(Pro-life article): Dear Bishops, Now Is the Time

insidecatholic.com ^ | 9/16/08 | David G. Bonagura Jr.

[Publius804]

Dear Bishops, Now Is the Time

by David G. Bonagura Jr.

9/16/08

The statements made by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Joseph Biden on Meet the Press have provided a wonderful, even providential, opportunity to present the Church's teaching on abortion and explain its foundational importance to Catholic moral and political teaching in general. Already many bishops have issued clear and courageous statements correcting Speaker Pelosi and Senator Biden's mistakes, and certainly more will do the same in the coming days. They have succinctly presented the core of the Church's teaching for the benefit of Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and for this we are all sincerely grateful.

The question of how to deal effectively with Catholic politicians who support abortion -- and whether they should be admitted to receive Communion -- has been debated prominently since the last presidential election; now these latest occurrences demand that the issue be settled once and for all.

Despite all the discussion that surrounded the question of whether "pro-choice" Catholic politicians should receive Communion in 2004, the USCCB's "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper" did not resolve the matter. As a result, further incidents of public scandal have occurred, including the present ones. This situation cannot continue. Due to the bishops' clear articulations of the Church's teaching these last few weeks, the truth can no longer be ignored by politicians who claim to be "personally opposed" to abortion yet vote to legislate and finance the legal slaughter of innocents. They cannot spin the issue any further: They must choose between God and Mammon.

[ConservativeMind]

These are great words, but I don’t expect the Catholic church in the US to give a damn.

[sweetiepiezer]

The Catholic Church should speak up about this baby killing Nazi, B. Hussein Obama. But they wont.
Was at a synagogue yesterday to hear Joe Lieberman speak about how he is so strong about McCain becoming president.
They do give equal time to the Democrats in a few weeks.
Hey, but Joe stated he is a Democrat, they can cancel the other speaker.
I wish the Pope would give them the permission they need to speak out in churches.

[Emperor Palpatine]

"The question of how to deal effectively with Catholic politicians who support abortion."


There's only one way to handle this.

EXCOMMUNICATION

[Salvation]

Evidently, you are not aware that many Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals have spoken out. You might say this applies to Pelosi, Biden and the other CINO pols, but it also applies to any Catholic who votes for an abortion-supporting candidate. They actually EXCOMMINICATE themselves! They cannot receive Communion, unles they go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, repent and promise to amedn their ways. Now to you think the politicians will repent and amend their ways? I don't. So they are bound for the "other" place.

Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi

Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver was the first American bishop to respond
2. ... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC responded twice, first in a press release and second in a statement to The Hill. He has also appeared on Fox News, I am told.
4. Cardinal Justin Regali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued this statement through the USCCB website...
5. ... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
6. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York publised a strongly worded statement of his own
7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo issued a letter correcting Pelosi's claims
8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
9. ... Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs have chimed-in
10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, CNA reports has added his voice ...
11. ... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville has published an extensive letter
13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa has a detailed response
14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has joined the USCCB's efforts
15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin is on-board
16. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston mentions the USCCB on his blog
17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando has written at length
18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis challenges Pelosi's statement
19. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops, has weighed-in
20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, OR publishes in the Catholic Sentinel
21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, WI responds in a word document
22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH will comment in his September 5th column (PDF)
23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City, IA has one of the very best responses I've read
24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco has invited Pelosi to a "conversation"
25. Bishop Glen Provost, LA: "Catholic Church clear on when human life begins"
26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: "Judging the Candidates"

{Last updated on September 10th.}

Notes:

• Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
• Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
• #26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th

[ConservativeMind]

Salvation, that is a very promising list, but I don’t know how many bishops there are that cover the US to get a good idea of what this means.

I don’t understand how this has been allowed since abortion was “legalized.” I know the Church has been implicitly against abortion to date. I’m not expecting much more than this list, now.

But I’d scream with pure delight if the Catholic church would finally stand on the truth of this matter, nation-wide.

I know you would, too.