Posted on 11/25/2004 3:54:17 PM PST by topher
Catholic pro-abortion politician rejects request to step down as cantor
ANDOVER, MASS., USA, Nov. 19, 2004 (CNA) - Developments at a Boston parish over whether a lifelong parishioner and pro-abortion politician should continue leading the congregation in song during mass demonstrates confused Catholics are on the issue and the need for clear guidelines.
Since her Nov. 2 re-election, State Rep. Barbara L'Italien was asked by her pastor, Fr. William M. Cleary, at two meetings to step down as a cantor because of her pro-abortion stance. The St. Augustine parishioner declined the request and said she would only consider it if she receives the request in writing.
Fr. Cleary told the Eagle-Tribune that he would send the lifetime parishioner the request in writing.
While L’Italian cannot hold a leadership position while maintaining a political stance on abortion that is opposite that of the Church, she would not be denied Communion or participation in other church activities, Fr. Cleary told the Eagle-Tribune.
"I'm not trying to change her vote or her opinion because she has the right to those," he told the newspaper. "But she doesn't have a right to the pulpit. I am defending the Church's position against abortion.”
While L'Italien was not faced with abortion legislation during her first term, she was listed as "pro-choice" in the Planned Parenthood guide and voted for same-sex marriage.
"My personal views and my personal faith is something that guides me," she told the newspaper. "But it's not something that can rule me in terms of the decisions I make as a legislator. My job is to represent people of many different faiths and many different ideologies."
L'Italien said as a legislator, she is bound to serve her constituency and work by the laws of the land, which currently protect abortion rights.
Fr. Cleary told the newspaper that he waited until after the election to act and he did not know if he would have asked L'Italien to step down if she had lost to fellow parishioner and Republican, Maria Marasco.
Parishioner Collette Crowley defended Fr. Cleary's decision, saying that he is “doing his job.”
"Anybody who voices their opposition to Church teachings should not be in a leadership position, as far as I'm concerned,” Crowley told the newspaper.
However, this is the first thread that indicates that Father Cleary will go to the next step -- sending the request in writing.
If Archbishop O'Malley is against what Father Cleary has done, this is no word -- one way or the other.
My understanding, and this could be wrong, is that the pastor of a parish has a great deal of control that the Bishop cannot circumvent. I asked this question of Father Corapi in the Summer of 2004. He is an expert on Canon Law, and said that the pastor of a parish has a great deal of power. He did not say what those powers were.
Though it is a followup thread and somewhat old by Freeper standards -- the important point is that the priest was going to send the request in writing for the Parishoner to step down.
Don't hold your breath while waiting for O'Malley to take action against these baby-killing dissidents.
"Rejects request"? Isn't there a word for that...
"Confused Catholics"??!!?? How could a real Catholic POSSIBLY be "confused" about whether he could advocate abortion? Thank God the pastor has at least a lick of sense. If the bishop doesn't back him up, he's just as guilty as the "cantor".
Better would be:
If Archbishop O'Malley is against what Father Cleary has done, there is no word -- one way or the other.
This article does not say if Archbishop O'Malley was involved in this or not. He may be supportive of the pastor.
Why is he "requesting" her to step down? Sister Mary Bernadette who ran my high school would have grabbed her by the hair and frog-marched her out the door with a kick up her backside to send her on her way.
The Church needs to go back to being muscular in its Christianity.
1. Ordering her to leave the altar/sanctuary.
2. If she refuses to do so, file a complaint with the FBI stating she is interfering with a religious service ... which is a federal felony.
In previous times, this would be called heresy.
Why? I believe he and Archbishop Charles Chaput are good friends.
The big difference is the mess O'Malley has: closing parishes to avoid bankruptcy and still problems with the cleric scandal.
If he is half the Capuchin Padre Pio or even Archbishop Chaput is, he will eventually have time to take a stand.
Or do you have better information?
We need more church leaders and members like Sister Mary Bernadette!
Yes. The FACE act, which Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts voted for. It has mandatory jail time and $10,000 fine.
Update ping. Father Cleary will send request in writing.
"If he is half the Capuchin Padre Pio or even Archbishop Chaput is, he will eventually have time to take a stand."
Please don't confuse O'Malley with Padre Pio.
O'Malley is a wishy-washy modernist church-wrecker whereas Padre Pio is a tough-as-teak traditionalist saint.
Padre Pio wouldn't let women without ankle-length skirts and completely covered arms into his confessional, let alone abortionists in the choir.
What kind of pastor makes a request like this? She's not fit to lead the congregation in any way shape or form and if he has to physically bar her from doing so he should. No wonder there is so much confusion in the Church today.
True.
AMEN!
Here, here.
There is not much confusion about this in the Archdiocese of Atlanta [or Dioceses of Charlotte and Charleston].
She would have been barred from receiving communion last summer...
If she goes to Atlanta and someone recognizes her as a pro-abortion politican, she will be barred from receiving communion.
Frankly, I'd be dee-lighted to do away with ALL cantors (and all singing).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.