Calif. Bishop To Gov. Davis: Pick Abortion Or Communion [formal excommunication?]

National Catholic Register ^ | Feb, 2-9, 2003 | WAYNE LAUGESEN

[Polycarp]

Calif. Bishop To Gov. Davis:
Pick Abortion Or Communion

 

National Catholic Register
Feb, 2-9, 2003

by WAYNE LAUGESEN
Register Correspondent

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The message is blunt: Abortion hurts women and is the direct killing of children, and any politician who promotes such a heinous thing shouldn't receive Communion.

That's what Sacramento, Calif., Bishop William Weigand said to Gov. Gray Davis.

But Davis said he's going to continue to receive Communion anyway.

Bishop Weigand repeated his opinion twice: Once in a pro-life Mass marking the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and once in an interview with the Register on Jan. 27.

In the Mass, Bishop Weigand explained that one cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion.

"I have to say clearly that anyone - politician or otherwise - who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk and is not in good standing with the Church," Bishop Weigand said. "Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving holy Communion until he has a change of heart."

Davis has taken exception to Bishop Weigand's statement and says he will neither stop taking Communion nor renounce legalized abortion.

"The governor is a faithful, practicing Catholic who attends Mass in West Hollywood," said Russ Lopez, his spokesman. "We don't like abortion, but we do like choice on the issue. I'm wondering why the bishop is making a concerted effort to exclude and push away those Catholics who favor women having choice."

On Jan. 27, Bishop Weigand told the Register that he is considering formally forbidding Davis from receiving Communion if Davis doesn't change his mind on the issue.

"We're studying that right now," the bishop said. "That time could come. That time could be very near, especially with his statements that say he doesn't have to give one inch. He has manifested publicly a hardness of heart - an in-your-face hardness of heart response."

The bishop said that because of the public controversy he does not expect Davis to attend a Red Mass, a traditional Mass celebrated for members of the legal profession, he is celebrating Feb. 12. But if the governor does attend and approach the bishop for Communion, the bishop said he will give him a blessing and ask him to see him after Mass.

Bishop Weigand said he wants to follow canon law carefully, saying it requires two official admonishments before forbidding Communion. He said he has made attempts in the past to personally counsel Davis in his faith "since he obviously doesn't understand the faith." He said it was important to do this since Davis is a public official publicly espousing Catholicism.

There were two meetings scheduled between Davis and the executive committee of the California Conference of Bishops for this purpose. Both meetings were cancelled by the governor.

Bishop Weigand said he has tried to counsel the governor in a way that wouldn't embarass him, but the issue went public when a Catholic orphanage refused to allow Davis to visit its campus. The bishop said he wanted to make it clear that it's impossible to be both pro-abortion and Catholic.

Lopez said Davis has not been swayed one bit regarding his position on legalized abortion, nor has he considered avoiding Communion.

"I, myself, thought I would live and die Catholic," Lopez said. "Now I don't know. It depends on how ugly this gets. They're obviously trying to beat us up, and we're not backing down. The Church has so many problems right now that I'm surprised the diocese is embarking on something that's this exclusionary and divisive."

In the 30 years since its legalization, abortion has become the most common surgical procedure in America. More than 1 million mothers have abortions each year. The babies who are aborted are distinguishable as boys or girls within hours of their conception and have beating hearts within 10 days.

Bishop Weigand said Davis has "gone public saying that the bishop shouldn't be guiding people in the faith."

"This is very curious to me," Bishop Weigand said. "He's obviously not very informed about the teachings of the Church."

The Church has defended the lives of the unborn since the early days of the Church, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2271). It quotes the Didache, a liturgical book from the first century after Christ's death, as saying, "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish."

The catechism adds: "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae, 'by the very commission of the offense' and subject to the conditions provided by canon law" (No. 2272).

Abortion laws should be seen in terms of equality and human rights, the catechism says.

"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by a civil society and the political authority. … The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law" (No. 2273).

Also, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Jan. 16 specifically addressed a Catholic's role in political life in its document, "The Participation of Catholics in Political Life," which called politicians and voters to be "morally coherent" and not lead "parallel lives" between one's personal and public life.

"Living and acting in conformity with one's own conscience on questions of politics is not slavish acceptance of positions alien to politics or some kind of confessionalism," the document said, "but rather the way in which Christians offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person" (No. 6).

Orphanage Shuns Davis

In December, Msgr. Edward Kavanagh of the Sacramento Diocese told Davis and his staff they were not welcome to deliver Christmas gifts to children at St. Patrick's Home for Children, directed by Msgr. Kavanagh, because of the governor's pro-abortion stance. As a result, the children received their gifts from Davis at the Capitol.

