-term abortion center for the Midwest.

What makes the governor’s rhetoric and actions even more troubling has been her acceptance of campaign contributions from Wichita’s Dr. George Tiller, perhaps the most notorious late-term abortionist in the nation. In addition to Dr. Tiller’s direct donations to her campaign, the governor has benefited from the Political Action Committees funded by Dr. Tiller to support pro-abortion candidates in Kansas.

In her veto message, the governor took credit for lower abortion rates in Kansas, citing her support for “adoption incentives, extended health services for pregnant women, providing sex education and offering a variety of support services for families.” Indeed, the governor and her administration should be commended for supporting adoption incentives and health services for pregnant women.

However, the governor overreaches by assuming credit for declining abortion rates in Kansas. Actually, lower abortion rates are part of a national trend. Our neighboring state of Missouri has actually had a steeper and longer decline in its abortion rate.

Governor Sebelius’ inclusion of public school sex education programs as a factor in the abortion rate decline is absurd. Actually, valueless sex education programs in public schools have been around for years, coinciding with increased sexual activity among adolescents, as well as increases in teen pregnancy and abortion. On the other hand, the governor does not acknowledge the significant impact of mass media education programs, such as those sponsored by the Vitae Caring Foundation, or the remarkable practical assistance provided by Crisis Pregnancy Centers which are funded through the generosity of pro-life Kansans. What makes the governor’s actions and advocacy for legalized abortion, throughout her public career, even more painful for me is that she is Catholic. Sadly, Governor Sebelius is not unique in being a Catholic politician supporting legalized abortion.

Since becoming archbishop, I have met with Governor Sebelius several times over many months to discuss with her the grave spiritual and moral consequences of her public actions by which she has cooperated in the procurement of abortions performed in Kansas. My concern has been, as a pastor, both for the spiritual well-being of the governor but also for those who have been misled (scandalized) by her very public support for legalized abortion.

It has been my hope that through this dialogue the governor would come to understand her obligation: 1) to take the difficult political step, but necessary moral step, of repudiating her past actions in support of legalized abortion; and 2) in the future would use her exceptional leadership abilities to develop public policies extending the maximum legal protection possible to the unborn children of Kansas. Having made every effort to inform and to persuade Governor Sebelius and after consultation with Bishop Ron Gilmore (Dodge City), Bishop Paul Coakley (Salina) and Bishop Michael Jackels (Wichita), I wrote the governor last August requesting that she refrain from presenting herself for reception of the Eucharist until she had acknowledged the error of her past positions, made a worthy sacramental confession and taken the necessary steps for amendment of her life which would include a public repudiation of her previous efforts and actions in support of laws and policies sanctioning abortion.

Recently, it came to my attention that the governor had received holy Communion at one of our parishes. I have written to her again, asking her to respect my previous request and not require from me any additional pastoral actions.

The governor has spoken to me on more than one occasion about her obligation to uphold state and federal laws and court decisions. I have asked her to show a similar sense of obligation to honor divine law and the laws, teaching and legitimate authority within the church.

I have not made lightly this request of Governor Sebelius, but only after much prayer and reflection. The spiritually lethal message, communicated by our governor, as well as many other high profile Catholics in public life, has been in effect: “The church’s teaching on abortion is optional!” I reissue my request of the faithful of the archdiocese to pray for Governor Sebelius. I hope that my request of the governor, not to present herself for holy Communion, will provoke her to reconsider the serious spiritual and moral consequences of her past and present actions. At the same time, I pray this pastoral action on my part will help alert other Catholics to the moral gravity of participating in and/or cooperating with the performance of abortions.

[A.A. Cunningham]

She has excommunicated herself latae sententiae. A ferendae sententiae excommunication requires a formal hearing. Sounds more like he has issued an interdict.

Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

[A.A. Cunningham]

http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=27934

[A.A. Cunningham]

Kathleen Sebelius

[TradicalRC]

The term Eucharistic minister was done away with several years ago.

I'm not sure how you can "do away" with a term that is still quite commonly used. Not even sure as why to bother, seems like some folks have nothing better to do than indulge in liturgical correctness when it comes to churchspeak.

[fatima]

Wow,Cleaning house is just beginning.