Communion ban on lawmakers who back abortion starts furor

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | January 11, 2004 | Juliet Williams (A.P.)

[Holly_P]

MILWAUKEE -- A Roman Catholic bishop who waded into politics with a decree that lawmakers who support abortion rights can no longer receive holy communion has ignited a debate over the separation of church and state.

Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse cited Vatican doctrine, canon law and teachings by the U.S. bishops in an announcement telling diocesan priests to withhold communion from such lawmakers until they ''publicly renounce'' their support of abortion rights.

''This is about as stark a decree to come down against Catholic politicians as we've seen in recent history,'' said Barry Lynn, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

''The problem with it is that elected officials have to represent people of all faiths and none, and not adhere to one religious demand like the bishop's,'' he said.

Pope John Paul II appointed Burke, 55, archbishop of St. Louis in December. Burke signed the decree in November, when he still had the authority to do so, but it was not made public until Thursday.

Burke is to be installed in St. Louis on Jan. 26 -- raising concerns among opponents that he may issue the same decree there.

The Vatican and U.S. bishops have urged Catholic legislators to consider their faith when they vote, and a task force is weighing whether to recommend sanctions for Catholic politicians who support policies contrary to church teachings.

In November, Burke wrote letters to at least three Catholic lawmakers, telling them they risked being forbidden from taking the sacrament by continuing to vote for measures he termed anti-life, including abortion and euthanasia.

Democratic U.S. Rep. David Obey, who received a letter from Burke, said Friday that he respects the sacred oath he took to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Obey said Burke can instruct him on faith and morals in his private life, but should use ''persuasion, not dictation'' to affect his political votes.

He said Burke had ''crossed the line.''

[mware]

Hey these guys are the ones who are always spouting seperation of church and state. So let it be said, so let it be done.

[ladylib]

If being a politician is more important than being a Catholic, then be a politician. Apparently, you can't have your cake and eat it too anymore.

What does this have to do with separation of church and state? The government isn't telling the pols they can't be Catholic and be pro-abortion -- the Catholic Church is.

[dagar]

Good. It's about time.

[Mean Daddy]

''The problem with it is that elected officials have to represent people of all faiths and none, and not adhere to one religious demand like the bishop's,'' he said.

You can't have it both ways. If you want to support something outside of the doctrine of your faith, then you should find a new religion ala Howard Dean. Who by the way quit his first church over a dispute over a bike path. A true man of God.

[Jim Noble]

A Roman Catholic bishop who waded into politics with a decree that lawmakers who support abortion rights can no longer receive holy communion has ignited a debate over the separation of church and state

How is that "wading into politics"?

What does politics have to do with communion?

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[Felis_irritable]

"The problem with it is that elected officials have to represent people of all faiths and none..."

Then they need to pick their faith carefully, keep their mouths shut, or have none. IMHO.

[Catspaw]

I wonder why he didn't excommunicate them.

[ardara]

What about Senators Kennedy and Kerry?

[Bob Mc]

"How is that "wading into politics?"

You're right. It's not. To this bishop, abortion is murder, not some political choice.

[Holly_P]

How is that "wading into politics"?

It isn't the Bishop "wading into politics" but the politicains wading away from their religion.

I don't see this as the Bishop telling them how to vote but just as him letting them know that it's crunch time. They can either be pro abortion politicians or Church members - but not both. It's their call.

[Gabz]

And Biden..........

[Drango]

What about Senators Kennedy

Apparently Kennedy likes scotch more than communion wine...

[Sofa King]

"The problem with it is that elected officials have to represent people of all faiths and none, and not adhere to one religious demand like the bishop's,' he said."

The problem is that these liberals want to be religious but at the same time don't want to have to follow the word of God.

[pctech]

The problem is that these liberals want to be religious but at the same time don't want to have to follow the word of God

You hit the nail on the head there my friend.

[NonValueAdded]

Look out for a new church, coming to a party caucus near you. Isn't that what happened the last time a lawmaker, chief, or potentiate didn't like the rulings of the Catholic church? [insert rousing chorus of "I'm 'enery the eighth I am" here].

[leprechaun9]

Democratic U.S. Rep. David Obey

This is the same disOBEY who accused the Republican Congress of holding not a gun, but specifically an AK-47 to the head of Billy Clintooon on the issue of the budget!

[Jeff Chandler]

"Do that to me one More time."

[BlackElk]

No Catholic asked for the insolent opinion of the Rev. Mr. Barry Lynn (Unitarian or Congregationalist?) and his anti-Catholic organization of bigots. The original name of the group was Protestants and other Americans for Separation of Church and State, when it was run by Paul Blanshard and chummy with the notorious Madeline Murray O'Hair. The very name was a slur against Protestants. The organization originated in the early Cold War as a reaction against Catholic anti-communism and as a reaction of anti-Catholics, many not at all Protestant, but atheist, agnostic and secular humanist who wanted to have a platform to attack anti-communist cardinals such as Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York, Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston and James Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles.

As for Obey, we know where his heart lies. He may have been baptized Catholic but his loyalty is with the baby-killing Demonrats. Congressman Obey, you are what you vote for. What you vote for, Mr. Obey, is not Catholic and neither are you.

May every Catholic bishop in this country do as Bishop Burke has done. May every other Christian leader worthy of the name do likewise. Next stop for Archbishop-designate Burke is St. Louis. Next in line of desireable major changes in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States would be the rapid replacement of Roger Cardinal Mahoney in Los Angeles by an actual Catholic like Burke.