"Msgr. Kavanagh has also suggested that Gov. Davis should be excommunicated over this abortion issue," Lopez said. "Well, that's not up to the monsignor, and the governor plans on remaining a Catholic while at the same time defending a woman's right to an abortion."

"The majority of Californians support our pro-choice agenda," Lopez said. "I, personally, have had a lot of supportive comments."

Most Hispanics, however - the fastest-growing and largest minority group in California and the rest of the nation - don't support Davis in this fight, said Marcella Melendez, president of the national Hispanics for Life organization.

"The bishop is 100% correct to be doing this," Melendez said. "It's his job to correct us when we stray from the teachings of the Church and to call us to repentance. You cannot be a faithful Catholic and be pro-choice on abortion. It simply isn't possible. The governor is putting political expedience ahead of his faith."

"The prohibition of God and the law of nature is abundantly clear: 'Thou shalt not kill,'" Bishop Weigand said in his homily.

"We know it is not politically correct to be pro-life; but right and wrong, good and evil, are never revealed in a poll," he said. "All human life is sacred. A true leader stands up for what is right, not for what is popular."

Wayne Laugesen writes
from Boulder, Colorado

 

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[Mr. Lucky]

Well put.

[Romulus]

Courage is a beautiful thing.

Here's hoping this is a test case.

It may be that Weigand has agreed to take the point on this, as other bishops watch to see if their own Catholic politicians return to Church discipline. My preference would be for all ordinaries with similar problems to make their own statements (Cardinal Eagan?), since the Davis matter is not being widely reported outside California, and politicians elsewhere are not likely to fall in line unless and until they feel pressured to do so by unwanted local attention.

[COBOL2Java]

Petition signed!

[Aquinasfan]

Bishop Weigand said he wants to follow canon law carefully, saying it requires two official admonishments before forbidding Communion. He said he has made attempts in the past to personally counsel Davis in his faith "since he obviously doesn't understand the faith." He said it was important to do this since Davis is a public official publicly espousing Catholicism.

There were two meetings scheduled between Davis and the executive committee of the California Conference of Bishops for this purpose. Both meetings were cancelled by the governor.

Methinks the governor may be more familiar with canon law than he's letting on.

This whole episode defies description, but it certainly points out the dire need for public excommunications.

[Aquinasfan]

Oh man. What's with "mission statements" for individual Catholic churches? Who comes up with these idiotic ideas?

[Aquinasfan]

In a campaign that Giganti says is the first of its kind in America, the group will sponsor ads in newspapers giving the names of Catholic politicians who favor abortion rights and their bishops. The group is calling on the bishops to deny these politicians communion until they change their ways.

Alleluia! It's about time.

[Siobhan]

You are a gem. Well said.

[Siobhan]

It is good to see you around. Hope you are doing well. God bless!

[Notwithstanding]

Well, you see, for some reason, some parishoners have tended to forget that "assisting the bishop with the salvation of local souls through evangelization and the sacraments" is the primary goal of any parish.

Sadly, too many pastors ignored and abandoned that goal, and slyly reconfigured the parish into a group therapy hug-in. The ake mission statements are a combination of:

1) an attempt to pacify anyone who wonders why salvation of souls is never mentioned at Mass (by sort of hinting at that in the written mission statment)

AND

2) an attempt to use the words "peace and justice" and "church community" so as to further the leftist ideology of many priestniks

[Aquinasfan]

2) an attempt to use the words "peace and justice" and "church community" so as to further the leftist ideology of many priestniks

Priestniks. Sheesh. You hit the nail on the head. This stuff makes my head explode.

[ElkGroveDan]

#80 PING

[victim soul]

Funny thing about a liberal and choice.

You demand your right to have your "personal choice" but you can't take another's right -- in this case a Church's -- to "choose" to say you are not a member in good standing because of your "personal choice'!!

If you can't take the heat then get out of the fire -- but more importantly, pay attention to your Bishop and be fully aware -- your "personal choice" may ultimately lead you to the eternal fires of Hell.

[victim soul]

I wonder if the reasons cited in the excommunication of these nuns could be applied to excommunicating unrepentant Catholic pro-death politicians?

Excommunication of 7 Women for Mock Ordination Is Confirmed
Move Necessary to Protect Doctrine and Guide Consciences, Says Vatican

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 27, 2003 (ZE03012703 Zenit.org).- The Holy See published a decree confirming the excommunication of a group of women who participated in a mock priestly ordination last June.

The document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announces that the Holy See has rejected the appeal made by the women to the decree of excommunication published by the Vatican dicastery last Aug. 5.

Moreover, the Holy See considers that the "refusal to comply with the penal precept established by the Church" is "further aggravated by the fact that some of the above-mentioned women have been gathering round them members of
the faithful, in open and divisive disobedience to the Roman Pontiff and diocesan bishops."

