I'm Speechless About Cardinal O'Malley

Cardinal O'Malley seems like a very nice man. He looks like St. Francis after all - except the pictures of St. Francis always show him thin. He wasn't as generous to "brother ass" as most brothers, priests, and bishops. But I'm truly speechless over Cardinal O'Malley's recent interview saying the Vatican needs to change canon law to give a clearer directive on denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians.

Is he serious?

Canon law 915 is very clear that those engaged in egregious, on-going scandal should be denied Communion. Does the Church really need a chapter called "specific sins that call for denial of Communion?" Does canon law have to say, "The hookers on the local street corner a block from the Cathedral may not be given Communion Sunday morning after doing tricks all night? No Communion for the local abortionist until he publicly repudiates his grizzly business, etc." Politicians like Kennedy caused far more abortions through his support for abortion than the poor frightened woman who kills her baby in a panic. But she's excommunicated and he gets a funeral fit for a king - King Herod, perhaps?

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishop Raymond Burke, and the Pope himself when we called him Cardinal Ratzinger have all spoken out against giving Communion to publicly pro-abortion Catholics.

Maybe Cardinal O'Malley is waiting for a vision. Meanwhile, Catholics are waiting for bishops to defend the faith.

Refrain from Communion Priest Tells Obama Voters

LifeNews.com has posted an article about a South Carolina priest, Fr. Jay Scott Newman, who has warned his congregation not to receive Communion if they voted for Barrack Obama until they repent and do penance.

The article reads in part:
Newman told the Greenville News on Wednesday that he will continue preaching on the "intrinsic and grave evil of abortion" and called Obama and Joe Biden's abortion support a "divisive issue" with a "moral dimension."

The priest posted a letter on the church web site saying that "voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

Catholics who do not ask for forgiveness before receiving communion "eat and drink their own condemnation," Newman writes and cites a passage from I Corinthians in the Bible which talks about recognizing Christ before participating.

Newman told the newspaper that members of his church have been very supportive and claims the reaction has been favorable by a nine to one margin.

Stephen Gajdosik, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, told the newspaper that Newman's actions are within Catholic Church guidelines. he said local priests can best determine how to encourage their member's relationship with God.

If you would like to send an email thanking Father and assuring him of your prayers I'm sure he will appreciate it. The Diocese of Charleston is currently without a bishop since Bishop Robert Baker was assigned to Birmingham, AL, but you can send a thank you to the Diocesan Administrator, Msgr. Martin Laughlin at mlaughlin@catholic-doc.org. May God reward this courageous priest who is a true shepherd to his flock. Please pray for him.