Bishop challenges Davis on abortion

WND ^ | January 23, 2003 | Unknown

[Cultural Jihad]

Bishop William Weigand

Bishop challenges Davis on abortion

Oppose it or stop taking Holy Communion, Weigand says.

By Pamela Martineau, Jennifer Garza and Christina Jewett -- Bee Staff Writers
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Thursday, January 23, 2003

Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand, leader of 500,000 Catholics in Northern California, called on Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday to renounce his support of abortion rights or stop taking Holy Communion.

Speaking at a morning Mass on the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, Weigand told congregants at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament that Davis should refrain from taking communion while he continues to support abortion rights.

"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."

Receiving Holy Communion is one of the most sacred rites in the Catholic faith. Weigand said afterward that "in general, we do not refuse communion to anyone; we try to instruct people as to when it would not be appropriate."

Russ Lopez, a spokesman for Davis, said the bishop was "trying to make an example and that's sad. But Governor Davis has said repeatedly that he is proud of the legislation he has signed giving women the right to choose. He will not back down."

Lopez criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith."

Lopez said that Weigand's comments could alienate members of the Catholic Church who support abortion rights. "There are a lot of Catholics who are pro-choice. Does the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving Holy Communion?" asked Lopez. "Who's going to be left in church?"

Weigand said Wednesday evening that he did not contact the Vatican before deciding to publicly chastise the governor. He acknowledged that he was motivated by Davis' response to a challenge by a Sacramento parish priest before Christmas, and by a doctrine by Pope John Paul II criticizing politicians who say they are good Catholics but support abortion rights.

Weigand's homily quoted from the papal doctrine released in advance of the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. "Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life," he said.

The cathedral is a short walk from the Capitol, where abortion-rights supporters held a daylong conference. At UC Davis, students rallied in support of abortion rights, while opponents shouted at them.

Demonstrators on both sides of the issue spoke of a new urgency to the debate, saying the election of George W. Bush to the presidency and a GOP majority in Congress could swing the pendulum toward judicial appointments and laws that restrict abortion. In Washington, thousands of anti-abortion activists marched to the steps of the Supreme Court, where they called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

At the morning Mass, Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, who last month told Davis' staff that the governor was not welcome to deliver gifts to St. Patrick's Orphanage. (The children received their gifts from Davis at the Capitol.) Kavanagh asked Davis to renounce his abortion-rights views before visiting.

The governor's response to Kavanagh was blunt: "I'm unapologetically pro-choice and I'm not changing my position."

Weigand said Wednesday evening that the confrontation forced him to confront Davis.

"Ever since the little incident last month, people have been asking questions. 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."

In a press release Wednesday marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Davis administration claimed credit for California being "the most pro-choice state in America."

It cited laws Davis signed that require HMOs to cover Food and Drug Administration-approved methods of contraception, and that crack down on those who threaten the safety of pro-choice clinics. He signed legislation last year that ensures women will continue to have the right to an abortion, regardless of whether the U.S. Supreme Court continues to uphold Roe v. Wade.

The governor attended a Planned Parenthood event Wednesday in Los Angeles, issuing a proclamation acknowledging Roe v. Wade. "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."

The governor is an active Catholic. He and his wife, Sharon, attend Mass in Southern California. The Davises, who were married originally in a civil ceremony presided over by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird, were married again in the late 1990s in the Catholic Church for their 15th wedding anniversary. The ceremony recognized the marriage in the church's eyes and allowed Davis to resume taking communion.

"He goes to church and he says his prayers and that's good," said Weigand. "But he's been aggressive on this issue, even boastful. I'm just trying to clarify that he is not in line with the Catholic Church on an issue that the Pope has said is the most important issue of our day."

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About the Writer
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The Bee's Pamela Martineau can be reached at (916) 321-1074 or pmartineau@sacbee.com. The Bee Capitol Bureau contributed to this report.

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http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/religion/story/5964433p-6923638c.html

[MrLeRoy]

A bishop acting like a bishop ... too bad this is newsworthy.

