Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

BISHOP MICHAEL SHERIDAN OF COLORADO SPRINGS: NO COMMUNION FOR PRO-ABORT/HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE VOTERS
EWTN.com ^ | 5-14-04 | Bishop Michael Sheridan

Posted on 05/14/2004 5:16:53 PM PDT by Salvation

14-May-2004 -- EWTNews Feature

A LETTER FROM BISHOP MICHAEL SHERIDAN OF COLORADO SPRINGS: NO COMMUNION FOR PRO-ABORTION / HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE VOTERS

A PASTORAL LETTER TO THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF COLORADO SPRINGS ON THE DUTIES OF CATHOLIC POLITICIANS AND VOTERS

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This coming November we Americans will participate in one of the most important national elections in recent history. The president, senators and congressmen who are placed in office by our votes will serve at a time in which issues that are critical to the very survival of our civilization will be at the top of the political agenda. As we prepare for these elections I consider it my duty as your bishop to write to you about these matters so that you might go to the polls this fall with a well informed conscience.

The Church teaches that “man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions.” (1) Often we hear people claim that they are making decisions in accord with conscience even when those decisions defy the natural law and the revealed teachings of Jesus Christ. This is because of a widespread misunderstanding of the very meaning of conscience. For many, conscience is no more than personal preference or even a vague sense or feeling that something is right or wrong, often based on information drawn from sources that have nothing to do with the law of God.

The right judgment of conscience is not a matter of personal preference nor has it anything to do with feelings. It has only to do with objective truth. “Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.” (2) All people have a grave obligation to form their consciences by adhering to the truth, precisely as that truth is found in the natural law and in the revelation of God. As Catholics we have the further obligation to give assent to the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Church because “to the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls.” (3) In other words, as people who profess the Catholic faith, we must “have the mind of Christ” in every judgment and act.

Among the many distortions and misrepresentations that prevail in the current debates about the relationship between religion and the social order (politics) is the assertion that faith and politics are to be kept separated. This, apparently, is based upon the American doctrine of the separation of church and state. In fact, the wall that separates church and state is the safeguard against both the establishment of a state religion and the imposition of sectarian religious beliefs and practices, such as particular denominational forms of worship or theological tenets. In no way does the American doctrine of separation of church and state even suggest that the well-formed consciences of religious people should not be brought to bear on their political choices.

The Second Vatican Council was abundantly clear on this matter. “Nor, on the contrary, are they any less wide of the mark who think that religion consists in acts of worship alone and in the discharge of certain moral obligations, and who imagine they can plunge themselves into earthly affairs in such a way as to imply that these are altogether divorced from the religious life. This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age. Long since, the Prophets of the Old Testament fought vehemently against this scandal and even more so did Jesus Christ Himself in the New Testament threaten it with grave punishments. Therefore, let there be no false opposition between professional and social activities on the one part, and religious life on the other.” (4)

When Catholics are elected to public office or when Catholics go to the polls to vote, they take their consciences with them. Pope John Paul II has consistently taught this as, for example, when he said that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a “grave and clear obligation to oppose” any law that attacks human life. (5) The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has declared that, “in this context, it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals.” (6) Anyone who professes the Catholic faith with his lips while at the same time publicly supporting legislation or candidates that defy God’s law makes a mockery of that faith and belies his identity as a Catholic.

In November we will once again have the privilege of exercising our most precious right as citizens – the right to vote. Our choices will be made from among an array of candidates who take a variety of positions with regard to many important issues. In the midst of what could be a difficult and confusing exercise it is very important to remember that not all issues are of equal gravity. As men and women of good will we strive to achieve true justice for all people and to preserve their rights as human beings. There is, however, one right that is “inalienable”, and that is the RIGHT TO LIFE. This is the FIRST right. This is the right that grounds all other human rights. This is the issue that trumps all other issues.

The November elections will be critical in the battle to restore the right to life to all citizens, especially the unborn and the elderly and infirm. As a result of the pro-life efforts of countless Americans the number of abortions performed in our country is now declining for the first time since the appalling Supreme Court decision of 1973 that made it “legal” to kill our children. We cannot allow the progress that has been made to be reversed by a pro-abortion President, Senate or House of Representatives. Neither can we permit illicit stem cell research that makes use of aborted babies. Any movement to promote and legalize euthanasia must be halted. Our votes have the power to stop these abominations.

There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation. Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences. It is for this reason that these Catholics, whether candidates for office or those who would vote for them, may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled with God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance.

In recent months another issue has reached the level of our legislatures. It is so-called “same- sex marriage.” Those who now promote this deviancy often present it as a human right denied homosexual persons and thus illegally discriminating against them. But, in fact, no one has a right to that which flies in the face of God’s own design. Marriage is not an invention of individuals or even of societies. Rather it is an element of God’s creation. It is God who created us male and female. It is God who joined man and woman so that they could be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Every civilization known to mankind has understood marriage as the union of a man and a woman for the procreation and rearing of children. And yet now, in 21stcentury America, there are those who would want us to believe that all people of all times have been mistaken about the true nature and purpose of marriage. No one can simply redefine marriage to suit a political or social agenda.