It adds: "In view of the gravity of this contumacy (cf. can. 1347 CIC), the penalty imposed is not only just, but also necessary, in order to protect true doctrine, to safeguard the communion and unity of the Church, and to
guide consciences of the faithful."

The decree, dated Dec. 21 and published today, is signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, president and then secretary, respectively, of the doctrinal congregation.

The decree has been approved by 13 cardinals and two bishops who reside in Rome and are members of the Vatican congregation.

John Paul II approved the decree expressly and requested its publication.

The mock ordination was conducted by Argentine Romulo Antonio Braschi, a schismatic bishop and founder of a schismatic community.

The decree indicates that the women, of German, Austrian and U.S. nationality, who participated in the simulated ordination are Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Adelinde Theresia Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Müller,
Ida Raming, Pia Brunner and Dagmar Braun Celeste. The latter used the name Angela White for the occasion.

In the 1994 apostolic letter "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis," John Paul II said "that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women."


Decree on Attempted Ordination of Some Catholic Women
From Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 27, 2003 (ZE03012702 Zenit.org).

- Here is the decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the attempted ordination to the priesthood of some Catholic women, last June 29.

* * *

DECREE OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH ON THE ATTEMPTED PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF SOME CATHOLIC WOMEN

On June 29, 2002, Romulo Antonio Braschi, founder of a schismatic community, attempted to ordain the following Catholic women to the priesthood:

Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Adelinde Roitinger, Gisela Forster, Iris Müller, Ida Raming, Pia Brunner and Dagmar Braun Celeste, who on that occasion identified herself as Angela White.

Citing the previous interventions of the Bishop of Linz and of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a statement on July 10, 2002, warning the above-mentioned persons that they would be punished with excommunication if by July 22, 2002, they
had not acknowledged the nullity of their "ordination" and asked forgiveness for the scandal caused to the faithful. As they gave no indication of amendment, this Congregation punished the aforementioned persons with excommunication, reserved to the Apostolic See, in the Decree dated August
5, 2002, expressing the hope that they might be moved to conversion. The Decree also confirmed that the "ordaining" bishop was already excommunicated insofar as he is a schismatic.

They subsequently published letters and granted interviews, in which they expressed their conviction regarding the validity of the "ordination" they received, calling for a change of the definitive doctrine according to which
ordination to the priesthood is reserved to males, and reaffirming that they celebrate "Mass" and their "sacraments" for small groups. In a letter dated
August 14, 2002, they asked that the Decree of excommunication be revoked and then, on September 27, 2002, with reference to canons 1732-1739 CIC, they made recourse against the Decree. On October 21, 2002, they were
informed that their request would be submitted to the competent authority.

The request for revocation and the recourse were examined by the Sessione Ordinaria of the Congregation on the 4th and 18th of December 2002. The Members of the Congregation who participated -- those resident in Rome --
were Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger, Alfonso López Trujillo, Ignace Moussa I. Daoud, Giovanni Battista Re, Francis Arinze, Jozef Tomko, Achille Silvestrini, Jorge Medina Estévez, James Francis Stafford, Zenon Grocholewski, Walter Kasper, Crescenzio Sepe, Mario Francesco Pompedda, and
Bishops Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and Rino Fisichella. In the course of these meetings the Members arrived at the collegial decision to confirm the Decree of Excommunication. In the case under consideration, in fact,
hierarchical recourse is not possible, as it concerns a Decree of Excommunication issued by a Dicastery of the Holy See acting in the name of the Supreme Pontiff (cf. can. 360 CIC). So as to remove any doubt in the matter, the Members thought it necessary to underline certain fundamental
points.

1. It is necessary above all to state precisely that the case under consideration does not involve a latae sententiae penalty, which is incurred ipso facto when a delict expressly established by the law is committed. It
concerns instead a ferendae sententiae penalty, imposed after the guilty party has been duly warned (cf. cann. 1314; 1347 §1 CIC). As provided by can. 1319 §1 CIC, this Congregation has the power to threaten determinate
penalties by precept.

2. The particular gravity of the offenses committed is evident, which can be seen from various aspects.

a) There is first of all the issue of schism: the above-mentioned women were "ordained" by a schismatic bishop and -- even though not formally adhering to his schism -- thereby made themselves accomplices in schism.

b) In addition there is the doctrinal aspect, namely, that they formally and obstinately reject a doctrine which the Church has always taught and lived, and which was definitively proposed by Pope John Paul II, namely, "that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women" (Apostolic Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis, n. 4). The denial of this doctrine is rightly considered the denial of a truth that pertains to the Catholic faith and therefore deserves a just penalty (cf. cann. 750 §2; 1372, n. 1 CIC; John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Ad tuendam fidem, n. 4A).