[davidwendell]

Finally!

There are 12 Catholic ProAborts in the Senate. Hopefully the Church can cleanse itself, or better yet, have these people (including Daschel) rethink their position.

[Gophack]

Thank you, that's it. I really detest the fact that such a wonderful saint like St. Francis of Assisi is on the name of the only scandulous parish in the Sacramento Diocese.

But I should be grateful there is only one!

[MEGoody]

Go, Bishop, go!

[Catholicguy]

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,


2
Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.


3
All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not.

<>Obviously, one desires their Bishops be as holy as possible. That being said, legitimate authority does not end for one in the Apostolic Sucession due to his sin. To claim it does, opposes Jesus<>

[workerbee]

About a year ago, there were some articles posted about the scandalous Confirmation "Masses" being held in, I believe, L.A. parishes -- tales of hot dogs being eaten in the Communion line, and such. Is this Weigand's diocese? If so, I won't hold my breath waiting for Davis to be denied the Host (though it is refreshing that some words were actually spoken in public regarding the shameful pro-abort stance of these "Catholic" politicians).

[Protagoras]

He will simply stop taking communion or go to a church with a pedophile priest and get anything he wants.

I'm guessing that he will not stop taking communion.

[Desdemona]

Weigand is Sacramento, I believe.

[Aquinasfan]

"Ever since the little incident last month, people have been asking questions. They asked "how can a Catholic be in good standing and still hold that point of view?

Davis should be formally excommunicated. The benefits of formal, public, excommunication are two-fold. First, it makes clear to the offending party the sinful nature of his acts. Secondly, it instructs the faithful. The formal excommunication of someone like Ted Kennedy would be worth a $10 million donation to pro-life efforts.

[Aquinasfan]

I'm guessing that he will not stop taking communion.

I'd bet money on it.

[Protagoras]

I'd bet money on it.

Not with me because we are of the same opinion. But maybe we can bet on the Super Bowl. :^}

[anoldafvet]

As Catholics, we believe that when the Pope speaks Ex Cathedra, that is on faith and morals, that he is infallible and speaks the word of God. Since he has said that abortion is wrong, we are bound by our faith to obey. Those who do not obey are excommunicated and are not entitled to receive the sacraments (can you say Ted Kennedy?). Incidentally, a divorced Catholic falls under the same penalty (Ted Kennedy, Tom Dasshole, et al.)

[COBOL2Java]

They take pride in their shame.....it's stunning....

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them."
[Romans 1:28-32]

First passage I thought of...

[ACAC]

I agree. As a Protestant, I would view the Church as a moral beacon if they would deny communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians.

[A2J]

Davis' office issued a press release yesterday boasting that California was "the most pro-choice state in America."

Translation:

California is "the most murderous state in America."

[eastsider]

Typical liberal word play ...

Here's more typical liberal word play: "I've supported a woman's reproductive freedom."

Abortion is about the freedom to reproduce?

[ACAC]

As a protestant, please don't push those horrible Bishops off on us. We did not appoint them. I know what you mean though. They act like Episcapalians(sp?).

[Gophack]

Yes, Weigand is Sacramento.

[Gophack]

While I tend to lean on the side of excommunication, we need to be careful about this. I was listening to a very conservative, very orthodox priest who is hesitant on the issue of excommunication because it would make these public officials martyrs for their political view, and diminish the real issue, which is abortion.

I'm torn, because there are good arguments on both sides. I still hold, though, that these politicians need to be told time and again, like Bishop Weigand forcefully did yesterday, that being against the Church they should not be receiving Holy Communion and are committing grave sin. Now that they know (like the didn't before, but giving them the benefit of the doubt) that they are committing grave and serious sin by being pro-abortion AND also by being pro-abortion and receiving the Holy Eucharist, the Bishops are leading them down the right path and they can take it or leave it as they please. It is, after all, their own soul at stake. And they are doubly sinning.

Our souls aren't at stake at the sins of our fellow Catholics; we need to worry about our own conscience and sins; God will sort it all out at the Final Judgement.

God bless.