American Bishop: Pro-Choice Equals No Communion For Catholics

Life Site ^ | 06.19.07 | Peter J. Smith

[Coleus]

PATERSON, New Jersey, June 19, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-choice Catholics, not just Catholic politicians, must not receive Communion if they knowingly support legalized abortion says an American Catholic bishop.  "By steadfastly choosing to be pro-choice, a Catholic -- politician or not -- excludes himself or herself from communion," wrote Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli in the June 7 edition of the Beacon, the Paterson diocese newspaper.  In his column Serratelli rebuked "pro-choice" Catholic politicians and those who "arrogantly insist that the Church does not have the right to her own teaching" and who claim a right to Communion at the same time. In particular Serratelli went after the 18 Democratic Congressmen who lashed out at Pope Benedict XVI for stating that supporting abortion is "incompatible with receiving communion"

The Church vigorously teaches that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." However "pro-choice Catholics," as Serratelli pointed out, have reacted in self-righteous "how dare he" indignation when the Pope tells them that the Church has definitive truths, objective criteria for forming a conscience, and does not rubberstamp everyone as worthy to approach Holy Communion.  "[The Pope] is right when he insists that supporting abortion is incompatible with the reception of Holy Communion," said Serratelli.  "Certainly, a politician has the freedom to reject Church's teaching," he stated. "But let's be honest.  To choose to be pro-choice is to reject the Gospel of life.  It is to be not faithful to Church teaching."

Serratelli noted that guidelines for Catholics receiving Communion prepared by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops also teach that Catholics "should refrain" from receiving Communion if they were to "knowingly and obstinately to repudiate [the Church's] definitive teaching on moral issues," either in their personal or professional life. "The Church has always taught that a procured abortion is a moral evil," said Seratelli. "The Church's teaching is clear.  What is disputed now is the Church's right to speak this truth." Serratelli noted that the 18 Catholic Congressmen who "strongly chastised" Benedict XVI were refusing "to allow the Pope freedom of speech and the Church freedom of religion."

Politicians in western governments worldwide have attacked the Catholic Church's right to hold its members accountable to Catholic teachings in the name of "pluralism." Right now two Catholic archbishops in Australia, George Pell of Sydney and Hickey of Perth, face investigations into whether their telling Catholic parliamentarians that support for the destruction of human life in stem-cell research is incompatible with receiving communion amounted to "contempt of parliament." "Why should the Church not have a right to voice her teaching on this important issue in the public square?  She must speak and speak often," Serratelli said. "Abortion may be for some just a political issue.  But, for the innocent child, it is a matter of life or death."

See the Paterson Bishop's column here

Related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

Pope Warns Pro-Abortion Politicians Against Receiving Communion Unworthily
18 House Democrats Blast Pope for Dropping the "E-word" on Abortion
Pope Supports Excommunication for Pro-Abortion Politicians - "Incompatible with Receiving Communion"
Full Text - New US Bishops Conference Document on Worthiness to Receive Communion

[annalex]

True.

[darkangel82]

I notice something similar about the party affiliation of all those.

[Coleus]

Yeah, I’m going to hold my breath until Catholics like Ted Kennedy are excommunicated. >>

I wouldn’t recommend that, you will turn blue and pass out : )

I think the church loves Kennedy’s money more than they dislike his votes.

[chuckles]

....."Actually, they were etched in stone, the 10 Commandments".....

I was hoping somebody here would get that, but after Clinton lied on TV in front of God and everybody, most people, even Catholics, seemed to think it was OK as long as it was about his adultery. The spineless Republicans impeached him, but many in the Senate, even the religious right and Catholics said perjury and obstruction means nothing as long as you are a Democrat.

Too bad Libby isn't a Democrat. He could be laying out by the pool enjoying his kids because lying and obstruction only applies to Republicans and atheists. Clinton is rewarded by becoming a multi millionaire and soon to be co president. Those stone tablets should apply to everybody.

[Aquinasfan]

Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, in communion with the Bishops-who on various occasions have condemned abortion and who in the aforementioned consultation, albeit dispersed throughout the world, have shown unanimous agreement concerning this doctrine-I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being.

The quote above by JPII, appears to invoke Papal Infallibility, therefore being pro-abortion is NOT an option for Catholics. Am I wrong?

Sure looks that way to me. But it begs the question as to the exact moment of conception. Until recently, this was an arcane question. But with the advent of embryonic research, it's a very relevant question.

It seems to me that the current pope has identified fertilization as the beginning of personhood, in his statement regarding embryonic research.

[Aquinasfan]

I am a Catholic sympathizer/supporter (LOVED JPII).

BTW, why not go all the way? The Catholic Church wants you! 8-)

[Non-Sequitur]

So how they going to identify pro-choice Catholics and keep them from sneaking communion on the sly?

[Coleus]

at the moment they will start with the Catholic, pro-abortion politicians by using their votes as evidence of their abortion platform. The booklet is listed in post 57. Politicians are held accountable for their votes.

[Non-Sequitur]

First line of the story: “Pro-choice Catholics, not just Catholic politicians, must not receive Communion if they knowingly support legalized abortion says an American Catholic bishop.” So how they gonna know?

[Coleus]

So how they gonna know? ><>

Divine intervention. Actually, it’s the role of the individual communicant to adhere to the faith. The bishop’s pronounce the truth and the flock must adhere to it. If they do not then they are committing a sacrilege by receiving Holy Communion by not being in a state of grace and put their eternal salvation in jeopardy.