When will the bishops of the U.S. deny Communion to the likes of radical pro-abortion House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden? It apparently can't come too soon for the head of the top Vatican court, Archbishop Raymond Burke, head of the Apostolic Signatura. Archbishop Burke told Life Site News:
"I don't understand the continual debate that goes on about it. There's not a question that a Catholic who publicly, and after admonition, supports pro-abortion legislation is not to receive Holy Communion and is not to be given Holy Communion....The Church's law is very clear. The person who persists publicly in grave sin is to be denied Holy Communion, and it [Canon Law] doesn't say that the bishop shall decide this. It's an absolute....The Holy Eucharist, the most sacred reality of our life in the Church, has to be protected against sacrilege. At the same time, individuals have to be protected for the sake of their own salvation from committing one of the gravest sins, namely to receive Holy Communion unworthily...Individual bishops and priests simply have to do their duty. They have to confront politicians, Catholic politicians, who are sinning gravely and publicly in this regard. And that's their duty. And if they carry it out, not only can they not be reproached for that, but they should be praised for confronting this situation." (More...)
Catholics represent the largest denomination in both bodies of Congress and yet most of them are pro-abortion creating scandal and confusion as they continue to go to Communion in their parishes both in the D.C. area and in their home parishes. It's time to stop the scandal.
The Catholic Media Coalition and American Life League continue to call on the bishops to implement Canon Law 915, but little action has been taken to date by most bishops particularly those in the metropolitan Washington,D.C. area, Archbishop Donald Wuerl (D.C.) and Bishop Paul Loverde (Arlington). Joe Biden publicly received Communion several weeks ago at Holy Trinity in Georgetown. Nancy Pelosi has made it clear that she considers herself a devout Catholic and will continue to receive. Sen. Ted Kennedy had Communion brought to him at his seat during the papal Mass in D.C. last April. John Kerry and Rudy Guiliani have also been photographed receiving Communion at high profile events.
Several Bishops have taken strong action against pro-abortion politicians. Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton recently warned Bob Casey, Jr. about his vote against the Mexico City Policy calling it "an offense against life and a denial of our Catholic teaching on the dignity of every human being." He warned Casey in a letter saying, “Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy....As I have done several times before, I offer to make myself available to you to discuss the grave concerns that I raise here.” Bishop Martino announced several months ago that he will enforce Canon 915. Last May Bishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS publicly warned Gov. Kathleen Sebelius not to receive Communion. Although he did not instruct Eucharistic Ministers to deny the governor Communion he left that possibility open. According to reports, Sebelius has voluntarily refrained from presenting herself for Communion.
As of September 2008, 17 bishops had publicly stated or taken action to enforce Canon Law 915. They are to be commended for doing their duty. Please pray for these bishops and, even more, for their silent brothers.
Archbishop Raymond L Burke, Bishop Emeritus, St. Louis
Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz, Lincoln NE
Bishop Joseph A.Galante, Camden, NJ
Bishop John M. Smith, Trenton, NJ
Bishop Michael Sheridan, Colorado Springs, CO
Bishop Robert F. Vasa, Baker, OR
Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger, Evansville, IN
Bishop Robert J. Baker, Birmingham, AL
Bishop Peter J. Jugis, Bishop, Charlotte, NC
Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, Phoenix, AZ
Bishop Paul S. Coakley, D.D., Salina, KS
Bishop Joseph F. Martino, Scranton, PA
Bishop Joseph Naumann, Kansas City, KS
Retired:
Bishop Henry Rene Gracida, Bishop Emeritus, Corpus Christi, TX
Archbishop John F. Donoghue Bishop Emeritus, Atlanta, GA
Bishop John Y. Yanta, Bishop Emeritus, Amarillo, TX
CANON 915:THE DISCIPLINE REGARDING THE DENIAL OF HOLY COMMUNIONTO THOSE OBSTINATELY PERSEVERINGIN MANIFEST GRAVE SIN by Archbishop Raymond Burke
What makes these religious hacks so dangerous is their lumping all politicians into the same "pro-abortion". Since the positions on abortion and abortion legislation are different between Pelosi and Biden means these hacks have other motives. There are fundamental differences between Pelosi and Biden.
ReplyDeleteUndermining the U.S. Constitution is something the protestant Republicans and this Pope have in common.
Abortion is very clear in its definition. It's the interpretation of it's meaning that's subject to question.
ReplyDeleteI love that our faith does not yield to immoral laws.