Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list
Posted on 06/24/2004 12:37:11 PM PDT by madprof98
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lexington Bishop Ronald Gainer wants politicians who support abortion rights to voluntarily refrain from taking Communion in his diocese. But two politicians whose views on abortion are contrary to church teaching say they plan to continue taking the sacrament.
Gainer is the only Kentucky bishop so far to publicly question whether Catholic politicians who back abortion rights should receive Communion.
His admonition didn't change Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac's mind.
"I plan to continue taking Communion and would love to receive it from a woman priest some day soon," she said in a written statement.
State Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington, also said the bishop's statement wouldn't keep him from taking the Eucharist. Scorsone said anti-abortion advocates don't have a monopoly on the faith.
"I certainly believe there are a lot of good American Catholics who believe in choice," he said. "I certainly believe in a woman's right to choose."
Bishops in a handful of U.S. dioceses recently asked Catholic leaders who support abortion rights to abstain from taking the sacraments. Gainer also wants them to voluntarily refrain from taking communion, said Lexington diocesan spokesman Tom Shaughnessy.
"A professing Catholic who has taken public stands against what the church teaches should disqualify himself or herself from receiving the Eucharist because they cannot receive in good faith," Shaughnessy told the Lexington Herald-Leader, quoting the bishop.
"Were there to be such a person under his pastoral care, (Gainer) would ask to meet them privately as a pastor and attempt to challenge them to change their public position before he would take any public action."
Elsewhere in the state, Owensboro Bishop John McRaith said in an interview that he hasn't told politicians that they should refrain from taking Communion if they support abortion rights.
"I think that's something that they really have to answer themselves," he said. "They know what the church law is, so they have to answer for that. They know what is expected of them."
In a statement released Wednesday, Louisville Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly said he would work to educate and "persuade all politicians about issues related to the sanctity of human life," but that he hoped "never to have to deny anyone Communion based upon a political viewpoint."
"I believe that it is the responsibility of persons receiving the body and blood of Christ to examine their consciences and come to a conclusion about their worthiness to receive Holy Communion," he said.
In the Lexington diocese, Gainer has been an outspoken critic of legalized abortion, even traveling by bus to Washington, D.C., to protest with fellow anti-abortion activists.
In a January column in the diocesan newsletter, Crossroads, he called on Catholics to promote "the Gospel of Life."
"I take this opportunity to warn Catholic politicians within this diocese who in their public careers choose to depart from church teaching regarding the inviolability of all human life," he wrote.
"They need to consider the consequences of their position for their own spiritual well-being, as well as the scandal they cause by leading others in serious moral danger."
Anti-abortion groups praised Gainer's opposition to abortion, and said he is right to discourage Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from taking Communion.
"This is long overdue," said Kentucky Right to Life executive director Margie Montgomery. "We've been saying for years that those who hold public office who are Catholic are a disgrace to the faith they profess to believe by having a pro-abortion stance and participating in the Holy Eucharist."
But Democratic state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, wonders why politicians are being singled out.
"I guess my question to the bishops is: 'Are the pedophile priests who are in prison receiving Communion?' I'd like to know," she said.
Marzian said it's "dangerous" for religious leaders to tell politicians how to vote, and it's wrong for them to withhold the sacraments to punish people.
"I go to Communion when I want to go, and no bishop, no pope, they're not going to keep me from my religion," she said.
Another good bishop!
**But Democratic state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, wonders why politicians are being singled out.**
Can you guys down there get this lady unelected? Please.......
If she gets her way, Kerry will be given the power to destroy the catholic church in America.
Catholics, please step up and be counted. Our Church needs you to come to Her defense.
At catholicsagainstkerry.com we are not waiting for this evil man to bring down our Catholic values.
We are not waiting for history to be done to us. We are making history.
Come to the site. Join us. We need on the ground coordinators.
You, my friend, have no idea what your religion is.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:26-30
Apparently "my" religion does not involve a pope or a bishop. It probably doesn't involve Scripture, either.
Oh, that's a mighty big presumption, bishop.
Somebody has the job of teaching, now who could that be??? Repetition is the mother of learning, bishop. Keep telling us what the Church teaches over and over and over again, maybe we'll figure it out.
Because you are a public, persistant and obstinant sinner, babe.
You are making the murder of innocent human beings possible, kid.
