Posted on 05/14/2007 4:07:51 PM PDT by wagglebee
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Comments Pope Benedict XVI made last week about abortion and Catholic politicians are continuing to cause a stir around the globe. The pontiff told reporters during his plane ride to Brazil that Catholic politicians who back abortion have excommunicated themselves and shouldn't receive communion.
The pope followed up those comments during his speeches in Brazil, his first trip to Latin America, with more comments condemning abortion.
He continued to express the church's pro-life views in an address to Latin American bishops on Sunday, though he didn't reference the excommunication and communion comments.
He said laws that permit abortion and contraception are "threatening the future of peoples."
In reacting to the excommunication and communion remarks from last week, John Allen, author of several books on the Catholic Church, said the pope appears to have a personal view that is stronger than the official Catholic position.
"What seems to be clear is that the pope personally thinks that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should not receive communion," he told Reuters.
"This clearly emboldens bishops who have taken a hard line against Catholic pro-choice politicians, but it remains to be seen if there will be a disciplinary follow-through or whether individual bishops still decide who can receive communion," Allen added.
George Weigel -- senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington and leading U.S. Catholic theologian -- seemed to agree.
"Catholic politicians who think they can remain part of the church after supporting abortion are putting a lie on top of the original offense against justice," he said.
Meanwhile, Fidelis President Joseph Cella, a leading pro-life advocate, says his group is pleased with Pope Benedict's comments.
“We are deeply grateful to Pope Benedict for his comments on the Catholic legislators in Mexico City who voted to legalize abortion," Cella told LifeNews.com.
"The Holy Father’s message serves as a powerful teaching moment for all pro-abortion politicians, including those in the United States, especially those who are Catholic and running for President in 2008," he added.
He said those pro-abortion Catholic candidates -- including Senator Joe Biden, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Chris Dodd, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Rudy Giuliani -- should "consider the larger message of Pope Benedict, and their obligation as Catholics to defend the sanctity of all human life."
Nope, they're pro-abortion liberals first and foremost.
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I wish Rudi and a bunch of others WOULD show up at Mass next Sunday, or any other Sunday or Holy Day, and be denied Communion.
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(John Allen...said the pope appears to have a personal view that is stronger than the official Catholic position. “What seems to be clear is that the pope personally thinks that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should not receive communion,” he told Reuters.)
Mr. Allen, open up a catechism, this is the “official Catholic position” ... if anything, the Pope understated it!
Even if Rudy were “pro-life” he still is ineligible for reception of Communion because he’s living in an adulterous state of mortal sin.
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i am glad that the Pope came out with this now. hopefully, rudy won’t have the audacity to attempt to receive communion during the campaign, in light of this public airing of the Church’s position.
Gee you sound like a fun person to be around.
See what Berdardin set in motion. It was his ilk that allowed Cuomo to indulge in the sophistry of “personally opposed during the Notre Dame speech.
If he wants to make a point of being seen going to Mass, he could do what Kerry did, just find one of these old, lefty-type priests who is sympathetic to him who will agree him beforehand to let him receive. I believe Pelosi and others have done the same. There may be enough heretic priests around, and passive bishops, that if Giuliani or others are determined to pull a P.R. stunt they can find a church.
Yes, I tend to sympathize with the abandoned wife and children and not the woman who picked him up in a bar; sorry if that offends you.
Rudi was remarried in a civil ceremony (and his previous marriage was not annulled, which means he has two strikes against him), so he’s not supposed to be receiving communion anyway.
Unless of course you claim to be sinless?
You’re the one making this “personal”...why are you attacking me? I’m not going to take the bait, sorry.
Your the one condemning Rudy for his "mortal sins" on this board.
And I can't even ask you if you're sinless?
No, that was set in motion long before Bernadin. Robert Drinan and his Jesuit cohorts were the ones who told the Kennedys and other Catholic politicians that they could get away with the 'personally opposed, but', position, and with the help of liberals in the media, and linguini spined Bishops, they have, so far.
The younger Bishops have seen what this has done to our country, and with Pope Benedict behind them, I hope they'll be able to do something about it.
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