Catholics Cannot Vote for Pols Who Support Abortion, Except for Morally Grave Reasons: KY Bishops

LifeSiteNews ^ | 2/15/08 | John Jalsevac

[markomalley]

I understand Church history probably better than you.

Pity. I wish your prior post suggested this wealth of knowledge.

I suggest that the Pope and prior popes were wrong, both as a matter of faith and as a matter of fact.

You have the right to suggest that all you'd like. I would defend (and have defended) your ability to exercise that right.

[irishjuggler]

Basically, I reject the notion that the Pope or the Catholic Church has moral standing to criticize others, because of its past performance.

So, what do you want them to do? Close all the churches and call it a day? In your dreams. Fortunately, it's not in the Pope's job description to care whether you or anyone else thinks that he lacks moral standing.

[SuziQ]

Until the Catholic Church starts excommunicating the Catholic pols who support abortion on demand, I wish they would just shut up, and stop lecturing their flock on that subject. - tom

Whether or not they're excommunicated, they're still in office. The problem is that many Catholics voted FOR those pols to put them into office. This is why the Bishops' message is important. It is hoped that more Catholics will start to listen to them and not support the pro-abortion candidates anymore.

[SuziQ]

I reject the notion that the Pope or the Catholic Church has moral standing to criticize others, because of its past performance. I’m sure you and many others here will disagree. Like it or not those are the historical facts.

You obviously have a problem with the Church, and you are free to not listen to the Pope or any other teachers within the Church. At the same time, the Pope is free to offer his opinions, and distribute his teachings based on decades of study of the Scriptures and the works of the early Church Fathers, to believers within the Catholic Church.

[Capt. Tom]

They are automatically ex-communicated, latae sentiae. Latae sentiae Excommunications are ones that take place when an action is performed (by a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil), not when the Church formally announces it.

Maybe you should check around prior to engaging your .... Lurking’

Heretics fall into two classes formal and material.

Both groups hold opinions contrary to the Catholic Churches teaching as defined by the Pope speaking ex Cathedra to all the Catholics around the world in matters of faith and morals.

One heretical group does not know they are in opposition to the churches teaching and have to be made aware of the correct teaching.
If they persist in their contrary views then they get ex communicated.

The Church would do better to make no bones about abortion and tell the pols if they persist in supporting it they are ex communicated. So far the Catholic Church has done little, until lately about this subject. That is why so many Catholic pols have disregarded the Church.- tom

[BlessedBeGod]

"Catholic social doctrine is not limited to the defense and promotion of economic and political rights," begins the letter. "Human life issues such as...the death penalty... also fall within the scope of social morality."

There is no Catholic doctrine governing the use of the death penalty.

[epow]

Thanks Mrs. Don-o. I am interested, and I will use the links you were kind enough to provide to learn more about Catholic doctrine on those matters.

[Salvation]

1:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches 1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

97%

2:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches 2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm

96%

3:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches 2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

96%

4:	CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

[Salvation]

Pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of America to a mindset of life!

[Neidermeyer]

There is no need for a public excommunication because it’s done once the politician takes the position.
****************************************************
I disagree in that the same politicians will take a public pro-abortion position time after time in front of millions of people with no VISIBLE response from the church... It appears as if their position is being condoned,, it is this repeated appearance of going along so as not to rock the boat that must be ended.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Good morning! You might want to check out #19.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Well, thank you, epow! Reading this stuff in context is really interesting.

[Ransomed]

This is correct, CWW. However I would hazard that the vast majority of Catholics don’t know this much less the term “Latae sententiae excommunication”. The Bishops need to teach.

Freegards

[glide625]

ping

[red irish]

So as a Christian are you pro-life and against abortion? Because I am confused by some peoples comments,it is not about if you like the Catholic church,it’s Christians who support pro-abortion candidates. Too many people on here lately are so arrogant,between the Mormon bashing and the Catholic bashing,I’m surprised Christians can united against anything that’s evil.We have a candidate who calls himself a Christian and he is soooo pro-abortion it makes me sick. But yet for political reasons you have Christians supporting these candidates with their votes and their money.That is what is wrong not a personal opinion of what you think of the Catholic church or of any other faith. If we as Christians can’t stand each other long enough to unite against evil, such as abortion,homosexuality,then we don’t have a right to call ourselves Christians. For crying out loud Jesus talked of loving your enemy but yet here lately it seems more about pride and arrogance than anything to do with love.