Skip to comments.
Bishop Vasa: Pro-Abortion Candidates are 'Disqualified'
Catholic Online ^
| 9/13/08
| John-Henry Westen
Posted on 09/13/2008 5:52:34 AM PDT by tcg
During the opening day of the Catholic Leadership Conference, Baker Oregon Bishop Robert Vasa clarified the teaching of the US Bishops Conference regarding voting in favor of pro-abortion politicians. The question of whether Catholics may remain in good standing with the Church while voting for pro-abortion politicians was raised.
Bishop Vasa responded referencing the document of the United States Catholic Conference titled "Faithful Citizenship", noting a pro-abortion stance disqualifies candidates from consideration by faithful Catholics.
LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Bishop Vasa after the session. Describing the deliberation among US bishops over the "Faithful Citizenship" document, he said: "When we were working on the document 'Faithful Citizenship', and the issue of whether or not a person's adamant pro-abortion position was a disqualifying condition, the general sense was 'yes that is a disqualifying condition'."
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; bishop; catholic; politicians; proabortion
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-33 next last
"Abortion needs to be in our country a defining issue and we ought not be afraid to make it a defining issue because when we do that we will have an end of abortion in this country."
1
posted on
09/13/2008 5:52:34 AM PDT
by
tcg
To: tcg
All this talk is nice and all, but until the US Catholic Church starts excommunicating pro-abortion politicians, it means very little.
2
posted on
09/13/2008 5:57:12 AM PDT
by
pnh102
(Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
To: tcg
Thank you Nancy Pelosi!The U.S. Bishops are showing real leadership.Unlike President Clinton,Obama(the most anti-life candidate of all time)will not get a majority of the Catholic vote.
3
posted on
09/13/2008 6:02:32 AM PDT
by
ardara
To: pnh102
Any Catholic who support abortion is automatically excommunicated. It is considered a GRAVE sin.
4
posted on
09/13/2008 6:06:40 AM PDT
by
SumProVita
("Cogito ergo sum pro vita." .....updated Descartes)
To: pnh102
Dear pnh102,
“All this talk is nice and all, but until the US Catholic Church starts excommunicating pro-abortion politicians, it means very little.”
I think I disagree with your view, here.
While I'd love to see the bishops excommunicate the whole damned bunch of pro-abort “Catholic” politicians, Democrat and Republican alike, I'm probably not very representative of Catholic laypeople in the United States.
We'll have to see where the bishops take things. We'll have to see what happens after Ms. Pelosi meets formally with the Archbishop of San Francisco, for the formal reason of receiving instruction and correction from her bishop.
We'll have to see what Bishop Malooly of Wilmington, DE does with Mr. Biden.
If, before the election, these bishops make clear that these members of their flock hold views and take political positions, with full knowledge and obstinately, that are in conflict with the Church's teaching on life, and furthermore, provide for some formal sanctions against them, no matter how mild, it will cause a modest political earthquake. If, for instance, their bishops publicly ask that these two to refrain from receiving the Blessed Sacrament until they publicly repent of their heretical views and political positions - even without formally barring them from same - these two will be entirely disgraced among serious Catholics.
If the other bishops continue to make supportive comments, as has Bishop Vasa here, as has Cardinal Egan of New York, as has Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, then the Church will have taken on the two most high-profile “Catholic” pro-aborts in the United States.
The impact will be stunning, even though the actions by the bishops will be well short of excommunication.
sitetest
5
posted on
09/13/2008 6:07:46 AM PDT
by
sitetest
(If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
To: sitetest
Well said the Bishops have made a 180 degree turn in the correct direction since 2008.
6
posted on
09/13/2008 6:12:37 AM PDT
by
ardara
To: ardara
7
posted on
09/13/2008 6:14:05 AM PDT
by
ardara
To: pnh102
A group called call to action was officially excommunicated and yet many still attend church. Those who vote for abortion have already unofficially excommunicated themselves. That is how it works.
8
posted on
09/13/2008 6:19:24 AM PDT
by
badpacifist
(Personal attacks on someones opinion of a "news article" you happened to post is asinine..)
To: ardara
Nancy Pelosi kicked over the hornet’s nest with her FALSE STATEMENT about Catholic teaching......the Bishops have no choice now.....they did NOT want to get involved in politics per se, but she backed them into a corner.
9
posted on
09/13/2008 6:21:47 AM PDT
by
Ann Archy
(Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
To: badpacifist
already unofficially excommunicated themselves. Make no mistake, a latae sententiae excommunication is "official".
To: badpacifist
Dear badpacifist,
“Those who vote for abortion have already unofficially excommunicated themselves. That is how it works.”
That is a theological speculation. You will be hard-pressed to prove it definitively from Canon Law, the Catechism, or other binding teaching.
In the Church's application of law, benefits are applied broadly and penalties applied narrowly. Thus, all those who knowingly, purposefully, and directly aid in the procurement of a specific completed abortion are excommunicated latae sententiae (automatically). However, it's a stretch to say that a politician who supports legalized abortion on demand is directly aiding in any specific completed abortion.
This is especially true in light of the fact that the application of excommunications latae sententiae must be made through a narrow interpretation of the law, rather than a broad one.
Now, one could otherwise argue that these politicians are excommunicated for heresy. Heretics are also excommunicated latae sententiae. However, one would need to surmount two hurdles to make that case. The first is that one would need to show that being a pro-abort politician is heresy. I think, personally, that that is the case, but my theological opinion + a buck or two will get you a cup of coffee. I'm unaware of any formal, official pronouncement by the Church on that topic.
