I’m sorry, I’m a pro-life Catholic but I disagree with this selective meddling into politics. Why don’t they go ahead deny communion to those who support gay marriage, unjust wars, Griswold v. Connecticut (contraception) and so on.
Largely because of the effrontery of the 18 House Democrats on this issue. Aren’t they trying to tell the pope how to do his business?
because nothing is worse than abortion. The direct killing of innocent human beings at any stage of development, including the embryonic and fetal, is homicidal, gravely sinful and always profoundly wrong. You can’t deny legal protection to the most vulnerable. This Bishop, as well as the others, is making the right choice by following Canon Law 915.
Grave manifest sin, obstinately maintained, which could be the case of the estimated 500 Catholic pro abortion politicians in the U.S.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1072345/posts
Just wars can be at least a bit ambiguous, but abortion is not. As JPII wrote, the politicians who enable the abortionists are just as guilty of murder as the abortionists themselves.
I’d be surprised if somewhere in Rome there isn’t a blanket edict to that effect.
>>>I’m sorry, I’m a pro-life Catholic but I disagree with this selective meddling into politics. Why don’t they go ahead deny communion to those who support gay marriage, unjust wars, Griswold v. Connecticut (contraception) and so on.<<<
I tend to agree with you. I don’t like the church subjecting itself to the influence of the state any more than need be. In the Church’s favor and in favor of the Church speaking out on the abortion issue, “Thou Shalt not Murder” is the 5th Commandment... Perhaps a bit more Biblical sway than the others you mentioned.
I have trouble with the church calling Iraq an unjust war because that certainly is OPINION, not Biblical. Murder of your child cannot be explained away as opinion, it is in fact Biblical.
I do think if the Bishop enforces this rule, there will be a backlash of people that want to pick and choose what they believe God says. I believe the reason abortion and homosexuality are such hot buttons is there can be no room for argument what God requires. Adultery and lying are more things pretty much etched in stone. The stuff about contraception, for me anyway, is mans interpretation. We can agree to disagree, but I don't think people should be denied communion over such things that could be interpreted in other ways. That is Catholic doctrine and they should teach what they want, but murdering your child is not up for discussion. The sanctity of life is a cornerstone of any Christian denomination. One of the reasons many won't accept Mormons as Christian, but as a cult is multiple wives and Jesus is equal to Joseph Smith. The Bible is pretty plain on these subjects and I think they teach error. There are some denominations that teach you can lose your salvation. That is also just a scare tactic, easily refutable in Scripture.
If this Bishop wants to follow through with such a plan, he better be ready for all the other stuff that comes with it. Most denominations are having the same problems the Catholics are about sitting at a buffet table and choosing this and rejecting that. What does it mean do be Catholic and reject Gods Word? Separating Biblical teaching from mans interpretation is the problem.
I still support the Bishop anyway.
“I’m sorry, I’m a pro-life Catholic but I disagree with this selective meddling into politics.”
As a fellow Catholic, I wholeheartedly agree.
You got it exactly backwards. The disagreement should be toward the "politics" that legalizes child murder.
CINO politicians have politicized a moral absolute. It’s the job of every Bishop to correct their behavior and warped thinking.
I think you don't quite understand. People who knowingly defy the Church on any clear and definitive moral teaching --- including the ones you mentioned--- are to refrain from receiving communion until they repent and confess their sins, and receive absolution.
So it's not a matter of "selectivemeddling in politics." It's a matter of beginning (somewhere) to restore comprehensive moral and doctrinal integrity.
But tens of thousamds, millions, recieve communion while in a state of unrepented moral offense. People have exceedingly coarsened consciences, so that they do not even consider the possibility that they may be in serious sin, and thus receiving communion in serious sacrilege.
In terms of Catholics and Holy Communion, NONE of us should be receiving the Blessed Sacrament if we are conscious of ANY unrepented and unconfessed serious sin, and that includes looking at a woman to lust after her, or hating your brother. That's not just me and not just "the Vatican." It's Christ Almighty. Look it up.
In terms of politics, the government does not, and should not, replicate the entire moral code into the civil and criminal code. (For instance, one has a moral obligation to worship God, but not a legal obligation.) However, there are some things a government really is obliged to do, and the biggie is to protect the Right to Life. That's right there in the foundational principles of American civil government (Declaration of Independence) as well as in Catholic and Natural Law.
Therefore the government is objectively obliged to stop abortion, infanticide, euthansia, suicide, and any other form of homicide.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive.
For two reasons, gravity of the evil and prudential judgement. To remain silent in the face of, let's face it, genocide, is to be complicit in the slaughter of the unborn.
Certainly homosexual "marriage," as a direct assault on children and the family, is a grave evil, and the same rule should apply to self-described Catholic politicians, at least in principle. But the bishop has prudential concerns. If he threw all of these issues on the table at once, it would lessen the impact of his statement, and pro-abortion politicians would muddy the waters by pointing fingers elsewhere.
In time, the bishop should bring up each issue individually. He began with the most serious and visible evil.
God never “excomminicates”. It’s an impossibility.
Prosecutorial discretion.
“I’m a pro-life Catholic but I disagree with this selective meddling into politics.”
The Bishop is just doing what Catholics do. It’s the politicians who are meddling with the Catholic religion, trying to insist that they have a right to communion while embracing abortion.
55 “Catholics” who claim to be pro-abortion:
Joe Baca
Xavier Becerra
Robert Brady
Michael Capuano
Dennis A. Cardoza
Wm. Lacy Clay
Jim Costa
Joseph Crowley
Peter A. DeFazio
William Delahunt
Rosa DeLauro
Mike Doyle
Anna Eshoo
Lane Evans
Charles A. Gonzalez
Raul M. Grijalva
Luis V. Gutierrez
Maurice Hinchey
Tim Holden
Patrick J. Kennedy
Dale E. Kildee
James R. Langevin
John B. Larson
Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey
Jim Marshall
Carolyn McCarthy
Betty McCollum
James P. McGovern
Cynthia McKinney
Marty Meehan
Michael H. Michaud
George Miller
James P. Moran
Grace Napolitano
Richard E. Neal
James L. Oberstar
David R. Obey
Frank Pallone
Bill Pascrell
Ed Pastor
Nancy Pelosi
Silvestre Reyes
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Tim Ryan
John T. Salazar
Linda T. Sanchez
Loretta Sanchez
Jose Serrano
Hilda L. Solis
Bart Stupak
Gene Taylor
Mike Thompson
Nydia Velazquez
Diane Watson