American Bishop: Pro-Choice Equals No Communion For Catholics

Life Site ^ | 06.19.07 | Peter J. Smith

[Coleus]

PATERSON, New Jersey, June 19, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-choice Catholics, not just Catholic politicians, must not receive Communion if they knowingly support legalized abortion says an American Catholic bishop.  "By steadfastly choosing to be pro-choice, a Catholic -- politician or not -- excludes himself or herself from communion," wrote Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli in the June 7 edition of the Beacon, the Paterson diocese newspaper.  In his column Serratelli rebuked "pro-choice" Catholic politicians and those who "arrogantly insist that the Church does not have the right to her own teaching" and who claim a right to Communion at the same time. In particular Serratelli went after the 18 Democratic Congressmen who lashed out at Pope Benedict XVI for stating that supporting abortion is "incompatible with receiving communion"

The Church vigorously teaches that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." However "pro-choice Catholics," as Serratelli pointed out, have reacted in self-righteous "how dare he" indignation when the Pope tells them that the Church has definitive truths, objective criteria for forming a conscience, and does not rubberstamp everyone as worthy to approach Holy Communion.  "[The Pope] is right when he insists that supporting abortion is incompatible with the reception of Holy Communion," said Serratelli.  "Certainly, a politician has the freedom to reject Church's teaching," he stated. "But let's be honest.  To choose to be pro-choice is to reject the Gospel of life.  It is to be not faithful to Church teaching."

Serratelli noted that guidelines for Catholics receiving Communion prepared by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops also teach that Catholics "should refrain" from receiving Communion if they were to "knowingly and obstinately to repudiate [the Church's] definitive teaching on moral issues," either in their personal or professional life. "The Church has always taught that a procured abortion is a moral evil," said Seratelli. "The Church's teaching is clear.  What is disputed now is the Church's right to speak this truth." Serratelli noted that the 18 Catholic Congressmen who "strongly chastised" Benedict XVI were refusing "to allow the Pope freedom of speech and the Church freedom of religion."

Politicians in western governments worldwide have attacked the Catholic Church's right to hold its members accountable to Catholic teachings in the name of "pluralism." Right now two Catholic archbishops in Australia, George Pell of Sydney and Hickey of Perth, face investigations into whether their telling Catholic parliamentarians that support for the destruction of human life in stem-cell research is incompatible with receiving communion amounted to "contempt of parliament." "Why should the Church not have a right to voice her teaching on this important issue in the public square?  She must speak and speak often," Serratelli said. "Abortion may be for some just a political issue.  But, for the innocent child, it is a matter of life or death."

See the Paterson Bishop's column here

Related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

Pope Warns Pro-Abortion Politicians Against Receiving Communion Unworthily
18 House Democrats Blast Pope for Dropping the "E-word" on Abortion
Pope Supports Excommunication for Pro-Abortion Politicians - "Incompatible with Receiving Communion"
Full Text - New US Bishops Conference Document on Worthiness to Receive Communion

[Mila]

“Of course you do. I’ll bet you think those darned clergy should have stayed out of the slavery issue in the 1850s as well...”

Well bless your little Yankee heart, I certainly do. If things had turned out a little differently I’d be sitting and drinking mint juleps on the veranda of my family’s ancestral plantation home. /S

[Antoninus]

Well bless your little Yankee heart, I certainly do. If things had turned out a little differently I’d be sitting and drinking mint juleps on the veranda of my family’s ancestral plantation home.

Well, "you certainly do" think the clergy should have stayed out of the slavery issue, or "/sarcasm"?

Which is it? Your argument is on thin ice either way.

[chuckles]

Its sorta like putting the politicians "back in the closet" where they belong. They need to keep their opinions to themselves. 40 years ago, a pol couldn't get elected if they espoused such things, but now it's accepted as "moderate". Now our children think the old timers are out of step with reality. They should be told that the pols are out of step with God. Being popular isn't a requirement for being right.

Jesus told the Truth and was murdered for it. The Bible says we(Christians) will be slaughtered like sheep and the killers will believe they are doing God's Work. You see what centuries of lies and misinterpretation of God's word has done for Muslims. The same will happen to our children if they aren't corrected. Taking God out of school was the beginning of the end for America.

[Sacajaweau]

God never “excomminicates”. It’s an impossibility.

[BlackElk]

Prosecutorial discretion.

[mimaw]

The Catholic church is not interfering with the politics of state they are reiterating for there members the laws of the church. Let these so called half assed Catholics leave the church and join the Episcopal church.

[Heartland Mom]

Yeah, I’m going to hold my breath until Catholics like Ted Kennedy are excommunicated.

[Campion]

That human life begins at conception is part of the Ordinary Magisterium, but has not been defined "ex cathedra,"

Well ... it's probably not an exercise of the "extraordinary magisterium," but it's without question infallibly known. JP2 said this (Evangelium Vitae 62):

Given such unanimity in the doctrinal and disciplinary tradition of the Church, Paul VI was able to declare that this tradition is unchanged and unchangeable. Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, in communion with the Bishops-who on various occasions have condemned abortion and who in the aforementioned consultation, albeit dispersed throughout the world, have shown unanimous agreement concerning this doctrine-I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based upon the natural law and upon the written Word of God, is transmitted by the Church's Tradition and taught by the ordinary and universal Magisterium.