Once again, we must be clear about this matter. The future of our world depends upon the strength of the family, the basic unit of society. The future of the family depends on the state of marriage. The family – father, mother and children – reflects the nature of God Himself, who is a communion of selfless and self-giving love. For this reason marriage and family life cannot be whatever we want them to be. They are only and always as God has created them. As in the matter of abortion, any Catholic politician who would promote so-called “same-sex marriage” and any Catholic who would vote for that political candidate place themselves outside the full communion of the Church and may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled by the Sacrament of Penance.

The Church never directs citizens to vote for any specific candidate. The Church does, however, have the right and the obligation to teach clearly and fully the objective truth about the dignity and rights of the human person. These teachings, in turn, must inform the consciences of voters. “By its intervention in this area, the Church’s Magisterium does not wish to exercise political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of Catholics regarding contingent questions. Instead, it intends -- as is its proper function – to instruct and illuminate the consciences of the faithful, particularly those involved in political life, so that their actions may always serve the integral promotion of the human person and the common good.” (7)

Dear friends in Christ, I exhort you with all my heart to take courage and proclaim the Gospel of Life to those who will stand for elected office this fall. It is by your prayers and by your votes that politicians who are unconditionally pro-life and pro-family will serve our country. Conversely, if our voices remain silent or if, God forbid, we vote contrary to our informed consciences, we will see our country led down a short path to ruin. We want freedom for all, but there can be no freedom without truth. In the words of our Holy Father: “When freedom is detached from objective truth it becomes impossible to establish personal rights on a firm rational basis; and the ground is laid for society to be at the mercy of the unrestrained will of individuals or the oppressive totalitarianism of public authority.” (8)

Let us all pray for those politicians who claim to be Catholic yet continue to oppose the law of God and the rights of persons that, by the grace of God, they will be converted once again to the full and authentic articulation and practice of the faith.

Finally, I wish to affirm my brother bishops who have proclaimed the truth of these critical matters and who have admonished those Catholic politicians who place themselves at odds with the truth of God. May that truth which is the foundation of genuine freedom prevail in our country.

Given at the Chancery on this first day of May 2004, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan
Bishop of Colorado Springs

Endnotes
(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1782.
(2) ibid., 1783.
(3) ibid., 2032 and Code of Canon Law 747.2.
(4) Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes), 43.
(5) John Paul II, The Gospel of Life (Evangelium vitae), 73.
(6) Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Doctrinal Notes on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life”, 4.
(7) ibid., 6.
(8) The Gospel of Life, 101.



Click here to share this news story with a friend.


 



TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Charismatic Christian; Current Events; Eastern Religions; Ecumenism; Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion; History; Humor; Islam; Judaism; Mainline Protestant; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Orthodox Christian; Other Christian; Other non-Christian; Prayer; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics; Religion & Science; Skeptics/Seekers; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: bishopsheridan; catholiclist; homosexualagenda; nocommunion; proabortvoters; prohomosexualvoters
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last
For your information and discussion!

Did you all see (or hear about) this?

1 posted on 05/14/2004 5:16:53 PM PDT by Salvation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: *Catholic_list; father_elijah; nickcarraway; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; attagirl; ...
Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

PS. I am rebuilding my ping list after a computer crash, so if you did not get a ping and you previously had contacted me, please send me another FReepmail.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Salvation

2 posted on 05/14/2004 5:17:52 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Coleus; cpforlife.org

Could you do a Right to Life ping here?


3 posted on 05/14/2004 5:18:57 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
I want to give this Bishop a real big

ATTABOY!!!!!

4 posted on 05/14/2004 5:36:44 PM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to propagate her genes.....any volunteers?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

"A LETTER FROM BISHOP MICHAEL SHERIDAN OF COLORADO SPRINGS: NO COMMUNION FOR PRO-ABORTION / HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE VOTERS "

I'm sure the usual suspects will be whining about 'separation of religion and politics'... I mean 'separation of church and state'... err, 'freedom to oppress religion'.


5 posted on 05/14/2004 5:55:25 PM PDT by nosofar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
This is tremendous news, long overdue. My wife is a 31 year veteran of the pro-life wars - she has been in the trenches one way or another since Roe v Wade. She began to cry upon hearing this good news.

Many of her fellow pro-lifers from different factions (crisis pregnancy, political action, prayer warriors, etc.) have been calling and emailing us this afternoon. I have never seen news spread through the pro-life community this fast.

