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Prime Minister Martin Hears Homily - "Pro-Abortion Politicians Shouldn't Receive Communion"
LifeSite.net ^ | Wednesday June 22, 2005 | jhw

Posted on 06/23/2005 10:10:21 AM PDT by Antioch

NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, ON, June 21, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Some may say that God was giving Prime Minister Paul Martin a final warning just before he forced through his gay 'marriage' legislation, Bill C-38. On Saturday night Martin attended a Catholic Mass at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Niagara on the Lake. He was in the posh resort town for a meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the EU Council.

Rev. Paul J. McDonald, the celebrant of the Saturday night Mass told LifeSiteNews.com that he did not know the Prime Minister was coming to the Mass nor did he even know Martin was at the Mass until after the service had concluded.

For nearly a week Father McDonald was planning a sermon on the theme of "who can go to Holy Communion and who can't, the disposition for holy communion, how you shouldn't just go to Holy Communion because the crowd is going, and about the occasions when people must be denied communion."

The priest recounted that in his homily he used as back-up material the document which Pope Benedict penned last year when, as the then head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, he joined the US Conference of Bishops deliberations on the denial of Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians. Ratzinger's intervention titled "Worthiness to Receive Communion" was intended as a private message to the US bishops but after being leaked to the media, Cardinal Ratzinger confirmed the document was his, explained Fr. McDonald, "heightening public interest".

In his sermon the priest explained that in the letter Cardinal Ratzinger cited established church teaching leading to the inevitable conclusion that pro-abortion politicians, who will not alter their stand or abstain from communion after being instructed by church leaders, "must" be refused communion. (see the document here: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/050419a.html )

Therefore, explained the priest in his homily, a minister of Holy Communion would have to deny communion to a "known public sinner".

Rev. McDonald told LifeSiteNews.com that Martin did not present himself for Holy Communion from the priest. However, he did not know if the Prime Minister received Communion from one of the parishioners who were assisting in the distribution of Communion.

Martin's own bishop, Ottawa Archbishop Marcel Gervais told LifeSiteNews.com last year that he had a private meeting with the Prime Minister about his support for abortion and same-sex marriage. Moreover, Calgary Bishop Fred Henry wrote a pastoral letter in which he informed his flock that the media's portrayal of the Prime Minister as a 'devout Catholic' was inaccurate given his public support for abortion and homosexual 'marriage'. In other public statements, Bishop Henry has said he would deny the Prime Minister Communion and would consider excommunicating him.

As he was processing out of the church Fr. McDonald caught sight of the Prime Minister. He described the Prime Minister as having a "sad and bewildered face". The priest inquired of the ushers as to whether he was correct in his belief that it was the Prime Minister and the ushers confirmed Martin had been there for the whole Mass.

Martin slipped out through a side exit, thus Father McDonald was prevented from greeting him outside the church. As he reflects on the significance of the homily and Martin's presence, especially given the Prime Minister's current spiritual dilemma, Father McDonald believes it was the work of "Divine Providence", that Martin was there to hear that message "all by Divine arrangement."

The incident took place within a few days of the Prime Minister's final push to pass the homosexual 'marriage' bill, which is even now undergoing final debate in the House of Commons. Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition which has fought the same-sex 'marriage' bill since its inception told LifeSiteNews.com, "What could possibly be in the Prime Minister's mind to continue his pursuit of this legislation when he knows full well that his eternal salvation is at stake."

Recalling the former hope of pro-life and pro-family Liberals that Martin would be an improvement over former Liberal Prime Minister Chretien, Hughes said, "Here is a man whose candidacy for the Liberal leadership was supported by each and every pro-life Liberal member of parliament who contended that he was a decent man and would be night and day different from Jean Chretien." Hughes concluded, "What a shameful time in Canadian history."

Any thought that the recalcitrant Martin was remorseful and may amend his ways, at least in the short term, was dashed Monday as he announced on Vancouver's CKNW radio that he is "actually a very strong Roman Catholic," and went on to explain how he would push for passage for the same-sex 'marriage' bill.


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: canuckistan; catholicpoliticians; paulmartin
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Rev. Paul J. McDonald

1 posted on 06/23/2005 10:10:22 AM PDT by Antioch
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To: Antioch

It's not really very fair is it. I think maybe they ought to be more inclusive. Can the Canadian Parliament pass a law whereby the Church must provide Communion to all who ask for it, or not be allowed to provide any Communion at all?


2 posted on 06/23/2005 10:21:00 AM PDT by johnb838 (Adios, mofo!)
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To: Antioch; american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
Bless him for preparing such a homily for the parishioners! Divine Providence ensured that the Prime Minister be at Fr. McDonald's Mass that evening. The PM is now without excuses.

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


3 posted on 06/23/2005 10:33:36 AM PDT by NYer ("Each person is meant to exist. Each person is God's own idea." - Pope Benedict XVI)
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To: Coleus; cpforlife.org; Mr. Silverback

Ping!


4 posted on 06/23/2005 10:34:25 AM PDT by NYer ("Each person is meant to exist. Each person is God's own idea." - Pope Benedict XVI)
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To: Antioch
"What could possibly be in the Prime Minister's mind to continue his pursuit of this legislation when he knows full well that his eternal salvation is at stake."

I know precisely what's in his mind. Two words:

"Non serviam."
5 posted on 06/23/2005 10:59:23 AM PDT by Antoninus (Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis!)
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To: Antioch

And how Mr. Prime Minister, did you reflect the Life and Light of our Lord Jesus Christ? Did you leave the 99 behind and go after the one? Did you pick up your cross and follow him, What fruit did you harvest for the kingdom?

