Posted on 01/08/2004 1:07:41 PM PST by areafiftyone
To: National Desk
Contact: Erik Whittington of American Life League, 540-226-9004 or ewhittington@all.org
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Calling it "a historic step forward in dealing with the problem of pro-abortion Catholic political figures," American Life League president Judie Brown expressed her gratitude to Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, Wis., for "using the authority of his office to deal with a grave public scandal. By issuing a formal decree barring pro-abortion Catholic politicians from receiving Holy Communion, Bishop Burke is not only enforcing Church law but is courageously stepping forward in defense of innocent human beings." Bishop Burke will be installed later this month as the new archbishop of St. Louis. For the past year, American Life League has been pointing out that Catholic bishops have the authority under Canon Law to take the precise action Bishop Burke has taken. "We have diligently brought to the attention of America's bishops the pro-abortion public comments of Catholic elected officials in each of their dioceses, and the Church's remedy for this disparity," said Brown. "As Bishop Burke states in his notification, 'A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion or euthanasia, after knowing the teaching of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin which is a cause of most serious scandal for others.' This is why American Life League has published, and will continue to publish, the names of public officials who claim the Catholic faith yet ignore the Church's clear teachings on the sanctity of human life."
The Vatican (news - web sites) reinforced those teachings a year ago when it issued a "Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life." "Since our effort began last year," said Brown, "American Life League has identified more than 500 state and federal officeholders who claim to be Catholic while making public pronouncements on abortion that are contrary to Church teachings. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently established a task force to take action on this serious problem. We will continue to encourage the task force - and all American bishops - to defend the truth and send a loud, clear message to all Catholic public officials: You cannot be pro-abortion and Catholic." ------
American Life League is the nation's largest pro-life educational organization with more than 375,000 supporting families.
http://www.usnewswire.com/
How much authority does the Bishop have over an order priest? Can he suspend faculties?
The only thing left for him to do in a Catholic church that is NOT insincere, is to be the guest of honor at his own requiem mass.
Refuse to do it. Have a copy of the applicable sections of canonm law and papal pronouncemnetrs handy if someone objects. Seems to me that the pope summarily excommunicated the whole raft of the abortion types. (I'm not Catholic and don't know for sure but it seems that someone who violates life can't be a Catholic anyway)
Get tough with them. Never mind this luke warm approach. If know the teaching of the Church, and you hold views contrary to the teaching of the Church, you are by definition a heretic, You don't belong in the church. Throw them out. - Tom
Correct---but they can pretend.
Anything the gets Teddy exited sounds like a good thing to me :)
Her work is helping make things like this happen.
Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Also see related: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1054215/posts
There is no " ex cathedra" dogma of the Catholic church that the death penalty is wrong.
Liberal Catholic heirarchy like present group are entitled to their personal opinions on policy.
If the present Pope doesn't like the death penalty that's his opinion. Until it is made a dogma by an official pronouncement a Catholic can tell him to go take a hike.
But if this anti American Pope makes it official "ex cathedra" a matter of faith and morals taught to the whole church,then if you are still in favor of the death penalty you should be thrown out of the Church.
Not likely to happen since the Catholic church has gone along with the death penalty for centuries suported it and I believe at times had some heretics executed. -Tom
The Pope is infallable in matters of faith and morals only when he speaks to the whole church, ex cathedra (out of the chair.)
If the Pope tells all Catholics not to vote for Bush because he is a war monger; that is not a matter of faith and morals and a Catholics may very well tell the Pope to butt out of America's business.
But the Churches official teaching on abortion is it is wrong in every case. So if a Catholic disagrees he is a heretic. - tom
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