There's your answer (California Catholic Daily reports on a conversation with Archbishop Wuerl)

Open Book ^ | January 14, 2007 | Amy Wellborn

[NYer]

Thank you, Amy Wellborn, Jeff Miller and all the other devout Catholics who are using their blogs to keep the spotlight on Archbishp Wuerl and SOH, Nancy Pelosi, CINO.

[ConorMacNessa]

I'm in the Archdiocese of Washington and I am stunned by my Archbishop's failure to apply basic Catholicism in this matter.

[incredulous joe]

This is highly disturbing.

I will be at the March for Life next week. I suppose that I should wonder if Bishop Wuerl will be in attendance?

Wuerl is not a Cardinal yet, is he? If it is not a foregone conclusion that the Archbishop of DC become a Cardinal I should hope that the Holy Father knows about his "different style of pastoral ministry."

Wuerl is relatively young. We're going to have him around for a while.

[incredulous joe]

Is he a Cardinal yet? I'm stunned, as well.

[ConorMacNessa]

Not yet, but that's just a matter of time.

[Coleus]

Veritatis Splendor 

116.
A particular responsibility is incumbent upon Bishops with regard to Catholic institutions. Whether these are agencies for the pastoral care of the family or for social work, or institutions dedicated to teaching or health care, Bishops can canonically erect and recognize these structures and delegate certain responsibilities to them. Nevertheless, Bishops are never relieved of their own personal obligations. It falls to them, in communion with the Holy See, both to grant the title "Catholic" to Church-related schools,¹⁷⁹ universities,¹⁸⁰ health-care facilities and counselling services, and, in cases of a serious failure to live up to that title, to take it away.

179. Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 803, 3.
180. Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 808.

Ex Corde Ecclesiae
Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II On Catholic Universities

Can.  915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

A Primer on Canon 915
Archbishop Raymond Burke first conducted private communications to three 'Catholic' legislators, imploring them, "to make their consciences correct with Magisterial teachings." After all three politicians refused to meet with him, saying they instead reject the Church's infallible teachings, Bishop Burke, as 'Priest, Prophet and King,' then took the necessary steps to issue the four paragraph 'canonical notification' to address the scandal they were causing in his diocese by their conduct 'which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm' (EE n.37).

The notification declares: "...Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion. They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publicly renounce their support of these most unjust practices" (canon 915).

Burke exhorted, "No good bishops could stand by and let this happen. These public legislators are in grave sin."

[NYer]

I will be at the March for Life next week. I suppose that I should wonder if Bishop Wuerl will be in attendance?

Traditionally, a Mass for Life is celebrated at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the evening before the March for Life. The principal celebrant has always been the resident Cardinal, or in this case, resident Bishop. But, wait, here is the upcoming schedule.

---

National Prayer Vigil for Life

January 21 - 22, 2007

Sunday, January 21, 2007

12noon     Solemn Sunday Mass              Upper Church
        Reverend Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Celebrant & Homilist

8:00pm     Vigil Mass for Life                    Upper Church ***
        Justin Cardinal Rigali, Celebrant & Homilist

10:30pm    National Rosary for Life        Crypt Church
        Mothers of Mary

11:00pm    Confessions                               Confessional Chapel
      - 1:00pm

---

There is no mention of the bishop.

[It's me]

BTW. California Catholic Daily is a new online publication from Jim Holman, owner and publisher of the alt-press San Diego Reader, and apparently replaces the other (four? I think) similar Catholic publications he used to operate.

True. This replaces the San Diego News Notes, Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission, San Francisco Faith, and the La Cruz de California (the Tijuana paper).

[narses]

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[workerbee]

I'm in the Archdiocese of Washington and I am stunned by my Archbishop's failure to apply basic Catholicism in this matter.

I'm in the Archidocese of Washington, too, and while I'd like to say I'm stunned, I'm not. Wuerhl is just following McCarrick's style. Same-old, same-old as far as I can tell.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I am stunned too. Wuerl was the "fixer" who came to Seattle to save that diocese from the poor example and teaching by Abp Hunthausen. Of course he received a lot of criticism for that from the liberals who backed Hunthausen. It seems that Wuerl has lost his spine somewhere along the way.

[incredulous joe]

Hmmm, I'm on the cusp of the Washington Diocese. I actually belong to the Archdiocese of Baltimore,...seems like some of the natives should know about this. Possibly they already do.

Last year the Mass I attended was at the Verisign Center (then MCI) this was on the day of the march and they place was packed up the walls.

It was the first year I had a chance to attend and a very positive experience.

I'm very, very disappointed to hear this news about Wuerl. Is it possible that he has come in under the Holy Father's radar??

[siunevada]

Of course, if she never attends a Mass in the Archdiocese again, it won't be a problem for the Archbishop.

Think she actually practices her faith? Doesn't seem likely.

[NYer]

I'm very, very disappointed to hear this news about Wuerl. Is it possible that he has come in under the Holy Father's radar??

Let's take a 'watch and wait' approach. At some point in time this year, the Holy Father will announce the next crop of Cardinals. Let's pray that Bishop Wuerl is not named.

[IrishCatholic]

I find it distressing that so many of our bishops are...well, lacking in character is a charitable way of putting it. They seem more interested in the money than Christ.
I have a feeling that along with my bishop when Christ comes back to take a whip to the money changers in the temple this bishop along with mine will have a stripe or two across their backs.
That being said I am able to separate the Church from the church. I learned that at 18 in the KCMO Archdiocese when the Bishop there destroyed Christ the King Church to get at the coffers.

[Cicero]

This is certainly very disappointing. I am also willing to wait and see a little longer. But Archbishop Wuerl has a deserved reputation as a conservative Catholic. If he won't draw the line, who will?

[livius]

I'm amazed, too. Not only did he turn a blind eye, but he's essentially saying he's not going to do anything in the future and doesn't consider it his job.

Somebody else posted (when this whole thing began) that Wuerl was a big time Dem and turned up at a lot of Dem events, etc. I don't live in the diocese and I don't know a thing about this, but I guess that might explain his reluctance to do anything. He's more Dem than Catholic.

That said, who the heck is recommending bishops to the Pope now? We've gotten several who I think were not at all what BXVI would have chosen on his own if he knew about the US. He relies on other people to do this for him, and I think there are some problems with the system (as recently revealed by the Polish situation).

[livius]

Well isn't that interesting.