Posted on 06/19/2004 7:44:23 AM PDT by Land of the Irish
DENVER, USA, Jun. 18 (CNA) - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved on Friday a statement highlighting that Catholics public officials who dissent from key Catholic teachings should refrain from taking communion, but leaving to each individual bishop the decision of denying Communion to individuals.
The bishops say in the statement that those who formulate law are obliged in conscience “to work toward correcting morally defective laws,” and calls on Catholics in public life to protect the unborn and oppose legal abortion “lest they be guilty of cooperating in evil and in sinning against the common good.”
The bishops also pledged to counsel Catholic public officials who act “consistently to support abortion on demand” that this support could make them “cooperators in evil in a public manner.” The statement, “Catholics in Political Life,” was adopted by a vote of 183-6. It came after the Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians made an extensive interim report at the USCCB’ s special assembly, held in Denver, June 14-19, 2004.
In the statement, the bishops highlight:
The need “to continue to teach clearly” and help other Catholic leaders to do so about their “unequivocal commitment to the legal protection of human life from the moment of conception until natural death.” The statement notes that Catholic “teaching on human life and dignity should be reflected" in all parishes and all "educational, health care and human service ministries.”
The need to do more “to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended.” The bishops also welcome “conversation initiated by political leaders themselves.”
The need for Catholics “to act in support of these principles and policies in public life.” The statement also says that “the Catholic community and Catholic institutions” should not honor those “who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” with awards, honors, or “platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
Recalling the words of St. Paul in the First Letter to the Corinthians about the unworthy reception of the body and blood of the Lord, the bishops state that “all must examine their consciences” about their worthiness to receive Holy Communion, including with regard to “fidelity to the moral teaching of the Church in personal and public life.”
The statement notes that “the question has been raised” whether it is necessary to deny Holy Communion to Catholics in public life who support abortion on demand. “Given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment” in this serious matter, the bishops state that they “recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with established canonical and pastoral principles.”
Noting that “bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action,” they express their shared “unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity.”
The bishops conclude their statement by saying that respect for the Holy Eucharist “demands that it be received worthily and that it be seen as the source for our common mission in the world.”
Read the full statement at: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.htm
Ping
I believe it was Card. Arinze who said to the press, when asked if the U.S. Bishops would follow the directive to withhold Communion from pro abortion politicians: "America has its own bishops, I'm sure they will decide for themselves on how to apply (this directive)". *paraphrased*
The Pope never puts any teeth in his papal directives. The only time this man stands behind what he says and takes action is when some TRADITIONAL bishop or priest asserts himself.
To those liberal Novus Ordo Catholics who think the Church will be protected from calamity by the Holy Spirit because of Christ's promise that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail', all I can say is that the gates of hell may not prevail, but Vatican II and its liberal adherents who have allowed homosexual perverts to run rampant in the clergy are sure as h-ll doing some mighty serious damage. Our diocese in Boston has just closed another 65 Churches, and now yet another embarrassing pervert scandal has broken in the Dallas Morning News. Lord, how we need the ferver and decisiveness of Traditionalists back in power in our Church.
There is an excellent analysis of this here:
http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?p=43187&postcount=24
I place all the blame on the bishops and those who appointed, not voted for, them.
It's scary, really. It's the beginning of open schism.
St. Michael, the Archangel, pray for us.
This is a good, strong statement. As Cardinal Ratzinger has pointed out, it's unclear what authority the US Bishop's Conference and similar regional conferences have. It is the duty of the Ordinary to enforce discipline and teach doctrine in his own diocese.
The universal teaching is clearly stated here. But in each individual case there is room for prudential judgment. For instance, can you vote for someone who approves of abortion in the case of rape and incest if it will help defeat someone who supports abortion across the board? Each individual candidate needs to be judged by his own bishop. If the Archbishop of Boston publicly excommunicated John Kerry, for instance, that would be taken as authoritatives and other bishops would be strongly advised to concur with the decision. Absent that, each bishop needs to decide for himself.
The decision seems clear enough to most Catholics. Kerry should not receive communion until he repents. Since his sin is public, his repentance should be public. But it's not the job of the Bishop's Conference to make the decision. God help us if they did, because as an organization it is a bureaucratic, weak-kneed, liberal mess.
I, respectfully, disagree. If the all the US Catholic Bishops can agree to move Ascension Thursday to a Sunday, the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of, they certainly can agree on the enforcement of Canon law and refuse giving Holy Communion to John Kerry and his ilk.
I sometimes think the bishops have no more belief in the Real Presence than Kerry does.
Just my $0.02
While I agree with you that they should agree on enforcement of Canon law, the fact is that even if they did it would be non-binding as the USCCB is only an advisory conference and has no real authority. There is good news in that instead of the Council being used by weaker Bishops to hide behind, in this case each Bishop has to make their own stand either to enforce the Church's teaching or not. If they fail to do so then, I believe the Magisterium (Pope) who does have authority over the Bishops, should act. However, the governance of the Church is not protected by infallibility. Regardless we in the laeity have a responsibility to pray and make our opinions known to those Bishops who fail to try and protect the Body of our Lord.
I agree. Nevertheless, I think this statement is significant - it's the first time (in my recollection, anyway) that the USCCB has publicly acknowledged that the divide exists.
As a Practicing Catholic I would find it very hard to believe or follow anything the current crop of bishops say.
They have no Moral Standing since the current crisis became public.
Now on reading this same criminal behavior is still being allowed and supported around the world shows them all to be feckless liars indeed.
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