The Kerry Affair: What Ratzinger Wanted from the American Bishops (Rome: "REFUSE Eucharist!")

(Italian Paper) L'espresso ^ | 3/7/04 | Sandro Magister

[Desdemona]

With Kerry, though, it's not just the life possitions, there's a lot of other things. He does not seem to understand charity in its most empirical form. He does not heed the call to treat others with dignity and respect. John Kerry is a pathetic excuse for a Catholic and it's about time somebody called him on it.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

There are several different parts to this controversy bearing on Catholic teachings:

* The meaning and significance of Holy Communion (the Eucharist, real presence, sanctifying grace)
* The gravity and moral tragedy of abortion (the sanctity of each and every human soul)
* The reasons and guidelines governing Excommunication
* The authority of bishops
* The seriousness of the call to public witness for Christ required of all Catholics
* Responsibilities of Catholics in civic life
* The meaning of mortal sin and the grave seriousness of its consequences
* The meaning of "scandal"
* The meaning of no longer being in "full communion" with the Catholic Church and the types of public behavior which fall under this category
* The need for continued prayer and reparation for the grave evils of abortion in modern society

Chaput may have been right that this is a blessing in disguise. It may be that as well as a chastisement. There is a renewed call to holiness and vigilance underlying this. This is an opportunity for Evangelium Vitae to be proclaimed to the whole country.

[Desdemona]

I think this very much a blessing in disguise. That the concept of scandal and the teaching of examination of conscience have to be so explicitly defined says a lot about the state of the church after so many years of Amchurch "teaching."

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Posted by Desdemona On News/Activism 07/03/2004 9:38:52 AM PDT #41 of 42 With Kerry, though, it's not just the life possitions, there's a lot of other things. He does not seem to understand charity in its most empirical form. He does not heed the call to treat others with dignity and respect. John Kerry is a pathetic excuse for a Catholic and it's about time somebody called him on it.

He's arrogant. Brazenly arrogant.

Someone really needs to point out the demonic cruelty and jaded insensitivity of people who promote abortion, partial-birth abortion, and slaughtering embryos for stem cells. It would almost seem a given that such people are habitual mortal sinners for their minds to be so dark and so blind. To live in such utter spiritual darkness...

[Salvation]

Bumping!

[fdcc]

Also bumping.

[Polycarp IV]

The schism has been simmering for a long time, but it sure seems to being coming to the boil now.

Pope Leo XIII's letter on Americanism:

CONCERNING NEW OPINIONS, VIRTUE, NATURE AND GRACE, WITH REGARD TO AMERICANISM

Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on January 22, 1899.

What?!?

I thought all the trouble in the modern Church STARTED with VII and the Novus Ordo?

;-)

[Fedora]

Ping.

[Arthur McGowan]

Note the number of bishops in the U.S. who have made explicit statements that MISLEAD their people--those who have said that they are unwilling to impose a "penalty" or "use the Eucharist to punish people." As this document, which they have all seen, reminds them, refusing Communion to manifest sinners is not a penalty.

[Cicero]

As I said earlier, this completely contradicts their claim to be making a prudential judgment. They refuse to enforce a general principle because they say (with some plausibility) that cases differ. But then they make a SWEEPING GENERALIZATION themselves, that they will not refuse Communion to any politician whatsoever. Whatever happened to their claim about being prudential, or that cases differ?

Or do they only differ when it comes to following the rules and teachings of the Church, but not their own personal opinions?

[sinkspur]

But its also open schism.

No it's not. When Ratzinger makes this the official policy of the Church, in Europe and in Latin America, then it would be schismatic.

As of now, we have an Italian newspaper as the source, with a truly schismatic website parroting that same newspaper.

[Polycarp IV]

with a truly schismatic website parroting that same newspaper.

Catholic World News, sister website to Catholic World Report magazine, is truly schismatic ?

I'll assume you are confusing Catholic World News with Catholic Family News and withhold my withering barrage in your direction, pending your emerging from this senior moment ;-)

[sinkspur]

You are correct. I was mistaken.

However, the quotation is lifted entirely from the Italian newspaper.

I'd like to see another independent source.

[old and tired]

I'd also like to see another source for this letter. The bishops left themselves wiggle room when apparently Ratzinger left none. Over the years, I've considered McCarrick many things, but I've never thought him stupid.

[narses]

Polycarp says:

The USCCB voted 183 to 6 NOT to obey this clear definitive demand from Rome. (So what makes the American Catholic church any less schismatic than the SSPX?)

[narses]

He gave a press conference in a BAR last month. If that isn't arrogant, out of touch and stupid, I don't know what is.

[lrslattery]

When Ratzinger makes this the official policy of the Church, in Europe and in Latin America, then it would be schismatic.

As the Holy Father states in Ecclesia de Eucharistia (making it the official policy of the Church):

Along these same lines, the Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly stipulates that “anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion”. I therefore desire to reaffirm that in the Church there remains in force, now and in the future, the rule by which the Council of Trent gave concrete expression to the Apostle Paul's stern warning when it affirmed that, in order to receive the Eucharist in a worthy manner, “one must first confess one's sins, when one is aware of mortal sin”.

The judgment of one's state of grace obviously belongs only to the person involved, since it is a question of examining one's conscience. However, in cases of outward conduct which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm, the Church, in her pastoral concern for the good order of the community and out of respect for the sacrament, cannot fail to feel directly involved. The Code of Canon Law refers to this situation of a manifest lack of proper moral disposition when it states that those who “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin” are not to be admitted to Eucharistic communion.

[NYer]

Rome HAS spoken.

Thanks for posting this to the News/Activism Forum!

And so has Archbishop Raymond Burke!

"In other words, for the Catholic politician to receive Communion when he or she has publicly violated the moral law in a grave matter like procured abortion risks leading others into thinking that they can accept procured abortion with a right conscience. In such a case, if the Catholic politician does not recognize the lack of the proper disposition to receive Communion, then the church herself must refuse the sacrament, in order to safeguard the worthy reception of the sacrament and to prevent a serious scandal among the faithful."
Catholic politicians and bishops

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Coleus]

Democrats Secret Weapon - How American Bishops Kept Abortion Legal for Thirty Years

Catholic Bishops'Conference Employs Pro-abortion Kerry Supporter in High-Ranking Position

Archbishop Raymond Burke - "Voting for candidate who backs abortion a sin"

Bishop Burke Says USCCB Can't Force Him to Back Down from Refusing Communion to Abortion Supporters

Kerry: Abortion, HELL is a Reality and we are Free to Choose it, Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Fargo

CCHD-Catholic Campaign for Human Development (...for Helping Democrats)

Wishy-Washy Statements by Catholic Bishops on Abortion and Voting Leading to Scandal

Three Catholic Bishops Refuse to Take Action on Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians

U.S. Bishops' Task Force to Discuss Pro-Abortion Politicians In Wake of Card. Arinze's Comments

Rome Says No Communion for Pro-Abortion Catholics; Time for U.S. Bishops to Take the Next Step

Bishops Take on Pro-Abortion Legislators

Why do Catholic Bishops promote & aid pro-abortion, pro-homosexual Senator Gil Cedillo?

Bishops Hiding Behind Curtains [Re: pro-abortion Catholic politicians)