Posted on 11/13/2008 4:43:36 PM PST by upchuck
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."
The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.
"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.
"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."
During the 2008 campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights.
But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakersand votersshould refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Kudos to Fr. Newman
Then you know nothing of Catholic dogma or the role of priests. Your opinion, dare I say it, is idiotic.
Well, you see the really, really neat thing about being a Catholic is that it is a completely voluntary organization of like minded people. Those who reject Catholic dogma have excluded or "excommunicated" themselves. They are therefore no longer a "self-respecting Catholic".
I hope you also took your priest aside and told him to stand tall.
omg this is the craziest thing I have ever heard... another reason why I live in Boston.
and let me add to that .... another reason why I am a Scientologist. We believe whatever is true for you is true. I can't believe you let these nazi's around your children - (disclaimer you being the proverbial you of course)
She was unfriended.
Hopefully, certain elements within the Episcopal Church are taking steps to "right" the church. More and more are splitting off to a more conservative movement. Perhaps there is hope.
Honestly, I have considered converting to RC for the last several years, but since I am a Freemason, I cannot. I have actually visited St. Mary's, and was VERY impressed with Fr. Newman. I hope and trust that he will stand firm.
I love the RC Mass, and attend now and then, without partaking of the Sacrament, of course.
I am sure it will be suggested by some that I simply renounce my membership in the Lodge, and join the Church. It's not that simple. I honestly cannot understand the Church's position on the issue, and even if I did renounce it, I would always be a Freemason in my heart, which would mean that I would be living a lie.
Anyway, that's about it. I appreciate your asking, and would be interested in your thoughts.
Boy, South Carolina and her “leaders” have been all over the news lately. Keep the pressure on!
God bless you Father, you are showing the way.
well said ...
I like this priest
It does depend... but when you know the truth, nothing else matters.
I haven’t seen him since the election. (He’s in New Mexico at the moment.) I will thank him the next time I see him.
The formation of the KC had more to do with a consortium to be able to get life insurance. Catholics couldn't get life insurance for a time.
To understand why the church forbids freemasonry, the best source is a papal encyclical by Pope Leo XIII (IMO, one of the best and brightest of the last 200 years) called "Humanun Genus" published in 1884. There are other encyclicals by other popes that explain why, but Leo XIII always lays things out well. My HTML cheat sheet is at work, but you can find the encyclical at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_18840420_humanum-genus_en.html
My prayers for you in your spiritual search.
Better late than never, but I wish it had been said before the election. In any event, courage breeds courage. Thank God for this priest. One of my own priests on Respect Life Sunday gave an impassioned homily on the election, and went even further to announce that the tax exemption was less important than the issue of Infanticide. That’s courage.
Don’t rely on the well-meaning but possibly incorrect opinions of friends and family. Talk to the priest at the church where you attend services. After Mass, (presumably he greets people as they exit the narthax) tell him you have some questions and would like to discuss with him some personal issues regarding a path to joining the Church. Depending on how busy he is, he may refer you to the Deacon first.
Thought of you as soon as I read the article
He doesn't have a bishop right now (the see of Charleston is vacant), and the administrator is not going to replace him for defending Catholic doctrine.
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