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Posted on 03/25/2009 10:10:37 AM PDT by NYer
President Obama's nominee to head the agency that guides federal abortion policy is the latest Roman Catholic politician to find herself torn between her political beliefs and her faith.
Already admonished against receiving Communion because of stands she has taken on abortion as governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius now faces even closer scrutiny from the church since she was nominated to serve as secretary of health and human services earlier this month.
What began as a local matter between Mrs. Sebelius and Archbishop Joseph Naumann, the archbishop of Kansas City, Kan., has taken on larger dimensions with the prospect that Mrs. Sebelius could reside in Washington.
Earlier this month, Archbishop Raymond F. Burke - formerly the archbishop of St. Louis but now prefect for the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's highest court - declared that Mrs. Sebelius should not approach the altar for Communion in the United States.
"After pastoral admonition, she obstinately persists in serious sin," he told CatholicAction.org, a conservative Web site.
Archbishop Naumann, meanwhile, has been in contact with Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of the Washington Diocese to inform him of the Kansas City prelate's discussions with Mrs. Sebelius.
A spokesman for Archbishop Wuerl said church officials in Washington would act in accordance with the admonition from Kansas City. A church official in Washington said the admonition does not prohibit priests from serving Mrs. Sebelius if she does present herself, but declined to speculate on what would happen in that event.
Baptist theologian and Mercer University professor David P. Gushee said the situation between Mrs. Sebelius and the Catholic bishops "is a very uncomfortable situation for those of us who are concerned about the role of faith in the public square.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
In a column in The Kansas City Star, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City has explained to the general public his request that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius not receive Holy Communion. President Barack Obama has nominated Sebelius to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. “As a Catholic priest, my life is dedicated to attempting to bring people to Jesus Christ. In our Catholic faith, we believe that Jesus makes himself uniquely present to us through our reception of the Eucharist,” Archbishop Naumann explained. “Catholics have a personal responsibility not to receive Holy Communion if they have with knowledge and intention committed a grave evil.” “For more than 25 years,” he continued, “Gov. Sebelius has advocated and supported legalized abortion. She has opposed such modest protections as parental notification for minors, waiting periods, informed consent and improved regulation of abortion clinics. In the hope to awaken her to the grave spiritual consequences of her own actions and in an effort to prevent her from leading others into error, it was my responsibility to request that the governor refrain from receiving the Eucharist.”
(The Kansas City Star does a disservice to the archbishop with a headline that suggests the column is an "attack" on Sebelius. Although Archbishop Naumann is certainly critical of the governor, his pastoral concern comes through clearly. The Star's headline for an accompanying story is revealing: Ordinarily one speaks about a "church vs. state" conflict. But the Star makes it "church vs. politics." Do the editors mean to imply that the Church is-- or should be-- opposed to all political activity?)
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Kathleen Sibelius is a supporter of Dr. Tiller the baby killer - why wouldn’t she be in trouble with the Catholic Church?
The real problem is why she isn’t in trouble with more than just the Catholic Church.
I am absolutely disgusted that my Church doesn't "man up" and excommunicate this vile woman...but I guess as long as she donates the big dollars, she can claim to be a Catholic and enjoy the votes of our "cafeteria Catholics".
/spit
“...latest Roman Catholic politician to find herself torn between her political beliefs and her faith.”
She’s not torn. She chose murdering babies. Period.
GO holy BISHOPS!!!! FINALLY!!
If the Church would get some courage and excommunicate these politicians, maybe,just maybe, some of them would rethink their stance.
It is very unfortunate that the bishops failed to act on this when it first came up in the early 80’s.
Somehow I think this would be solved very quickly 500 years ago.
Freegards
Church, for most politicians, is just a showpiece. When the rubber meets the road, they do what they want. Like most people.
Then she isn't all that torn between her politics and her religious beliefs after all.
I’m not Catholic but I stand arm and arm, spiritually, with these bishops who stand unwavering on the word of Our Lord.
let’s add the Kennedys into that group that needs to be excommunicated. you go around saying it’s ok to kill babies Monday through Saturday and then ask to be forgiven on Sunday, say your three Hail Marys and four Our Fathers and then go out there and do it again — that is the height of hypocrisy and evil
What began as a local matter between Mrs. Sebelius and Archbishop Joseph Naumann, the archbishop of Kansas City, Kan., has taken on larger dimensions with the prospect that Mrs. Sebelius could reside in Washington.
Earlier this month, Archbishop Raymond F. Burke - formerly the archbishop of St. Louis but now prefect for the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's highest court - declared that Mrs. Sebelius should not approach the altar for Communion in the United States.
"After pastoral admonition, she obstinately persists in serious sin," he told CatholicAction.org, a conservative Web site.
I would say that is a direct statement he doesn't beat around the bush.
What is your understanding of excommunication? Sebelius has already incurred excommunication latae sententiae.
The Church was still under the spell of Vatican 2 liberalism, led by such men as Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago, who I now think was suspect on both moral and doctrinal grounds, and of course Father Drinan, a thorough-going modernist.
You should request that of your oun church--funny, you are always chastising the Catholic Church (founded by Jesus Christ).
What is your understanding of Catholic Excommunication?
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