Posted on 02/19/2009 5:02:06 PM PST by tcg
Bishop Martino is making news again. He sent a letter to the President of the “Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County”, Mr. John Keeler. The letter begins “Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton plays no small role in the local annual observance of St. Patrick’s day. It has been the practice to offer Holy Mass there prior the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and on the Feast day itself”.
The Bishops concern is that Catholic politicians who are in open defiance of the Church’s teaching on the fundamental right to life will be featured at these events, honored, and worse than both of those, may then present themselves for the reception of Holy communion at Mass even though their behavior places them outside of the full communion of the Church until they repent and receive absolution.
The Letter reports that Bishop Joseph F. Martino is “determined to prevent scandal,” which would be caused if the organizations “in any way” should “honor pro-abortion officials” and “the Catholic Church is seen to be involved in this honoring.”
The letter further states: “Bishop Martino has already publicly disclosed that, in accord with the law of the Catholic Church, elected officials who vote so as to further the killing of the unborn are to be denied Holy Communion if they present themselves for the Sacrament in the Diocese of Scranton.” He goes on to tell the leadership of the event “that if the prevention of scandal requires it, he may take the further step of closing St. Peter’s cathedral or any catholic Church in the Diocese for Masses which are in any way associated with the St. Patrick’s Day celebration and which include the honoring of pro-abortion elected officials.” Well, to use a popular acclamation “You go Bishop!”
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
~~PING!
I am so proud That Bishop Martino... Thank You being an Irish Catholic I wish Cardinal rigali Practiced the same..
I am so proud of Bishop Martino. He is a hero. I am a Baptist, and I am ashamed of the silence emanating from the Protestant church leaders about abortion, gay marriage and homosexuality in general. The silence is absolutely deafening, and it is time for all Christian churches to cease fearfully standing by and depending on the Catholic church to carry the water against these vital attacks against our religious tenets.
My prayers are with Bishop Martino.
I am so proud That Bishop Martino... Thank You being an Irish Catholic I wish Cardinal rigali Practiced the same..
My prayers are with the courageous Bishop Martino.
If you’re from PA write a letter to the editor, and call local talk shows, to let pro-lifers know that Casey is NOT pro-life. He voted for our tax dollars to go around the world to pay for abortions.
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