[hunter112]

Of all the reasons that cradle Catholics stay Catholic, agreeing with the Church on all things is low on the list.

That's true. There is massive social pressure within families to "stay Catholic". I left the Catholic Church back in 1985 after my divorce was filed, without looking back even once in the intervening twenty-two years, and still my mother thinks I might come back. I mentioned that I've been getting to know my lady's friends and family since moving here to NY, and that many of them are regular churchgoing Catholics. She asked me if it might just rub off on me.

I imagine the same thing happens with every religious tradition that drills itself deeply into the lives of the people who are raised in it.

[reaganaut]

Adultery and lying are more things pretty much etched in stone.

Actually, they were etched in stone, the 10 Commandments :)

[reaganaut]

Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, in communion with the Bishops-who on various occasions have condemned abortion and who in the aforementioned consultation, albeit dispersed throughout the world, have shown unanimous agreement concerning this doctrine-I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being.

I was thinking along these lines. I just finished reading a book that covers the canonization of Pius IX and Vatican I (the Papal Infallibility issue), Pius had asserted Papal Infallibility prior to Vatican I in declaring the Immaculate Conception a dogma of the faith. Apparently most of the council fathers believed that on all pronounced matter of faith and morals, papal infallibility was assumed.

The quote above by JPII, appears to invoke Papal Infallibility, therefore being pro-abortion is NOT an option for Catholics. Am I wrong?

BTW, I have never been Catholic (although I did attend Catholic school as a child), but I am a Catholic sympathizer/supporter (LOVED JPII). Also, I am a religious historian (Medievalist), which means my research area is pretty much Catholic History (and the medieval heresies).

[littlehouse36]

I have trouble with the church calling Iraq an unjust war...

 

It is no secret that JPII opposed the invasion of Iraq.  What many don't realize is that the Vatican supports the current effort:

 

9/10/2004

Vatican buries the hatchet with Blair and Bush over Iraq

Now, in light of the post-war chaos, Cardinal Sodano has announced a newly hawkish line on Iraq from Rome. "The child has been born," he declared recently on behalf of the Vatican. "It may be illegitimate, but it's here, and it must be reared and educated."

Despite the Vatican's vociferous opposition to the war, the bloody terrorist attacks and the continuing insurgency have convinced the Pope that only an increased military presence, including Nato troops, can secure peace. 

[littlehouse36]

<< I’d be surprised if somewhere in Rome there isn’t a blanket edict to that effect. >>

You are correct. We are to confess (with contriteness) any sin before receiving communion.

[littlehouse36]

Of all the reasons that cradle Catholics stay Catholic, agreeing with the Church on all things is low on the list.

 

Very, very low.

 

Truer words were never spoken.

 

 

 

 

[littlehouse36]

<< It’s a matter of beginning (somewhere) to restore comprehensive moral and doctrinal integrity. >>

You have made some very good points, especially the one above. Thanks.

[littlehouse36]

It is only a matter of time when the freedom of religion clause in the American Constitution be de-facto overturned under some such pretext.

 

It is already happening with Massachusetts denying state support to Catholic adoption agencies who refuse to place children with gay couples.

Banned in Boston The coming conflict between same-sex marriage and religious liberty.

[Coleus]

but what about the general public Catholics? If we do this for one we must do it for all. >>>>

a lot of the reasoning is in this booklet, politicians are the very people who can decide to make abortion legal or illegal, the congress control the courts and can make and pass laws.  They also appropriate the money for abortion while the general public does not.  Politicians, by virtue of their positions, authority and power, are held to a higher standard.

Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics

The Gospel of Life

[Coleus]

Posts 9 and 57 can shed some light on the issue.

[Patriotic1]

#32 from the USCCB is the clincher: We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin.

[ViLaLuz]

“I’m a pro-life Catholic but I disagree with this selective meddling into politics.”

The Bishop is just doing what Catholics do. It’s the politicians who are meddling with the Catholic religion, trying to insist that they have a right to communion while embracing abortion.

55 “Catholics” who claim to be pro-abortion:
Joe Baca
Xavier Becerra
Robert Brady
Michael Capuano
Dennis A. Cardoza
Wm. Lacy Clay
Jim Costa
Joseph Crowley
Peter A. DeFazio
William Delahunt
Rosa DeLauro
Mike Doyle
Anna Eshoo
Lane Evans
Charles A. Gonzalez
Raul M. Grijalva
Luis V. Gutierrez
Maurice Hinchey
Tim Holden
Patrick J. Kennedy
Dale E. Kildee
James R. Langevin
John B. Larson
Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey
Jim Marshall
Carolyn McCarthy
Betty McCollum
James P. McGovern
Cynthia McKinney
Marty Meehan
Michael H. Michaud
George Miller
James P. Moran
Grace Napolitano
Richard E. Neal
James L. Oberstar
David R. Obey
Frank Pallone
Bill Pascrell
Ed Pastor
Nancy Pelosi
Silvestre Reyes
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Tim Ryan
John T. Salazar
Linda T. Sanchez
Loretta Sanchez
Jose Serrano
Hilda L. Solis
Bart Stupak
Gene Taylor
Mike Thompson
Nydia Velazquez
Diane Watson