Posted on 10/15/2004 7:20:42 PM PDT by St. Johann Tetzel
Dramatic development in the fight for the Right to Life and the standing of pro-abortion Catholic politicians.
Today, in EWTN's news magazine The World Over, canon lawyer Marc Balestrieri revealed that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has certified that the Church's condemnation of abortion is part of Catholic doctrine and of natural law, and as such, any one who publicly contradicts this doctrine is guilty of heresy and incurrs an automatic excommunication.
Click here to download the Roman Congregation's response.
Earlier this year, Marc Balestrieri filed a heresy lawsuit against Senator John F. Kerry for his public and obstinate support of abortion rights. This lawsuit remains active in the tribunal of the Archdiocese of Boston. Today, Mr. Balestrieri announced in the same program that he will file new charges against the most egregious offenders, including Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), whose pro-abortion voting record is well known.
To find out more about Marc Balestrieri's efforts, to join the class-action canon lawsuits against Kerry et al. as an aggrieved party, or to contribute towards his ministry, visit his website, www.defide.org
This is an AUTOMATIC excommunication based on public heresy. No act by any churchman is necessary.
The image source for your posted letter does not match the linked source. Plus the letter appears to be over a month old, so how is this a "dramatic development"?
I couldn't find the letter at your linked source.
If it's such a big deal for the Roman Church, why isn't Kerry's excommunication being announced, clearly and loudly, by the Vatican, rather than inferred by some little known commentators on a little watched TV show?
Kerry is not excommunicated.
This letter is "unofficial." It is from a canon lawyer who was asked to give an opinion.
Until a letter is issued by the Congregation for the Faith, there is no excommunication.
I cannot imagine a circumstance where Cardinal Ratzinger would inject himself into the election so overtly.
That is the opinion of this Dominican canon lawyer. He, himself, says it is unofficial.
You think Ratzinger would let some flunky make a declaration of this magnitude?
The linked source is EWTN. Today, in EWTN cable TV's news magazine The World Over, canon lawyer Marc Balestrieri discussed this letter. The image and pdf document is from Marc Balestrieri's website De Fide.
It's promising. But unfortunately it will never see the light of day. My experience is that, at least on the parochial level, Catholic priests are very comfortable discussing the impact of political issues (such as abortion and capital punishment) on Catholicism; however, they are somewhat reluctant to promote or condemn individual politicians. In this respect, priests are very different from the Protestant clergy.
Your answer and any brief explanation would be appreciated. Thanks.
See post #12.
John Kerry has not only committed a grave sin (that itself rendering him ineligible for Communion), but by giving public moral support to abortion rights, he is guilty of attempting to help procure successful abortions, which renders him automatically excommunicated.
This is a very important development. If the Archdiocese agrees that Kerry has incurred an automatic excommunication, t will send the signal to all prominent Catholics--laity and clergy--NOT TO DEFY THE CHURCH'S MORAL TEACHINGS.
By the way...this is a bet I would love to lose.
"Procuring an abortion" includes the doctor, the nurses, and the woman. Not politicians.
Thanks, sinkspur.
It sounds like you're voting for FAR FROM THE DAY or NEVER.
These church legal things are hard for outsiders to decipher.
That is not the canonical definition of "procure." Kerry is guilty of grave sin, but he is not involved in procuring abortions.
Well, keep in mind that the Church has a tax-exempt status to consider. And unlike Protestant denominations, the tight association of all Catholic Parishes makes it easier for nutjobs like Americans United for the Separation of Church and State to target the whole institution at once.
Oh.
The formal excommunication (read: expulsion from the Church) of a United States presidential candidate will not be announced by a low-level Dominican priest.
Dear sinkspur,
"Until Ratzinger or JPII acts in an official capacity, (since excommunication is an official, external Church penalty), there is no excommunication."
Not quite.
1. The theologian is stating that an automatic excommunication has applied as a result of becoming a public heretic.
2. The theologian, at the request of the Curia, has spelled out the reasons why Mr. Kerry is a public heretic.
3. Whether Mr. Kerry is a public heretic or not is a matter of fact, not of opinion.
4. Thus, whether Mr. Kerry is automatically excommunicated is a matter of fact, it requires no ruling from the Vatican, official or otherwise.
5. You are right that until the recognition of the fact of Mr. Kerry's excommunication is made officially, he may continue to pretend to be a Catholic.
6. But should the Vatican get around to giving an official recognition, it doesn't mean that Mr. Kerry wasn't excommunicated all along.
7. Unless he wishes to try to argue with the unarguable truth and logic of the theologian's position, a reasonable person will recognize that Mr. Kerry is excommunicated.
Along with Chappaquidick Ted, Lesbo Mikulski, and a host of others.
sitetest
BTTT
The letter, in the very first paragraph, says that this is "unofficial."
Excommunication is attached to specific acts, such as procurement of abortion. Also, there is always a remedy provided in every excommunication. In the case of abortion, reinstatement is given to any priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
A declaration of Kerry's excommunication would also provide a remedy. I see no remedy in this letter.
I know how anxious everyone is for an "October surprise," but don't count on it coming from the Vatican. It's simply not going to happen.
Most Catholic priests that I've known have actually been fairly liberal except on moral issues. I live in a fairly conservative area with an huge retired military population (Virginia Beach), and I have seen a lot of strife within parishes because of the anti-military pacifist attitudes of many priests.
I agree with your reading of this.
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