Posted on 05/10/2007 10:15:57 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a historic five-day visit to Brazil on Wednesday by sending a tough anti-abortion message that sparked a hemisphere-wide debate over the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to influence politicians.
In answer to a question about Mexico City's recent legalization of abortion, Benedict indicated that he would support Mexican bishops if they were to decide to excommunicate lawmakers who voted for the law.
"It is part of the code," Benedict said, according to reporters aboard the plane. "It is based simply on the principle that the killing of an innocent human child is incompatible with going in communion with the body of Christ."
---SNIP---
Excommunication is the church's harshest form of punishment. An excommunicated Catholic cannot receive communion or other sacraments.
Reaction from Catholic politicians who support abortion rights was swift throughout North and South America.
In Washington, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., a Catholic, acidly compared the pope's comment to the church's record of protecting priests accused of sexually abusing children.
"I've always thought also that those bishops and archbishops who for decades hid pederasts and are now being protected by the Vatican should be indicted," he said.
In Mexico City, a legislator who voted to legalize abortion said the pope's remark would shake neither her faith nor her support of abortion rights.
"I am religious, I am Catholic and I will continue being one," said Leticia Quezada, a member of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, which supported the abortion bill. "I continue believing in God but not the institution of the church." (dumbass, then you're not Catholic)
(Excerpt) Read more at realcities.com ...
First off, Senator Leahy should be treated as a reprobate, and a public enemy of the Church. This statement is jaw-dropping, and he should be first to receive excommunication, even ahead of Pelosi and Kerry.
Secondly, I agree that the bishops who actively allowed this to happen should be prosecuted. But to threaten the Church because he doesn't like the consequence of his own evil beliefs is beyond the pale.
ping
I firmly believe they should be indicted. The Church should never attempt to intermingle Canon law with Civil law.
But the constant reference to the ‘pederast scandal card’ whenever somebody doesn’t like something about the church becomes very tiresome.
Leahy’s a Catholic.
He sounds like Sean Hannity.
CINO, maybe.
What an idiot. He’s a poser, not a Catholic.
BTW, the only place Leahy appears to differ with NARL only on PBA. Why does he only get a 50% rating?
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Patrick_Leahy.htm
But the constant reference to the ‘pederast scandal card’ whenever somebody doesn’t like something about the church becomes very tiresome.
_______
I confess that I am finding it a bit tiresome that the Church will not just come out and do what it says is the right thing to do.
Excommunicate them. My tinfoil hat is communicating to me that they won’t, because they fear the backlash.
Is it not true that a catholic priest can’t repeat anything he has heard in the confessional, even murder? If the ped. priests confessed to their deeds in the confessional, the priest who heard the confession is bound by sacred oath not to repeat a word.
Mr. Leahy:
No one is twisting your arm to remain Catholic.
I invite you to look at paganism, atheism, Muslim-ism, or Satan worship where the sacrifice of the innocent is looked at favorably.
There is little or no faith aspparent in the US Senate.
Leahy, Kennedy, Kerry..are a few CINO’s (figure it out).
I think they look at their power as Senators and feel
superior to any and all distractions...such as the Pope,
who speaks for our maker...God. JK
a number of years back i actually saw Sen. Leahy at Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Falls Church VA. i assume it’s his parish but don’t know for sure. dang i wish i had looked to see if he received communion. i know he was sitting in the very front pew.
Maybe this Pope will do it. Perhaps if we show our support for such an action there will be a glimmer of hope it will happen....
The Pope's email address: benedictxvi@vatican.va.
The Vatican's homepage: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm
In Name Only
I am not Catholic but I suspect that people like Leahy and Kennedy sit in the front so that they can be seen by the “commoners”.
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.