I really believe Satan got in some of his best shots at our Church with the homosexual scandal. Now the Holy Spirit (with all the angels and saints) is fighting back. We pray that the courage and forthrightness of this bishop will spread like wildfire across this country and renew our Church and nation.

6 posted on 05/14/2004 6:12:58 PM PDT by old and tired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: old and tired

**This is tremendous news, long overdue. My wife is a 31 year veteran of the pro-life wars - she has been in the trenches one way or another since Roe v Wade. She began to cry upon hearing this good news.**

We all need to let our priests and bishops know this too!

I actually saw it in the USA Today, Gannett local fishwrapper yesterday. So its out there!


7 posted on 05/14/2004 6:22:50 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: old and tired
Did you see this?

Catholic Q and A: Who can deny Holy Communion? To whom should Holy Communion be denied?

8 posted on 05/14/2004 6:28:31 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

Well good for this Bishop! God bless this man for standing up for what is right in the sight of God.


9 posted on 05/14/2004 7:12:13 PM PDT by ladyinred (Torture is what happened to Nick Berg!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
Not long after Bishop Sheridan was installed as the ordinary of C.S. (Can't be more than two years ago) my pastor (an FSSP priest) remarked before his homily how he had been able to spend some time with our new bishop, and how we must "thank God for how incredibly blessed this diocese is to have this man as our bishop. Pray for him often."

Now I know exactly what he meant in spades. This letter is brilliant. It is thorough and deserves to be read from every pulpit in the land. God bless Bishop Sheridan and may his brother bishops attain the courage to preach the gospel of life as he has.

10 posted on 05/14/2004 7:29:21 PM PDT by St.Chuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: St.Chuck

You are indeed blessed!


11 posted on 05/14/2004 8:14:17 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ladyinred

The Catholic Church needs many more bishops just like him. In fact, I dare say America needs many ministers to take and publicize a similar stand!

God bless!


12 posted on 05/14/2004 8:15:35 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

Living the Gospel of Life:
A Challenge to American Catholics

A Statement by the Catholic Bishops of the United States

Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion

Faithful Citizenship:
Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium

The Gospel of Life--Evangelium Vitae 

If the world loves you

Thinking of You
By Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick

The disagreement that I have with the folks who are annoyed at me is that I disagree that in this instance we should use denial of the Eucharist as a public sanction. As a priest and bishop, I do not favor a confrontation at the altar rail with the Sacred Body of the Lord Jesus in my hand. There are apparently those who would welcome such a conflict, for good reasons, I am sure, or for political ones, but I would not.

13 posted on 05/14/2004 8:19:35 PM PDT by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...

`


14 posted on 05/14/2004 8:21:15 PM PDT by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Coleus
There are apparently those who would welcome such a conflict, for good reasons, I am sure, or for political ones, but I would not.

I hope that Cardinal McCarrick is a septuagenarian, and his days as archbishop of D.C. are numbered.

15 posted on 05/14/2004 8:27:40 PM PDT by St.Chuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Coleus

Loving your tagline!

My sentiments exactly!


16 posted on 05/14/2004 8:28:19 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
You are indeed blessed!

Indeed. Everyone is going to get their turn though. The appointments in recent months and years are very, very encouraging. Deo gratias.

17 posted on 05/14/2004 8:33:48 PM PDT by St.Chuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: american colleen; Aquinasfan; B Knotts; BlackElk; Campion; Chi-townChief; Cicero; Coleus; ...
In case you'd like to express your support for the good Bishop:

webmaster@diocs.org

(If you would like to be added to my Catholic Ping List, please send a Freepmail.)

18 posted on 05/14/2004 9:20:51 PM PDT by Barnacle (Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Barnacle

Mike Sheridan is one of the greatest priests I've ever known. When ha was pastor at my parish, the pews were full. Things were orthodox and done right and well, much to the chagrin of a lot of the liberals in the parish.

I'm very glad he's making his mark.


19 posted on 05/14/2004 9:29:58 PM PDT by Desdemona (Music Librarian and provider of cucumber sandwiches, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary. Hats required.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation.

Yes, this is true. The Church has had a specific teaching for a long time regarding the obligations of politicians.

Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences.

I would like to see the canon law. I believe that this is clearly false. Catholic ARE allowed to vote for the lesser of 2 evils. Personally, I do not do so. I will not vote for anyone who is not 100% pro-life. But that does not mean that other Catholics are not allowed to make a different prudential decision.

Basically this bishop is saying that Catholics cannot vote for the re-election of President Bush. After all, Bush stands for abortion in various circumstances and he has permitted stem cell research to proceed. I admit that he is LESS pro-abortion than others including Kerry, and he is LESS supportive of stem cell research than others including Nancy Reagan just this week. But that is not what the pastoral letter says. It says that you have excommunicated yourself if you vote for anyone who "stands for abortion." Thre is nothing about exceptions.

20 posted on 05/14/2004 9:31:14 PM PDT by Maximilian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson