Posted on 08/11/2011 3:32:13 PM PDT by NYer
FARGO, North Dakota, August 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Church should seek the conversion of pro-abortion politicians, but if they remain obstinate they should be expelled from the Church, says Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo.
The Bishop proposed in an interview with Catholic World Report this week that Bishops should take their cue from the Gospel of Matthew in handling pro-abortion politicians.
“Our Lord tells us to speak to the person, and then take two or three others with us if he does not change,” he said. “If he still does not change, the Church can speak to him, which is done through the bishop. [The bishop] exercises the authority of Christ. Christ then says that if that person is still obstinate and will not change, treat them as a tax collector or Gentile. Expel him.’”
The Bishop continued: “Catholics are called to defend human life, particularly that of the unborn. The Church’s teaching is clear. If we don’t challenge public officials who reject this teaching, we leave them in their sins and confuse the faithful.”
Aquila, who has been the spiritual head of the diocese of Fargo in North Dakota for ten years, is well known for his support for the pro-life cause.
His active support for the 40 Days for Life campaign in Fargo included sending a letter to the priests of the diocese asking them to sign up for an hour of prayer outside an abortion clinic. He has also personally led prayer vigils outside Fargo’s only abortuary.
The Bishop told Catholic World Report that his commitment to pro-life advocacy began in the 1970s, when he got a glimpse of the devastating aftermath of an abortion as an orderly in an emergency room in Colorado.
“A woman who had had an incomplete abortion was brought in. Those of us working in the emergency room were pro-life and had had nothing to do with the abortion, but were trying to help the woman afterward,” he said.
“It was there I first saw the remains of an unborn child, about three and a half months along. It really impacted me. It was impressed in my mind and my heart and that this was a human life. It had now been forever destroyed. Ever since then I’ve been outspoken on human-life issues, and tried to help people to understand the dignity of human life.”
Aquila also told the news service that clergy should be outspoken in defending the Church’s teaching in other areas, as well, particularly regarding the sanctity of marriage.
“The Church has been clear that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, and we need to continue to speak clearly to society on the truth, dignity, and meaning of marriage,” he said.
Ping!
It’s about time.
Excellent, excellent. Please God that all the bishops would show such backbone.
I find it interesting that most of the pro-abort politicians who claim to be Catholic are also for stealing money by raising taxes and actually practice paganism.
Outstanding!
Just the sort of captain that the Albany (NY) diocese needs to replace (the abysmally failed) Archbishop Hubbard.
Biden, the Kennedys, Pelosi, Sebelius, Kerry....
what a sordid lot.
Well said. The shame is that some will pretend that this is controversial, due to the wafflers of these last forty years, although he is saying Church teaching, nothing controversial at all. Although I wish this had happened sooner I am glad to read this, and wish it would occur more often.
Ummm...O.K., Has he attempted to expel anyone yet?
I want more conservative red meat in American Catholicism, I hope this Bishop prevails.
Don’t know. Are there any pro-abort Catholics in his diocese?
The Fargo diocese is either at or near the top among American dioceses in terms of priestly vocations per capita. Not a surprise, with a bishop like Bp. Aquila. (Hmmm ... “Aquila” is “eagle” in Latin, isn’t it?)
We need to pray long and hard for our future bishop. It will take decades to turn this diocese around. The same is true up in Rochester, where Clark will also be retiring next year.
Amen and FINALLY!!!!! Expell them ALL!
Sadly, Archbishop Chaput has indicated that it is the responsibility of the communicant to stay away from the Communion Rail. This is not correct. Rather, it is the responsibility of the Minister of the Eucharist to deny Holy Communion. This is a huge difference that goes against the Church's teachings regarding canon 915 as well as recent statements from the Vatican stating that the manifest pro-abortion politicians must be denied, and the burden IS upon the Minister to deny, NOT upon the communicant to stay away
. -- from the thread Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?
"...there's a question about whether this canon'' – the relevant church law – "was ever intended to be used'' to bring politicians to heel. He thinks not. "I stand with the great majority of American bishops and bishops around the world in saying this canon was never intended to be used this way.'' -- from the thread [Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion
Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard says it is "unfair and imprudent" to conclude that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his girlfriend, Sandra Lee, shouldn't receive Communion simply because they're living together. -- from the thread Bishop: None of your business (Hubbard rejects Catholic expert's criticism of Gov. Cuomo)
[Archbishop Timothy Dolan] also does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is seen as an outspoken defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives.
-- from the thread US bishops elect NYC archbishop as head in upset (Catholic bloggers blamed)
"An archbishop who says nothing about these sacrilegious Communions is teaching his diocese that being pro-abortion is not sinful. By flouting Canon 915, he is also teaching his diocese that obedience to Canon Law is optional."Related threads:
-- FReeper Arthur McGowan, September 17, 2009
Chaput is a self-confessed member of the "tax collector" party
Former member. Try and remember the 8th Commandment, gomer and while you ponder that, post your proof that Chaput is still a registered Democrat.
As was Ronald Reagan. I'll also bet that Gomer wasn't always a member of his crack-pot sect either.
I don’t think that the bishop gets many pats on the back at the USCCB. More typical are the likes of the former cardinal archbishops and Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
Chaput is not popular at the USCCB either, but now that he has moved up, I am sure the panderers will be more friendly.
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