But assuming that being a pro-abort politician is heresy, the next hurdle is that one must be a formal heretic to be excommunicated latae sententiae. Being a material heretic (unknowingly, unwittingly, or without obstinance, holding views that are heretical) doesn't get you excommunicated. Otherwise, everyone who had forgotten the particulars of the doctrine of transubstantiation from their catechism 40 years ago, and mistakenly mixed up some of the particulars with the heresy of consubstantiation would be excommunicated from the Church.
That means, pretty much, that some competent ecclesiastical authority would have to make the judgment that someone holds heretical views, knowingly holds them, understands the nature of their heresy and understands the true teaching of the Church, and holds their views obstinately, that is, in the face of direct correction by competent ecclesiastical authority.
Ms. Pelosi could wind up in this situation, as her bishop has summoned her to be instructed and corrected. If she refuses the doctrinal correction of her bishop, it would be difficult to justify failing to pronounce her a formal heretic.
But it's a more problematic thing to say that pro-abort “Catholic” politicians are excommunicated latae sententiae merely by virtue of their political position on the subject.
They are, however, whether excommunicated or not, very bad Catholics. And the bishops have already said generally, pro-abort Catholic politicians should not receive the Blessed Sacrament. What remains is for the bishops to grow a backbone and name specific pro-abort Catholic politicians and ask them not to come to Holy Communion.
sitetest
11
posted on
09/13/2008 7:16:18 AM PDT
by
sitetest
(If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
To: ardara
12
posted on
09/13/2008 7:16:57 AM PDT
by
sitetest
(If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
To: SumProVita
>>Any Catholic who support abortion is automatically excommunicated. It is considered a GRAVE sin.
Enough with the automatic! The bishops need to stand in the church door and publicly tell them they cannot enter.
These politicians want the Catholic vote without adhering to Church doctrine. All well and good, but they crossed the line - into the bishops’ territory - when they presumed to be theologians.
13
posted on
09/13/2008 7:51:13 AM PDT
by
NTHockey
(Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners.)
To: sitetest
...
I'm probably not very representative of Catholic laypeople in the United States. But that's just it! You just nailed it.
It doesn't matter if your views are representative of laypeople or not. The tail has been wagging the dog far, far too long on the issue. If we cannot trust our Bishops to take a truly meaningful stand in support of church teaching--and by meaningful, I mean significantly more than some harsh public outcry--absolutely nothing will change vis-a-vis heretically pro-abortion pols. Nothing will change!
14
posted on
09/13/2008 8:20:41 AM PDT
by
grellis
(SISTERHOOD OF SARAH God. Guns. Hockey.)
To: grellis
Dear grellis,
I think that it would be ground-moving if the bishops merely mentioned by name various Catholic politicians who should refrain from approaching to receive the Blessed Sacrament. Even if the bishops left the final decision to the individual politicians, I think that it would move the political geography tectonically if, for instance, the Archbishop of San Francisco, after meeting with Ms. Pelosi, were to issue this statement:
“I have met with Ms. Pelosi. While I respect her right to form her own conscience and make her own decisions, and I respect her intellect and capabilities, especially as a political leader, sadly, her obstinately-held beliefs about abortion and other right-to-life issues are not congruent with binding Catholic teaching.
As a result, her communion with the Catholic Church is badly impaired. She is objectively in a state of mortal sin, and she is objectively and obstinately holding to heresy.
“Therefore, for the sake of her soul and to avoid scandal to the flock of the Church of San Francisco, I have instructed her to refrain from receiving the Blessed Sacrament until she can be publicly reconciled with the Catholic Church.
“Obviously, I cannot prevent her from approaching for Holy Communion, and I do not want ministers of Holy Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco to make a scene should she present herself for the Blessed Sacrament, but should she receive, it will be unworthily, and her crime of sacrilege will be on her head and no one else's.”
Mind you, this wouldn't be what I'd do. If I were the archbishop, after meeting with her, if she didn't publicly repent her position, I'd announce that she is a formal heretic, and ask the pope to confirm the ultimate verdict of heresy, with the resulting excommunication reserved to the Holy See. And then invite all the other pro-abort Catholic politicians in San Francisco for their own little personal “talks.”
But that ain't gonna happen.
But if the Archbishop of San Francisco merely made the announcement I suggested above, followed by the Bishop of Wilmington doing likewise to Mr. Biden, and other bishops picking out one or two pro-aborts in their own dioceses to so discipline, I think that the effects would significantly change the spiritual condition of the Church in the United States dramatically for the better, and it would also improve our politics.
sitetest
15
posted on
09/13/2008 9:44:59 AM PDT
by
sitetest
(If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
To: pnh102
Pelosi, Biden, et al have excommunicated themselves by supporting abortion.
16
posted on
09/13/2008 10:29:06 AM PDT
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: ardara
Yes, thanks to Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden we have these bishops speaking out on the matter of life vs. abortion.
Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi
Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:
-
-
... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
-
-
-
... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
-
-
-
Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
-
-
-
... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cardinal
Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops,
has weighed-in
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
{Last updated on September 10th.}
Notes:
-
Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
-
Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
-
#26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th
17
posted on
09/13/2008 10:30:18 AM PDT
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: sitetest; All
18
posted on
09/13/2008 10:31:28 AM PDT
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: tcg
19
posted on
09/13/2008 10:32:14 AM PDT
by
narses
(...the spirit of Trent is abroad once more.)
To: pnh102
20
posted on
09/13/2008 10:32:24 AM PDT
by
narses
(...the spirit of Trent is abroad once more.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-33 next last
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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson