Posted on 09/20/2001 8:25:20 PM PDT by constitution
http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/2001Mar/mar21hh.htm WEDNESDAY March 20, 2001 volume 12, no. 79 Governor Tom Ridge Pennsylvania This series, appropriately titled "Herod's Heroes," is intended to separate the wheat from the chaff by revealing those men and women, for whom we have voted, and who are not upholding the ideals God expects of His children.
We cannot condone sin, and they are promoting the most vile of sin by being accomplices to the slaughter of millions of innocents in the womb. That is why, like the Judean king of Christ's time, who, out of political expediency and jealousy, tried to eliminate the Messiah by killing the first-born of every family, so also they are helping satan in killing God's precious ones sacrificed at the altar of the convenience of modern life.
These "Herod's Heroes" are under the totally false misconception that a woman has the right to do with her body as she wants. Wrong! It is not hers, but rather God's.
The body we have is merely a shell to hold our soul. The soul is forever; the body, as we are reminded on Ash Wednesday, will return to dust. Christ has said in Matthew 10: 28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
With California completed, we now focus on the state of Pennsylvania. Before we cover the congressional pro-abort 'Catholics' from the State of Pennsylvania we expose the state's highest ranking official - the Governor Thomas Ridge.
Here was a man who so many Catholics hoped and prayed would follow in the footsteps of the Pro Life Catholic Governor he preceded Governor Bob Casey. But rather than being a Paul, Ridge turned out to be a Saul - a Judas. As an ally of satan through Ridge's uncompromising pro-abortion stance, he is enabling lucifer to "destroy both soul and body in hell." Through his actions he has become an enemy of God and the Roman Catholic Church. This is not a political statement on Ridge, but rather a moral statement; one he and his bishop should take very, very seriously.
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Ridge graduated from Harvard in 1967. The Vietnam War interrupted further studies in law and he enlisted in the Army, earning the Bronze Star for Valor in Southeast Asia as an Army sergeant.
Returning home, he earned his law degree while working his way up the ranks of the Republican party in a heavily Democratic district. After receiving his JD he was appointed assistant district attorney in Erie County. In 1982 he ran and won the congressional seat, becoming the first enlisted Vietnam combat vet elected to the House of Representatives. He served six terms on the Hill before turning his attention to Harrisburg and the governorship in 1994.
During his twelve years in the House he amassed a perfect pro-abort record, going so often against his own party in embracing the culture of death shamelessly. For more details on Ridge's record and his disdain for Catholic doctrine.
Ridge could do so much good, yet there have been no fruits because, through his action and record, he has steadily shown a disdain for the teachings of the Catholic Church and her mandate of upholding life in all stages. By his pro-abort stance he has shown an alarming consistency in voting for and legislating pro-abortion measures that empower the culture of death.
He will have to answer to God for these transgressions against Christ's innocent ones as Jesus says in today's Gospel in Matthew 25: 45, "'Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for Me.' And these will go into everlasting punishment, but the just into everlasting life."
Is Governor Ridge truly aware of that? We call on all to help him see the grave error of his ways and we call on his bishop in Harrisburg to take firm, responsible action to assure that if he continues to persist in the sin, he will be banished from the Church for remaining a Catholic while carrying on the sin with no sign of repentance.
It is truly a slap in God's and His Church's face. As we wrote in our Ash Wednesday OPEN LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF AMERICA and a week later in It's up to you. Left or Right? we respectfully, but strongly recommend this time of Lent and Easter as a time for the bishops to extend the warning - a time of Mercy - for these wayward 'Catholics' who promote abortion to repent of their ways.
If they stubbornly refuse, then after Pentecost Sunday it's time to take action and dismiss them as apostates. Do you really want that, Governor Ridge?
You can e-mail Governor Ridge and, in love, ask him yourself. Beg him to repent of his ways. Remind him what Jesus asserts in Matthew 16: 26-27, "For what does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will render to everyone according to his conduct." Is his political career more important than the welfare of his soul? Ask him, his webform e-mail is Pennsylvania Governor E-mail webform.
We call on Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo, Ridge's bishop in Harrisburg to issue a mandate to Governor Ridge that if he persists after Pentecost Sunday he will be EXCOMMUNICATED.
Bishop Dattilo can take strength from Bishop Donald Trautman's stand against Ridge speaking out. The problem is the Erie prelate didn't go far enough.
Proof that words will not sway hard-hearts. Only through action will these pro-aborts who claim to be 'Catholic' truly realize the Church means business. Bishop Dattilo must realize he has a duty before God, a duty to his flock to extend mercy through the grace-period of Lent and Easter Season leading up to Pentecost. If no action is taken or if there is and Governor Ridge refuses to heed even the Church, then let him be an anathema.
Like the prodigal son, we will gladly welcome him back and be proud to number him as a loyal Catholic - as a Paul who once was Saul. Does Governor Ridge really want his legacy in eternity to be that he was one of "Herod's Heroes?" With all the good that he has sought to accomplish, why have it blotted out by the evil that he has done? We pray his heart will be touched and he will return to the fold. But if he refuses, if he ignores God's commands, then so be it. He has sold his soul to the devil and Christ has made it very clear in Matthew 19: 15-18 of how to treat one who turns his back on His teachings.
Our bishops MUST follow Our Lord's teachings, they MUST stand up for Christ and His Church. They MUST not only speak out without reservation, but they MUST issue the ultimatum to these pro-abort politicians who bring so much scandal to the Church by continuing to call themselves 'Catholic.'
If, by Pentecost Sunday, Governor Ridge refuses to repent, then he must be notified that he has interdicted himself by his actions, incurred automatic suspension (latae sententiae), and thus has been EXCOMMUNICATED! (cf. Canon Law 1329, 2; 1397 and 1398).
If you agree with us that action needs to be taken, write or call the persons below and: Please SIGN THE PETITION TO THE POPE as well! Go to PETITION TO THE HOLY FATHER Governor Tom Ridge Pennsylvania State Capitol 225 Main Capitol Harrisburg, PA 17120 Tel. 1-717-787-2500 Pennsylvania Governor E-mail webform Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo 4800 Union Deposit Road P.O. Box 2153 Harrisburg, PA 17105 and/or Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo Diocese of Harrisburg Diocesan Center P.O. Box 2153 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2153 Tel. 1-717-657-4804 FAX: 1-717-657-7632 Diocese of Harrisburg Also, let Father Frank Pavone and Priests for Life know you're committed for the Sanctity of Life: PRIESTS FOR LIFE PO Box 141172 Staten Island, NY 10314 Tel: 888-PFL-3448,718-980-4400 Fax: 718-980-6515 mail@priestsforlife.org www.priestsforlife.org If you really want to see if the bishops will take action, write: Most Reverend Gabriel Montalvo Apostolic Pro Nuncio 3339 Massachusetts Ave. Washington, D.C. 20008-3687 Tel. 1-202-333-7121 FAX: 1-202-338-4036 or if you really want to make waves: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 00120 Vatican City State, Europe and Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re Prefect, Congregation for Bishops Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City State, Europe For the list of 'Catholic' pro-abort politicians revealed thus far, see Archive of Herod's Heroes March 21, 2001 volume 12, no. 80 CATHOLIC PewPOINT commentary www.DailyCatholic.org webmaster@dailycatholic.org
Is he still in the church?
http://www.lancasteronline.com/newera_news/petition.htm
Several conservative Catholic groups want the pope to excommunicate Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and 49 other national politicians for being pro-choice on abortion.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition to Pope John Paul II, asking him to officially nullify the Roman Catholic Church membership of Ridge and other politicians including U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and the Senate's majority leader, Tom Daschle.
The petition also asks the pope to come down on American bishops for not excommunicating pro-choice politicians themselves.
But some members of the local clergy are opposed to the move.
"I don't know if it is clear that anyone who has pro-choice beliefs should be excommunicated," says the Rev. Ray Collins, pastor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ephrata.
He says the abortion issue is too complex to be as black and white as some groups try to make it. Political leaders who are pro-choice can be pro-life on other matters, such as the death penalty, Collins notes.
Phillip Woestman, who attends St. Anthony's Catholic Church on East Orange Street, agrees.
"I wouldn't support the petition," says Woestman, a member of the church's Gospel of Life Committee, a pro-life group that opposes abortion.
"You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know the bishops are pro-life," he says.
But Judie Brown, a member of the Vatican's Pontifical Council on Life, says American Catholics are tired of seeing apathetic bishops and pro-choice politicians claiming to be good Catholics.
She heads the American Life League, a Stafford, Va., pro-life group, which claims to have a membership of 375,000 families. The American Life League supports the petition and is encouraging members to sign it.
"There are no sermons on Sunday talking about the penalties for politicians who support abortion. How do we nurture the eternal soul of Governor Ridge if he is not called to repent for this tragedy he is involved in?" asks Brown.
Ridge had no comment on the petition.
Timothy Chichester of Austerlitz, N.Y., is promoting the petition on his Web site, www.yankeesamizdat.org.
Chichester calls Ridge a liberal and an atheist.
"These are politicians that have a hard-core record voting for abortion," he explains. "When you are voting to kill babies, you are a shame to the church."
The Catholic Church, he insists, must confront sinners and, if necessary, remove them from the church.
"Excommunication will hopefully bring them to their senses. At the very least, it will make them run for cover," Chichester says.
Chichester admits a political motivation behind the petition.
Ridge is one of only two Republicans on the list. The rest are Democrats.
Ridge is a member of the Diocese of Erie and a friend of Bishop Donald Trautman.
Trautman knows the governor favors abortion rights, but he calls Ridge "a fine individual" and says, "I have a lot of respect for him, but we differ on one issue."
Trautman won't support the petition.
"The church believes in the medicine of mercy," he says.
Ridge is welcome to celebrate Mass and participate in church sacraments, says Trautman. "These events are highly personal matters between the governor and God," says the bishop.
The Rev. Bernardo Pistone, pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lancaster, notes that the Catholic Church welcomes dialogue, even from people that would damage it.
"These groups know where the church stands and they should know ..." he stops, and shakes his head. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
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