Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion

Catholic News Service ^ | July 31, 2003

[NYer]

BOSTON (CNS) -- Boston Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has stated that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion should not receive Communion of their own volition, but the church does not deny Communion to people approaching the altar, presuming they do so in "good faith." The Boston Archdiocese issued a July 29 statement outlining the new archbishop's position in response to a Boston Globe article. A July 27 Globe article discussed a 1992 controversy involving a Catholic politician who backed legal abortion when Archbishop O'Malley headed the Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

[sinkspur]

We need a few more folks like Bishop Bruskewitz, who excommunicates first, and asks questions later.

Perhaps. But you'll notice that Bruskewitz is stuck like a bug on flypaper in Lincoln. His particular style won't play in a larger see, much like Myers in Newark, who ran into a buzz saw shortly after he arrived.

You know the honey-vinegar bit? Honey works. McCarrick is proof.

[Land of the Irish]

In the sacristy.

I need verification other than yours. You're the one thinking John Kerrey is running for president.

[sinkspur]

Then we can talk about Peter,the future first Pope, denying Christ three times and why he was given Holy Communion.

As I said, we have miles to go before we understand the Mind and Heart of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we should love greatly, and condemn lightly.

[sitetest]

Dear sinskpur,

"But you'll notice that Bruskewitz is stuck like a bug on flypaper in Lincoln."

He is in Lincoln for now. I'd be unsurprised if that changed eventually.

"His particular style won't play in a larger see, much like Myers in Newark, who ran into a buzz saw shortly after he arrived."

LOL. You think that because Archbishop Myers took some hits from the local heretics at the Newark Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful, he ran into a buzz saw?? Hahahaha. Archbishop Myers will adjust and succeed. As will Bishop Bruskewitz when he is given his next See.

"You know the honey-vinegar bit? Honey works. McCarrick is proof."

Ah, you owe me a quarter. Royalties. I already used that cliché in this thread.

I believe Cardinal McCarrick is a good prelate. But as I have said more than once in this thread, each man his has his own gifts, and we need them all. Not everyone is a top-tier schmoozer and politician like Cardinal McCarrick (who, by the way, seems rather serious about vocations).

We need folks like the Bishop O'Malley who called pro-aborts "KKK without the sheets", like the late Archbishop Rummel, who excommunicated the anti-Catholic perps, like Bishop Bruskewitz, who literally excommunicated every person in his See who was formally tied to and endorsing of legal abortion.

Not everyone ought to be a Cardinal McCarrick, God forbid it. Each one has his gifts. We need them all.


sitetest

[Land of the Irish]

Perhaps we should love greatly, and condemn lightly.

Pax

[Ryan Bailey]

I cannot agree enough with the Archbishop in this particular instance. His solidarity and commitment to our universal Christian faith is to be commended. The overwhelming majority of Roman Catholics are opposed to abortiaon, a.k.a. murder, and how certain liberal democrats have remained in communion with the pontiff is beyond the span of human knowledge. Why would a senator like the Hon. Edw. M. Kennedy, of Massachussetts be received by a faith system that is diametrically opposed to every fiber of his drunken being. It is my sincere hope that both this archbishop and his master in the triple-tiara will finally wise up and begin to clean house within the decrepit ranks of their subjects in this country.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>vestigial Catholic<<

Good, descriptive term. I'll add it to my list.

[NYer]

The first priority is for Archbishop O'Malley to make the Archdiocese of Boston a functioning Catholic diocese, again. His first priority is to make it function, and to make it function as a CATHOLIC diocese. The lawsuits are only part of that.

In no way am I defending Kennedy or Kerry. I simply pointed out that on the day of his installment as Archbishop, O'Malley was stepping into a tinderbox. As sinkspur pointed out, O'Malley is not know for his fire and brimstone. His honest humility and forthright sincerity are the personal qualities that draw people to him. At Easter this year, 500 candidates were welcomed into the church in his Palm Beach diocese. The number was so high that they held two services to accomodate everyone.

O'Malley served fair warning prior to the Installation mass. Kennedy understood and respectfully left the cathedral. Kerry drew attention to himself, by remaining AND receiving communion. Give O'Malley a chance to address the issue with these two politicians at a time and in a manner of his choosing.

As for priorities, I repeat, on his first full day as archbishop, O'Malley appointed Boston attorney Thomas Hannigan as lead counsel for the archdiocese in handling the sex abuse claims. Hannigan is the attorney who helped O’Malley settle abuse cases in the Rev. James Porter cases in 1992 and 1993. By naming Hannigan as lead counsel, O’Malley drew praise from alleged victims of clergy sex abuse and their lawyers, who have long complained that lawyers in the Rogers firm used hardball tactics to try to settle the lawsuits.