Yeah, you're right, the priests that engaged in homosexual activity are sinners too. Why don't you help them and publicly repent of your sins and ask them to reconcile themselves to Jesus. You can do it, I know you can.
Mayor Issac is stubborn and childish. She'll hang in there until the Church becomes what she wants it to be. One of the first things she tried to do as mayor was to try to force health benefits for unmarried 'domestic partners' of city employees, homo or hetero, down our throats by executive order. She fought for weeks before it the whole thing was shut down for review by the city council. She actually thought she'd get away with it. A lot of folks are wishing they'd never voted for her. I'm just glad I don't work in the county so I won't get hit with the additional taxation if and when this thing goes through.
Thank God we finally have a Bishop who acts like a Bishop here. Gainer's a great guy.
I am waiting to see how effective these verses are in our modern day culture. Well, may be I should just trust God to act in His time and His way.
A heretic committing sacrilege. Nice.
Oh, that's a mighty big presumption, bishop.
I think they know but don't care.
John Kerry seems to think he is following the teachings of "Pope Pius XXIII" and Vatican II that allows him to do whatever he wants.
Somebody is definitely way behind on the knowledge curve. I think they don't want to know what the truth is.
Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list
Although I tend to agree with those (like Abp. Burke) who have declared that CINO's are simply NOT going to receive the Sacrament in their jurisdictions, it seems that this drumbeat of warnings is also appropriate.
The message is out there, clearly. And since the message has much broader implications than what is stated, it's an effective 'teaching moment.'
Tomas Torquemada's solutions, however, are still available...
She either has a room temperature IQ, or she is being totally disingenuous and dishonest.
I favor the latter. She just wants the "Catholic vote" without keeping the tenets of the Catholic faith.
She knows perfectly well that the reason politicians are being singled out is because by virtue of their position they are creating a public scandal. Private offenders in ordinary life do not have the potential of leading the faithful astray or causing scandal and division in the Church. At such time as their offenses DO become a public scandal, they too may be barred from receiving.
I hope more and more bishops step up to the plate on this one. Solidarity and persistence are needed.
"I go to Communion when I want to go, and no bishop, no pope, they're not going to keep me from my religion," she said.
It is not your religion, it is Christ's. The Son of Man will not be mocked.
*sign* Count the Louisville Archbishop among the heretics: Abortion is a sin only if the politician thinks its a sin.
To which you respond:She either has a room temperature IQ,or she is being totally disingenuous and dishonest.
It seems to me that all decent and sane citizens desire that they be represented by men and women who are knowledgeable,intelligent,genuine,honest and good. In a sense,Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream",echoed this when he said,he hoped that one day: "a man will be judged,not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character". Unfortunately,to this point, there has been no litmus test for determining "the content of one's character".
Just when an old cynic like me was about to give up hope,the perfect litmus test was provided. Of course,it can only be applied to catholic politicians,nonetheless,it can be used by everyone to determine the character of that catholic politician. Any catholic politician receiving communion who publicly espouses positions contrary to Catholic teaching,is ignorant and/or stupid,and/or hypocritical,and/or dishonest,and/or evil.
Although they say,ignorance of the law is no excuse,I can empathize with the B/bishops who in charity feel the need to ensure that all candidates for office do know the teachings of the Church and have not denied communion to them yet. But I am sure that by August,all will be able to assure us that all catholic politicians know Church teaching and are in communion when they receive communion. If they continue in their errant ways we voters will know that those that continue to receive are stupid and/or hypocritical and/or dishonest,and/or evil.
This may mean that few catholics will run for office or if they do,will win. On the other hand,it may be that voting for men and women of integrity will resonate with many who have not voted for years because the whole system has turned them off. It may be that there will be a groundswell of interested and enthusiastic voters because they have the choice of voting for persons who say what they mean and mean what they say. How refreshing that would be,and how good for the world and this nation in particular.
As a corollary benefit,we could better identify our bishops from the line of Judas and the priests in union with them.
Gay parents of quads have separated; court records show dispute
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS
Oh, I do hope Ms. Marzian stamped her little feet when she said this, too. It so completes the picture.
Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac... "I plan to continue taking Communion and would love to receive it from a woman priest some day soon..."State Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington..."I certainly believe there are a lot of good American Catholics who believe in choice," he said. "I certainly believe in a woman's right to choose."
Can we please just cut the crap?
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