Posted on 01/23/2003 9:52:18 AM PST by gubamyster
'Oppose it or stop taking Holy Communion,' governor told
Posted: January 23, 2003 12:15 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand, leader of 500,000 Catholics in Northern California, challenged Gov. Gray Davis yesterday to prove he's not a hypocrite on the issue of abortion.
The Sacramento Bee reports Weigand called on the governor to either renounce his support of abortion rights or stop taking Holy Communion, one of the most sacred rites in the Catholic faith.
Weigand threw down the gauntlet before congregants assembled for morning Mass on the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that amounted to the legalization of abortion.
"As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone – politician or otherwise – who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the church," Weigand said. "Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart."
The Bee reports the governor is an active Catholic who attends Mass in Southern California with his wife, Sharon. The Davises were originally married in a civil ceremony but got remarried in the Catholic Church for their 15th wedding anniversary. The ceremony allowed Davis to resume taking communion.
Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, during the Mass. Last month Kavanagh refused to allow Davis to deliver gifts to St. Patrick's Orphanage unless he renounce his abortion-rights views.
"I'm unapologetically pro-choice and I'm not changing my position," the governor responded, according to The Bee.
"Ever since the little incident last month, people have been asking questions," Weigand told congregants in reference to the Kavanagh showdown. "They asked "how can a Catholic be in good standing and still hold that point of view? I'm saying you can't be a Catholic in good standing and hold that point of view. The governor's position is very public and contrary. ... You can't have it both ways," he said.
The bishop was also taking a cue from the pope. Last week, the Vatican released a new set of guidelines approved by Pope John Paul II for Catholic politicians. The document said that church opposition to abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage was not up for negotiation. It urged lawmakers, when voting on legislation, to stay in line with the church's "nonnegotiable ethical principles."
The pope reaffirmed to Roman Catholic politicians that when they take positions opposing "the basic right to life from conception to natural death" they are outside the doctrine of faith.
As WorldNetDaily reported, the doctrine lacks enforcement; politicians who take heretical positions aren't penalized and, more often, are supported by Catholic leaders.
Specifically, the Catholic vote is viewed to have helped incumbent Davis eek out a win over his Catholic, pro-life opponent Bill Simon in last year's election.
One pro-life group seeks to hold Catholic politicians' feet to the fire. As WorldNetDaily reported, as part of its Crusade to Defend Our Catholic Church, the American Life League launched a new campaign yesterday to put pressure on what it calls "The Deadly Dozen" – 12 U.S. senators who are both Catholic and support legalized abortion. Among the 12 are Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and John Kerry, D-Mass., a Democratic candidate for president. In a statement, the organization said the dozen senators are "claiming to be faithful Catholics."
"For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has steadfastly defended the sanctity of all human life," said American Life League president Judie Brown. "The simple fact is you cannot actively support abortion and be a faithful Catholic. You can't have it both ways. The Church's teachings on this matter are very clear."
The Associated Press reports that Kerry has rejected the Vatican's new guidelines.
Governor Davis is reportedly not backing down either. Spokesman Russ Lopez deflected the challenge from the bishop and criticized Weigand for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith." He then predicted Weigand's comments would alienate California Catholics.
"There are a lot of Catholics who are pro-choice. Does the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving Holy Communion?" he asked. "Who's going to be left in church?"
Lopez also told The Bee the governor was proud of the legislation he signed giving women the right to choose. Other legislation touted include measures that require HMOs to cover Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception and that crack down on violent protesters at abortion clinics.
Davis' office issued a press release yesterday boasting that California was "the most pro-choice state in America."
The governor also marked the anniversary by issuing a proclamation at a Planned Parenthood event in Los Angeles.
"During my entire career in public service, I've supported a woman's reproductive freedom. When it comes to a woman's right to choose, as long as I'm governor, California will not concede one inch," he declared.
Duuuuhhh. It's, like, the first line in the job description. For years, now, too many of them (in the USA, at least) have been neglecting that part of their job. Now one of them starts to do it, and the babykillers start whining about it.
Hey Lopez!! Put a sock in it!!
I respect that. It's darned well about time.
But here's the problem:
As WorldNetDaily reported, the doctrine lacks enforcement; politicians who take heretical positions aren't penalized and, more often, are supported by Catholic leaders. Specifically, the Catholic vote is viewed to have helped incumbent Davis eek out a win over his Catholic, pro-life opponent Bill Simon in last year's election.
If you're pro-abort, you're already clearly NOT a person of good conscience. The RCC will have to impose this on those people, and not wait for their voluntary compliance. They will have to pay a price.
Dan
What's wrong is right and what's right is wrong.
He obviously misses the point ... the governor is a public figure whose words and actions carry meaning. As a catholic, he should stand up for faith based values.
I'm neither Catholic nor a genius, but I"ll take a stab at this one: the ones left will be the truly faithful.
It's about time some bishops started getting some spine!
Russ Lopez is a deceitful little creep. Notice how he slithers from "A lot of Catholics are pro-choice" to "all Catholics to stop receiving"?
The pope's letter has started something big. An earthquake may soon rumble through the ranks of bishops. We will know them by their silence.
Governor Davis is reportedly not backing down either. Spokesman Russ Lopez deflected the challenge from the bishop and criticized Weigand for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith." He then predicted Weigand's comments would alienate California Catholics.
Since when does any Catholic, even an elected Senator, have the right to reject a teaching of the church?
Also, these guidelines aren't "NEW", they are simply being reiterated.
And Davis' spokesman! Criticizing the Bishop for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith". Isn't that the role of ANY church or religion? It is not up to us to decide, based on our ill-formed conscience, what is right and wrong -- there are things that ARE right and wrong, and as Catholics we are obligated to adhere to the teachings of the church or stop calling ourselves Catholic. This isn't an "anything goes as long as you think it's right" religion, or a religion of personal interpretation!
This Lopez (and Davis) are right in line with the New Age movement -- if it feels good, it must be right.
I attending the pro-life Mass with Bishop Weigand. He was right on. And he was faithful not only to the church, but to the sheep. He asked that we all pray, right then, for the soul of Governor Davis and that he have a change of heart.
God is forgiving, He will welcome anyone back into the fold, prodigal son or lost sheep.
It IS up to Gray Davis to do this. Catholics who receive Communion in a state of grave or mortal sin are guilty of blasphemy. Every time Davis receives Communion, he is sinning. However, there is a caveat -- if someone doesn't KNOW they have committed a sin and receive Communion, they have not committed another sin.
With Bishop Weigand's fortright comments, and the Pope's letter outlining in no uncertain terms the duties and obligations of the faithful regarding Life issues, no one in public office can claim they do not know they are sinning through their beliefs and support of abortion.
I know, I know, they all DO know they are against Church teaching, but now it is EXPLICIT and directed specifically TO THEM, and receiving communion when they KNOW they are in grave sin is even worse.
Pray for them, pray for their change of heart, pray for their souls.
No doubt the bishop was encouraged to speak out by this VATICAN DOCUMENT ON CATHOLICS IN POLITICAL LIFE
He should have spoken out sooner, but whatever it takes.
I dunno. The real ones? Duh!
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