Moreover, by denying this doctrine, the persons in question maintain that the Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff would be binding only if it were based on a decision of the College of Bishops, supported by the sensus fidelium and received by the major theologians. In such a way they are at odds with the doctrine on the Magisterium of the Successor of Peter, put forward by both the First and Second Vatican Councils, and they thereby fail to recognize that the teachings of the Supreme Pontiff on doctrines to be held
definitively by all the faithful are irreformable.

3. The refusal to comply with the penal precept established by this Congregation is further aggravated by the fact that some of the above-mentioned women have been gathering round them members of the faithful, in open and divisive disobedience to the Roman Pontiff and diocesan bishops. In view of the gravity of this contumacy (cf. can. 1347
CIC), the penalty imposed is not only just, but also necessary, in order to protect true doctrine, to safeguard the communion and unity of the Church and to guide the consciences of the faithful.

4. The above-mentioned Members of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith therefore confirm the Decree of Excommunication issued on August 5, 2002, specifying once again that the attempted priestly ordination of the
aforementioned women is null and invalid (cf. can. 1024 CIC) and therefore all those actions proper to the Order of Priesthood performed by them are also null and invalid (cf. cann. 124; 841 CIC). In consequence of the
excommunication, they are forbidden to celebrate sacraments or sacramentals, to receive the sacraments and to exercise any function in an ecclesiastical office, ministry or assignment (cf. can. 1331 §1 CIC).

5. At the same time, it is hoped that, sustained by the grace of the Holy Spirit, they might discover the path to conversion and so return to the unity of faith and to communion with the Church, a communion broken by their
action.

The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect on December 20, 2002, approved this Decree, adopted in the Sessione Ordinaria of this Congregation, approving at the same time in forma specifica n. 4, and ordered its publication.

Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
December 21, 2002.

+ Joseph Card. Ratzinger
Prefect

+ Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Archbishop-elect of Genoa
Secretary

[Original text: Italian. Translation issued by Vatican Press Office]

[victim soul]

When is the next Red Mass???

Might need to have some California Catholic Freepers attend.

[victim soul]

The proud and open assault and dismemberment of unborn children is something I think St. Thomas More would consider to be just such a case.

He only lost his head!!

[RobbyS]

You might remember that when he wrote these words he was waiting for execution and as a former Lord Chancellor he was very familiar with the use of power. Like all weapons, excommunication should be used sparingly. The bishop may be working up to use it, and If Davis doesn't pull in his horns, I hope that he does.

[victim soul]

Bishop Weigand and Monsignor Kavanaugh Receive Award

http://www.maranatha.tv/_wsn/page2.html

Bishop Weigand and Monsignor Kavanagh Receive "Guardian of Truth" Award

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ --This week, the Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church, a project of American Life League, presented Bishop William Weigand, head of the Sacramento Diocese and Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, director of St. Patrick's Orphanage in Sacramento, with the Crusade's "Guardian of Truth" Award. "These men of God deserve to be honored for
unflinching support of the Church's teachings and for standing up to Gov. Gray Davis' support of abortion," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. She and husband Paul Brown, co-founder of American Life League, traveled to Sacramento during a statewide speaking tour of California to present the awards.

"It is important to the Catholic faithful and to all those
involved in the pro-life movement to see that there are leaders, like Bishop Weigand and Monsignor Kavanagh, who are willing to take a stand for that which is right. This encourages other leaders to act and helps to inspire the movement as a whole," said Judie Brown. Monsignor Kavanagh was presented with the award during a private meeting with the Browns in Sacramento; he also accepted the bishop's award on his behalf. "I am honored to accept this award,"
said Kavanagh. "I am committed to defending the sanctity of human life and will continue to do so as long as I am alive."

Last week, the Crusade unveiled the first in a series of planned ads titled "The Deadly Dozen," that expose politicians who openly claim to be Catholic and pro-abortion. The first ad focused on members of the United States Senate. Subsequent ads will focus on members of the United States House of Representatives and U.S.
Governors. "If Gray Davis does not publicly recant his
unapologetic pro-abortion stance or stop claiming to be Catholic, he will surely be a part of the Deadly Dozen ads," stated Brown.

American Life League is the nation's largest pro-life
educational organization with more than 375,000 supporting
families.

http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
01/29 14:02

Copyright 2003, U.S. Newswire

[NYer]

We at the Catholic Family Association of America are working on getting a private audience with the Pope

Be sure to make large banners in vivid colors and contact ALL of the US Media. We want to see full coverage on TV!

By the way, how long does it take to obtain a private audience with the pope?

[Lady Eileen]

bump....thanks for the post. We must keep praying for the protection of the unborn.

[Jeff Chandler]

You should only confess actions or lack of actions that your conscience tells you are wrong... If you are not conflicted about something, or if your conscience is genuinely confortable with a perticular course of action, why should you bring it up, unless you are truly bothered by it?

 

Bill Clinton couldn't have said it any better.