Hughes exhorts Catholic pols to toe line

THE TIMES-PICAYUNE ^ | January 16, 2004 | James Varney

[chemicalman]

Catholic politicians who support abortion, assisted suicide or any other "life issues" out of step with church teachings should refrain from Holy Communion, Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes has declared.

Hughes' statement, contained in his column in this week's Clarion Herald, the archdiocesan newspaper, is in stride with a ratcheting up of nationwide pressure by Catholic bishops to enforce orthodoxy among Catholics in public life.

[chemicalman]

Hmmmm.
I think Kathaleen Blanko should skip communion.

[Polycarp IV]

On Monday, the Most Rev. Raymond Burke, an outgoing bishop in La Crosse, Wis., went further than Hughes, saying politicians who support abortion or birth control should be barred from Communion, a central aspect of Catholic spiritual life...

...Maestri did clarify that Hughes' statement calls for the voluntary withdrawal of opposing politicians from the Communion rail and does not mean priests should refuse to serve them.

Let's hope this sputtering start turns quickly into a deluge. Its past time for this.

[Temple Drake]

JAMES VARNEY? I thought we lost Jim Varney! Hallelujah!

[joanofarc]

HEAR!HEAR!

Are you lissssssssstening
TED KENNEDY?
TOM DASHEL?
LORETTA SANTCHEZ?
GREY DAVIS?(Gumbie)

Freepers: feel free to add to this list.

[Kryptonite]

Let's hope this sputtering start turns quickly into a deluge. Its past time for this.

Perhaps then we should identify where the line has been drawn before with regard to the denial of Communion. I honestly don't know, and would appreciate it if that discussion was initiated here, or if someone could direct me to that discussion elsewhere on FR.

[Frank_2001]

Sounds good to me!

[agite rem mente]

Harkin, Durbin, Biden, Kerry,Landreiu, Maria ( from Washington state) call themselves catholic

[tbird5]

About time, but he better not touch capital punishment.

[SuziQ]

Perhaps then we should identify where the line has been drawn before with regard to the denial of Communion

The Bishops are stating publicly that these politicians, who are calling themselves Catholics in their campaign literature and using their 'Catholicism' on the stump, are causing scandal by presenting themselves for reception of Communion. By their receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, they are presumably accepting the teachings of the Church, but by voting FOR abortion, and speaking out for the so called 'right to choose', they are being vocal in their defiance of those teachings. The Bishops are simply asking for truth in advertising.

[carlson]

As a Iloin (or what ever we are) (from ILLINOIS)
im sorry for dickie durbin. (as a local talk show host calls him- eddie haskel).

[Kryptonite]

I might not have been clear. I understand exactly what both Bishops have done and most of why. Both say the subject legislators should not take Communion, but one says priests should deny Communion if those legislators present themselves for it. What I don't understand is what has caused Catholics to be denied Communion in the past. Where have those lines previously been drawn?

[Lawgvr1955]

dickie durbin. (as a local talk show host calls him- eddie haskel)

Good one. As a fellow from Illinois (what are we, Illini, Illinoisan?) I find it embarrasing to have Eddie as a senator. I remember when he was pro-life. Sad.

[EODGUY]

I visited my daughter today who resides in Archbishop Burke's former diocese in La Crosse. It may take some time to nail down the exact date, but during a discussion with her, she cited an article describing several excommunications that occurred in the 1950's involving Catholic legislators who fought vehemently and voted against a decision by the Catholic Church in their diocese to desegregate their parochial schools.

As a result of their hatred, bigotry and public expression of same, three "Catholic" legislators were excommunicated. Two of the three ultimately realized the immorality of their stance and exhibited their catharsis in word and deed. They were welcomed back into the Church. The third died while still excommunicated.

[Desdemona]

It should also be noted that while Archbishop Burke has been most vocal about this he is equally as vocal that the sacrament of Penance is available to all these politicians, indead all of us, and he urges everyone to go.

[ninenot]

TOM DASHEL?

GREY DAVIS?(Gumbie)

Already been hit by the Bp. of So. Dakota and Sacramento, respectively.

Catholicism is breaking out ALL OVER!!

[ninenot]

OOOOOOHhhhh--I remember the incident, vaguely. (The '50's were my youth, said I, dissembling only slightly.)

Your daughter deserves to be a Member of the Board of the Society for the Cause of Canonization of Tomas Torquemada of Blessed Memory.

Pings to other Board Members for immediate approval.

[EODGUY]

I hope the media sources you have viewed have emphasized that Archbishop Burke's intention was to keep this issue a private one, Des. He sent the private letters a long time ago and in them offered each individual with whom he corresponded (he still has not divulged to whom the letters were sent) an opportunity to meet with him to discuss the matter privately.

None of the recipients accepted his invitation. You are absolutely correct.....Archbishop Burke's primary concern was and is the welfare of the souls of those involved, but after one of the legislators decided to make the letter she received public (to suit her own agenda), he provided his flock with an explanation of his decision, which has been overwhelmingly well-received.

My daughter and her family will miss him dearly when he leaves their diocese for St. Louis, as will tens of thousands of devout Catholics who have and always will consider him a blessing from God.


God bless,


EODGUY

[StonyBurk]

And a non-Catholic Christian(myself) would urge all Bible
believing Christians to support the Bishops in this-- if we
support the moral principles these Bishops support--and hold the separatist politicians accountable perhaps there
will be some measure of hope for America. Name the names --
mark the beast-defend the Faith-Praise God.For God is our
salvation-- not the bloody godless State.

[SuziQ]

When the Bishops finally start speaking out on these moral matters instead of the 'Social Justice' stuff they've concentrated on for the last 30 yrs., there will be many such as yourself who will be thrilled!

Social Justice is important, but it has been used by the liberals in the Catholic Church to avoid the discussion needed on abortion, euthanasia, and now, homosexual marriage. The 'Seamless Garment' and 'Preferential Option for the Poor', gave a lot of cover to those who wanted to change the Church into THEIR image. Thanks be to God, those Bishops are retiring and younger, more orthodox ones are taking their places.

[Desdemona]

I hope the media sources you have viewed have emphasized that Archbishop Burke's intention was to keep this issue a private one, Des.

Burke says it himself, when the interview is viewed in its entirety. Otherwise, that little tidbit is usually not mentioned.

My daughter and her family will miss him dearly when he leaves their diocese for St. Louis, as will tens of thousands of devout Catholics who have and always will consider him a blessing from God.

Yes, well, this morning at the pro-life Mass, Bishop Hermann, for the moment the only bishop left in St. Louis, said he considers it a wonderful thing that our local daily newspaper views Burke's arrival much as Herod did Jesus's, and as Herod's son did Jesus after the death of John the Baptist. Very true. The Post-Dispatch didn't like Rigali and they are REALLY not going to like Burke.