While generally praising O’Malley for the work he’s done in other clergy sex abuse cases, lawyers for alleged victims said they may file a contempt lawsuit against the archdiocese to force it to turn over the records of additional priests accused of sexually abusing children.

O’Malley also announced church personnel changes, including the promotion of temporary administrator Bishop Richard Lennon to the No. 2 position in the archdiocese. O’Malley named Lennon -- who acted as interim leader of the archdiocese after Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as archbishop in December -- as vicar general and moderator of the curia, the second-highest position in the archdiocese.

Still care to light the match?

[sitetest]

Dear NYer,

"Still care to light the match?"

This is a tendentious interpretation of what I've said. I don't care to discuss it further if you wish to mischaracterize what I've written. I do not wish to "light a match", or "draw blood", or any other negative, hostile, misrepresentative, inaccurate, or tendentious metaphor you wish to use.

It isn't "lighting a match" to tell folks privately that they must not approach the Blessed Sacrament anymore. It isn't "lighting a match" to enforce that order. It is not "lighting a match" to preach against abortion in a Catholic church, and call ALL Catholics to faitfulness on this point.

Your comments verge on insults, NYer. I don't care to continue the conversation with you. Find someone else to impugn.


sitetest

[NYer]

I cannot agree enough with the Archbishop in this particular instance. His solidarity and commitment to our universal Christian faith is to be commended.

Welcome to Free Republic, Mr. Bailey. Thank you for lending your support to Archbishop "Sean". I look forward to your exchange of views in the Religion Forum.

NYer

[NYer]

I suggest you view Mel Gibson's movie, when it comes out, since you're apparently too lazy to read the New Testament. Then we can talk about Peter,the future first Pope, denying Christ three times and why he was given Holy Communion.

1825 Christ died out of love for us, while we were still "enemies."[100] The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.[101] The Apostle Paul has given an incomparable depiction of charity: "charity is patient and kind, charity is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Charity does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Charity bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."[102]

1826 "If I . . . have not charity," says the Apostle, "I am nothing." Whatever my privilege, service, or even virtue, "if I . . . have not charity, I gain nothing."[103] Charity is superior to all the virtues. It is the first of the theological virtues: "So faith, hope, charity abide, these three. But the greatest of these is charity."[104]
Catechism of the Catholic Church

It's a good book! Perhaps you should read it.

[Aliska]

He never received Holy Communion again.

I tried to look it up in all four gospels online, and if there is clarity on whether or not Judas actually received, I would like to know. He may have left beforehand.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Land of the Irish]

The 5th Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

Abortion is murder.

People living in a state of mortal sin are not entitled to the Sacraments.

Which of the above tenets of the Catholic faith do you not understand?

[Land of the Irish]

People living in a state of mortal sin are not entitled to the Sacraments, execpt for the Sacrament of Confession.

[St.Chuck]

Your posts are like an oasis in the desert. Thanks, so very much, for your participation.

[St.Chuck]

The 5th Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

For consistency's sake, then I hope you are also calling for the church to act against politicians who support the death penalty.

[Land of the Irish]

Your posts are like an oasis in the desert. Thanks, so very much, for your participation.

Oh. So you, also, have no problem with giving Holy Communion to those openly and flagrantly living in state of mortal sin.

Why am I not surprised?

[St.Chuck]

Oh. So you, also, have no problem with giving Holy Communion to those openly and flagrantly living in state of mortal sin.

My problem is more with those who receive communion, openly, and flagrantly, than those who offer it.

Why am I not surprised?

Because, you've obviously become accustomed to my recognition and support of prudence when applied by the Church heirarchy. Sorry, but Archbishop O'Malley's installation mass was not the time or place to promote controversy, not that the issue is controversial to well-informed, faithful Catholics, but controversial nonetheless to the run-of-the mill Catholic, who's conscience has evolved seperately from the mind of the Church.

[Land of the Irish]

not that the issue is controversial to well-informed, faithful Catholics, but controversial nonetheless to the run-of-the mill Catholic, who's conscience has evolved seperately from the mind of the Church.

It's very controversial to "well-informed, faithful Catholics". It's also very misleading and confusing to the "run-of-the mill Catholic, who's conscience has evolved seperately from the mind of the Church"; Kerry's an example.

The archbishop should not tacitly let these poor souls continue their ways, with no discipline.

Receiving Holy Communion, while in a state of mortal sin, incurs another mortal sin. It's the archbishop's duty to help these souls get to Heaven; not to turn a blind eye as they continue down the path towards eternal damnation.

That is a bishop's duty: to be a good shepherd; to find that lost sheep and bring it back to the flock.