Just try it, bub!
Posted on 05/09/2007 10:22:34 AM PDT by jacknhoo
Pope warns Catholic politicians who back abortion Wed May 9, 2007 8:46AM EDT By Philip Pullella
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."
"ALWAYS A GIFT"
The Pope's comments appear to raise the stakes in the debate over whether Catholic politicians can support abortion or gay marriage and still consider themselves proper Catholics.
In recent months, the Vatican has been accused of interference in Italy for telling Catholic lawmakers to oppose a draft law that would grant some rights to unwed and gay couples.
During the 2004 presidential election, the U.S. Catholic community was split over whether to support Democratic candidate John Kerry, himself a Catholic who backed abortion rights.
Some Catholics say they personally would not have an abortion but feel obliged to support a woman's right to choose.
But the Church, which teaches that life begins at the moment of conception and that abortion is murder, says Catholics cannot have it both ways.
"The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift," the Pope said.
Only Cuba, Guyana and U.S. commonwealth Puerto Rico allow abortion on demand in Latin America. Many other countries in the region permit it in special cases, such as if the fetus has defects or if the mother's life is at risk.
Brazil, the world's most populous Catholic country, is mulling bringing the debate to a referendum.
Quick, who has Kerry on their ping list!
PING
So true - I love Pope Penedict XVI. He is the healer.
American Liberal Catholics call themselves “reasonable” Catholics. In reality, they’re heretics.
Yes, there is the dread of receiving Communion without being spiritually prepared, but the fact the Church denies Communsion to abortion-backers has a deeper meaning. It means that if you cannot recieve Communion due to obstinate, grave sin, then you will not recieve salvation either, if there is no repentence.
They’re scum.
Well the Pope just can’t expect Rooty to bother with the Catholic part of his Catholic upbringing. Rooty knows better than the Pope and has let him know it.
Just try it, bub!
ping
That being said, I sure am glad that my faith gives me assurance that it's only God that could ever "ex-communicate" me from the Church.
AMEN!
you got it.
ping
This Southern Baptist has nothing but respect for this Pope.
ping
MONK I hear but you know what I like see that let see how much power Pope has
A Roman Catholic Archbishop recently stepped down from the board of a Catholic Charity because Sheryl Crow was the key personality at a money raising event. He couldn't stop her freedom of speech nor could he abolish the particular charity, nor should he. He did exactly what he should have done though, he publicly protested the abortionist's presence at the charity and removed himself from the board. Maybe not every Bishop will do this every time a pro-abortionist comes to help raise money, but there is no other church or organization anywhere on earth that proclaims the evil of abortion, and fights against it, as powerfully and aggressively as the Roman Catholic Church does.
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