Answers, well, uh, I did support 99 behinds, uh, I mean Homosexual unions. I did pick up a cross dresser once by mistake and I never met a bunch of fruits i didn't harvest! Will that get me in Lord?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. Slam, heavy bolt sliding sound, muffled sounds of agony trailing off.....


6 posted on 06/23/2005 11:02:25 AM PDT by mhuye (http://theonewhoislost.blogspot.com/)
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To: Antioch

And how Mr. Prime Minister, did you reflect the Life and Light of our Lord Jesus Christ? Did you leave the 99 behind and go after the one? Did you pick up your cross and follow him, What fruit did you harvest for the kingdom?

Answers, well, uh, I did support 99 behinds, uh, I mean Homosexual unions. I did pick up a cross dresser once by mistake and I never met a bunch of fruits I didn't harvest! Will that get me in Lord?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. Slam, heavy bolt sliding sound, muffled sounds of agony trailing off.....


7 posted on 06/23/2005 11:09:09 AM PDT by mhuye (http://theonewhoislost.blogspot.com/)
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To: johnb838

This is a case where church law would trump national law.

The Prime Minister has a choice -- he can change -- or stay the same and not receive Holy Communion.

Yes, it is sad, but it is his choice.


8 posted on 06/23/2005 11:12:44 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

"Yes, it is sad, but it is his choice."

He has choice in the matter. Something, I might note, that the ultimate recipients of these pro-death policies often do not have.


9 posted on 06/23/2005 11:48:38 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Eastern Catholicism: tonic for the lapsed Catholic)
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To: johnb838
Can the Canadian Parliament pass a law whereby the Church must provide Communion to all who ask for it, or not be allowed to provide any Communion at all?

Given what is happening in Canada, this isn't far-fetched at all. But I'll bet parliament would just let the courts put out the order.

10 posted on 06/23/2005 12:02:32 PM PDT by madprof98
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To: johnb838

Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church tells us what's appropriate and what's not, and we follow the rules as best we can. Anyone who is under mortal sin, cannot receive communion, without confession and a sincere desire to change. Being a pro-abortion or pro-homosexual marriage politician is tantamount to being in a state of mortal sin. Sorry, either follow the rules, or get out of the Church.


11 posted on 06/23/2005 12:48:42 PM PDT by Raquel (Abortion ruins lives.)
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To: Raquel

Exactly.


12 posted on 06/23/2005 1:25:24 PM PDT by Romish_Papist (The times are out of step with the Catholic Church. God Bless Pope Benedict XVI.)
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To: Raquel

But this is Canada. The State decides matters like this and if the Church doesn't like it, well the State can make things bloody uncomfortable and inconvenient for the Church. For one thing, I have a feeling the Church is about to have to make some editorial changes in that bigoted, violence inciting hate book it calls a Bibel.


13 posted on 06/23/2005 1:26:40 PM PDT by johnb838 (Adios, mofo!)
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To: Antioch
Martin slipped out through a side exit

Unfortunately for him, this won't be an option when he stands before the Throne.

14 posted on 06/23/2005 1:39:29 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: johnb838; Antoninus; Antioch

"The State decides matters like this and if the Church doesn't like it, well the State can make things bloody uncomfortable and inconvenient for the Church."

Can and will.

I think we're rapidly approaching a point where the Catholic church in several countries is going to have to make some hard decisions regarding how much it's willing to tolerate from the civil state in order to keep such things as public funding or tax-free status.

We are thrice blessed to have a Pope who has personally seen what happens when the church relaxes it's moral principles in order to protect the institutional church. I pray for his health and long life.


15 posted on 06/23/2005 1:48:15 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Eastern Catholicism: tonic for the lapsed Catholic)
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To: mhuye
ROTFL... Need a image with that....

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16 posted on 06/23/2005 1:56:04 PM PDT by Antioch (Flannery O'Connor: “evil is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be endured”)
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To: RKBA Democrat

OK, I guess my sarcasm is showing because nobody rose to the bait. I think it's time for every serious church to renounce it's tax exempt status as soon as it possibly can. Having its speech controlled by the government is no way for God's Body to go through life.

Also this new decision regarding eminent domain for economic reasons is frightening since churches don't pay. I can definitely see churches with marginal attendance in areas that want to revitalize being condemned for multi-family housing or retail. This is not a good situation, not a good situation at all.


17 posted on 06/23/2005 2:45:51 PM PDT by johnb838 (Adios, mofo!)
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To: RKBA Democrat

p.s. God Bless Pope Benedict XI. He and his predecessor John Paul the Great have made a Catholic out of me, even if it DID take JPII 27 years to do it, and he did it posthumously. Hey! He needs a posthumous miracle for Sainthood. Does my conversion count?


18 posted on 06/23/2005 2:48:25 PM PDT by johnb838 (Adios, mofo!)
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To: johnb838

Dittoes on God Blessing JPII The Great as well.

I think the issue regarding tax free status will be coming to a head within the next decade. The institutional church is already being hit by the abuse settlements. The emminent domain issue will take it's toll as well.


19 posted on 06/23/2005 2:59:30 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Eastern Catholicism: tonic for the lapsed Catholic)
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To: johnb838

I highly doubt that the country of Canada has any authority over the Roman Catholic Church. If Canada wants to make things uncomfortable for the Church, I say let them try. The Church has been around for 2500 years, I doubt some heretic politician or any liberalized agenda is going to effect much. I'm sorry to hear you characterize the Bible so inadequately, but that's your right, I suppose. I'll be praying for your conversion.


20 posted on 06/23/2005 4:31:34 PM PDT by Raquel (Abortion ruins lives.)
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