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/
When the pope was monarch of the larger Papal States until the 1850s, the popes regularly carried out the death penalty for the same sorts of civil crimes as most governments. John Paul II is simply not personally favorable to the death penalty. It is NOT a matter of dogma any more than is Vatican foreign policy.
By the standards you seem to apply, most churches would be "anti-American." I personally believe that the war in Iraq was just and moral. No Catholic is required to believe otherwise.
so if a know satanist comes in wearing a "Praise Satan" T-shirt you'd have to sevre him communion?
(Typo in tribute to Brett Favre)
We had a couple come to our protestant church a while back. They sat there reading their satanic bibles and getting really really uncomfortable. I guess they wanted to disrupt the service but God had other plans for them. I don't remember if they came back and got saved but I know a lot of seed was planted that day.
Bummer on not being able to follow your conscience while serving
It's not a matter of "following his conscience." The disposition of another's soul is not yours or mine to judge, or their worthiness to receive the Eucharist.
Burke's stance has more to do with the scandal that is created by politicians taking positions publicly that contradict Church teaching.
There are likely lots of Catholics who are, wrongly, pro-choice, but they keep their mouths shut, so nobody knows.
Actually 1 Cor 5:1-5 (among others) gives authority to disfellowship someone over 'extreme' sin. Being an unrepentant baby killer falls into extreme sin in my book.
In the Catholic Church, the pastor or the bishop, the heads of the community, make that decision. Not laymen.
------------------------------------
Why should it? The LORD GOD Himself not only allows the death penalty, He DEMANDS it! Christians and Jews should SUPPORT the death penalty.
Genesis 9:6--Whoever sheds the blood of man, BY MAN shall his blood be shed..."
And have you ever noticed that Jesus was COMPLETELY SILENT about the death penalty being carried out on the two THIEVES (i.e. NOT even murderers) who died on the cross on either side of Him? There was not even one peep out of Jesus regarding any so-called inhumanity of crucifying murderers, much less mere THIEVES.
If there was ever a time for Jesus to speak out on the subject of the death penalty, surely, THAT was the time to do so.
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
DOCTRINAL NOTE
on some questions regarding
The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
An Old Testament, Litany of Life
Canon Law and Abortion
Sign Petition:
The Gospel of Life--Evangelium Vitae
Herod's Heroes
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.