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Pro-Life PING
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Posted on 05/09/2007 6:44:54 AM PDT by sitetest
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Wednesday warned Catholic politicians they risked excommunication from the Church and should not receive communion if they support abortion.
It was the first time that the Pope, speaking to reporters aboard the plane taking him on a trip to Brazil, dealt in depth with a controversial topic that has come up in many countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Italy.
The Pope was asked whether he supported Mexican Church leaders threatening to excommunicate leftist parliamentarians who last month voted to legalize abortion in Mexico City.
"Yes, this excommunication was not an arbitrary one but is allowed by Canon (church) law which says that the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving communion, which is receiving the body of Christ," he said.
"They (Mexican Church leaders) did nothing new, surprising or arbitrary. They simply announced publicly what is contained in the law of the Church... which expresses our appreciation for life and that human individuality, human personality is present from the first moment (of life)".
Under Church law, someone who knowingly does or backs something which the Church considers a grave sin, such as abortion, inflicts what is known as "automatic excommunication" on themselves.
The Pope said parliamentarians who vote in favor of abortion have "doubts about the value of life and the beauty of life and even a doubt about the future".
"Selfishness and fear are at the root of (pro-abortion) legislation," he said. "We in the Church have a great struggle to defend life...life is a gift not a threat." Continued...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Ping!
Attention American Bishops Ping!
Ping!
“The cafeteria is closed.”
Excommunication? The last time I heard that word, I was in junior high school working towards my Confirmation.
Now that’s some serious stuff.
“Aboard the Papal plane” - what a dateline!
This is very good news, because he’s certainly not “nuancing” it and is saying flat out that this is established Church doctrine and practice. It will be a big support for the bishops in Mexico. I wonder how some of our more notorious wafflers here will respond.
Also, what is the pope’s opinion on abortion for the case of incest, rape, or saving the mother’s life?
They’ll spout some bullhockey that I can’t even think of right now.
Dear wastedyears,
In that direct abortion is always the direct, intentional killing of an innocent human being, the Catholic Church teaches that it is impermissible under any circumstance.
sitetest
Not to be politically crass or anything, but it seems that with this clear statement of Church discipline, it would be an inopportune time for the Republican Party to nominate a pro-abortion Catholic for the presidency.
As difficult as going forward with a pregnancy in this case would be, why should a life be lost who had nothing to do with a crime being committed? I have looked at this question as the Un-holy grail of the left, and it’s time we look it in the face. Abortion is dismemberment while alive, plain and simple.
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Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
There is a little bit of “nuance” in the case of American politicians, in that many American pro-abortion politicians have never actually voted for laws generally permitting abortion. They merely assent to the action of the Supreme Court in forbidding laws that significantly curtail access to abortion.
I suspect that at least some Dem Catholic pro-aborts will hide behind that fig leaf.
sitetest
I will wait for the follow through.
God bless Pope Benedict XVI for his constant witness for life. Pray that the hearts of those who support abortion be softened and that they become fellow witnesses.
If not elected they have no power, put the blame where it belongs.
pings.
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