Pro-Abortion Politicians Excommunicated, Pope Says (Graphic images downthread)

Catholic World News ^ | 5/9/07

[marshmallow]

May. 9, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Catholic politicians who vote for legal abortion are subject to excommunication, Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) told reporters during a May 9 flight from Rome to Brazil.

Fielding questions from reporters during the trip, the Holy Father was asked whether he supported the Mexican bishops who have announced the excommunication of politicians who voted to approve legalization of abortion in Mexico City. The Pontiff replied that he did.

"They did nothing new, nothing arbitrary or surprising," the Pope said of the Mexican bishops. "They simply announced to the public what is stipulated by the law of the Church."

Later the Vatican press director, Father Federico Lombardi, enlarged on the Pope's remarks during his own conversation with reporters. Father Lombardi pointed out to reporters that the Code of Canon Law provides the penalty of excommunication for anyone directly involved in abortion. That penalty would apply to politicians who support the legalization of abortion, he said.

The Vatican spokesman added that the excommunication in these cases is applied latae sententiae-- that is, automatically-- and does not require any public announcement. In making the penalty public, then, the Mexican bishops were only underlining the provisions of canon law.

[Artemis Webb]

This is meaningless.

Until The Church formally states, “Ted Kennedy is excommunicated from The Church of Rome. Nancy Pelosi is hereby excommunicated from The Church of Rome. John Kerry is hereby excommunicated from The Church of Rome...” AND THEN GOES ON TO STATE THAT THEY WILL BE DENIED HOLY COMMUNION.

Short of that this means nothing. I could state that these individuals might be concerned for their souls but does anybody here really believe pro abortion politicians think in those terms?

[jesseam]

My feeling is that anyone who supports abortion and partakes in Holy Communion will face severe judgement in the afterlife. I can denounce pro-abortionists but cannot judge them as that is for God to do. I cannot vote for a pro-abortion candidate for by the very act of voting for them means I support their evil deeds.

[the OlLine Rebel]

The key is the last statement:

“The Vatican spokesman added that the excommunication in these cases is applied latae sententiae— that is, automatically— and does not require any public announcement. In making the penalty public, then, the Mexican bishops were only underlining the provisions of canon law”

Which is great as far as their real status with the Church, but it unfortunately does nothing for the people at large who need some official statement.

IOW, it has no teeth if not even a bishop will refuse Fat Ted his communion.

[AFPhys]

I agree with your answer here - Re: “very shaky ground”.

[AFPhys]

Father Lombardi pointed out to reporters that the Code of Canon Law provides the penalty of excommunication for anyone directly involved in abortion. That penalty would apply to politicians who support the legalization of abortion, he said.

The Vatican spokesman added that the excommunication in these cases is applied latae sententiae— that is, automatically— and does not require any public announcement.
-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-—

It is AUTOMATIC - requiring no announcement or intervention by any Church authority. It does not matter what the American bishops say or believe.

I don’t think it could be much more clear than Lombardi makes it here.

[Zetman]

I agree. Are they really excommunicated, if no one tells them?

Are they still allowed to go to mass, and take communion?

If the pope is going to make a statement like that, it should be enforced.

As I understand it (covering myself!!), the excommunication is automatic, as many have pointed out above.

Excommunication is really your "state" within the Church and in the eyes of God. GOD knows that you are excommunicated, and THAT is the most important thing.

It is theoretically possible, for example, for a woman to become pregnant without telling anyone, secretly receive an abortion, and never tell ANYONE in this world about it. Hence the Church here on earth would never know about it. However, GOD knows. Hence, she is STILL excommunicated. In theory, if she is not catechized very well, she herself may not even KNOW that she is excommunicated, and may die of old age never knowing. The Church has all sorts of other laws to deal with whether or not such an individual is accountable for this or that if, in good faith, they were unaware of their "status". However, at the end of everything, it is a situation that will be in God's hands to judge. As a Catholic, I am not so sure I would want to take the risk!!

So, the answer to your question is yes, they are excommunicated even if no one tells them. The Church does not excommunicate such people, they excommunicate THEMSELVES. As a result, it would behoove all Catholics to be well-catechized in the doctrines of their Church. Otherwise, why bother??

As to your next question, according to my understanding, yes, people who are excommunicated ARE allowed to attend Mass (as is just about anyone, I believe). However, they are NOT allowed to receive Communion. For that matter, no one who is in a state of mortal sin is allowed to receive communion either.

However, as with many things, the Church cannot know the state of your soul, so it is up to the individual to take their religion seriously, be educated about God's laws, and humbly discipline themselves to act accordingly. In fact, taking Communion in a state of excommunication or mortal sin is itelf a mortal sin!! Again, the Church may not know, one's fellow man may not know, but God knows!! It is to Him we will all have to answer.

Even if a priest or bishop disobeys Church law, and gives Communion to a politician they know to be abortion supporters (hence one who is excommunicated), this does not change the fact that the politician would be receiving Communion in violation of Church law. There is no "gotcha" that will get them off the hook in such a situation. For example, Cardinal Mahoney might give Nancy Pelosi Communion, but Nancy Pelosi would STILL be violating Church law by receive Communion is such a state, and in a state of mortal sin (and Mahoney would be guilty of setting a bad example, and confusing a lot of people - something that HE would have to answer for). As far as I know, no member of the Catholic clergy, not even the Pope, is allowed to make changes or exceptions to Church doctrine (the Pope can change canon law, but not eternal unchanging Church doctrine - there is a difference).

Neither the Pope, nor any other Bishop or Cardinal, needs to "enforce" these types of excommunications. They are automatic. Just as a single mortal sin on your soul is enough to send you to hell, so is dying in a state of excommunication. That is what these politicians should be worrying about, not scoring cheap PR points against the Pope. Whether or not any Bishop or Pope makes a formal public announcement, they are still accountable to the only One who really matters, Jesus Christ!! That all by itself should inspire anyone to make sure they are living their lives according to His teachings.

Hence, everything the Pope and Bishops have said on this matter is nothing new. As was stated above by others, they are merely re-stating Church doctrine. As with anything else, those who call themselves Catholics are obligated to believe and obey, or they should find a different church that is more to their liking. However, these politicians should quit this silliness of trying to force the Church to change her doctrines to fit whatever they have decided the world should look like. Therein lies the path to their eternal destruction, no matter how "successful" their lives may have appeared to be while they were in this world.

[MEGoody]

It is AUTOMATIC - requiring no announcement or intervention by any Church authority.

Uh huh, and yet these politicians continue to participate in the eucharist, etc. I wasn't aware that those who had been excommunicated could still participate in the sacraments.

[John123]

I grew up in a Roman Catholic household. But the church was too dogmatic for me as I became older.

However, I admire this Pope for not wanting to go down the two way street. It is a good start to repair the RC image after what they have done in WW2 and up to now...

[Robert A Cook PE]

Remarkably clear. Remarkably concise.

(Remarkably IGNORED by US bishops for almost 35 years now as they loudly (and not-so-loudly) support anti-war, proabortion, anti-freedom, pro-socialist democrats for 35 years.)

[MHGinTN]

Sadly, the power of US democrats is such that the Papacy excludes demonspawn like Kennedy, Harkin, and Boxer from the excommunicable. Truly, the politics draped upon the Church sully the Holy Father as well.

[kara37]

Thank you for explaining it so clearly. As you can tell, I am not Catholic, but I understand it now.

[rbosque]

[jjm2111]

The Vatican should publish an open letter of the excommunication of American pols who support abortion and force U.S. Bishops to deny them sacraments until sincere pennance and a desire to change their ways is desired.