Denver Archbishop says those who Support Abortion "Rights" Cannot be Catholic

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | July 14, 2004 | LifeSiteNews.com

[Polycarp IV]

Denver Archbishop says those who Support Abortion "Rights" Cannot be Catholic

"One cannot be a pro-choice catholic. There are Catholics who don't understand that and think they're Catholics"

DENVER, July 14, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Denver's Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput was interviewed on Colorado Public Radio about his position in the debate over giving communion for Catholic public officials who support abortion. He wrote a column, one of a continuing series, in which he said that Catholics' who support abortion are not really Catholics, but "a very different kind of creature."

A local political candidate accused his archbishop of crossing the line between Church and State and said that Catholic prelates should not preach to Catholic politicians. However, in the interview the Archbishop, defended his statement saying, "If you don't accept what the Church teaches on issues of faith and morals you can't claim to be a Catholic." He went on to say, "I would say if you're in favour of the choice to kill babies it isn't compatible with Catholic faith."

Throughout the interview Chaput avoided the question of whether he would directly refuse someone like John Kerry communion if he should present himself in a Denver-area Catholic church. "One cannot be a pro-choice catholic," he said. "There are Catholics who don't understand that and think they're Catholics. We believe that if you don't accept what the church teaches in the grave matters of faith and morals, and we know what those are in the Catholic Church, then you're not in communion with what the Church teaches and therefore you shouldn't go to communion. Communion isn't about personal worthiness, it's about faith, what you believe."

When asked about the issue of separation of Church and State that is frequently used to attempt to silence Catholic or other Christian voices, the Archbishop became emphatic. He said that the tactic was unscrupulous and un-American and would never have been used against Church leaders who spoke out against slavery or segregation. "(Separation of Church and State) doesn't mean that the Church should be silent. It doesn't mean that a politician should tell me to shut up. It doesn't mean that any member of the Church can't talk about the issues that are important to the Church."

"Abortion is a matter of human dignity and human rights," Chaput said.

He then became more blunt. "It's not a religious principle; we're not against abortion for religious reasons. We're against it because it kills babies. No one should tell us to be quiet about that any more than we were quiet about segregation. It's very important that we're active; we encourage our people to vote their conscience. That's not interfering with the government."

To listen to the interview online (Window's Media Player required):

http://www.cpr.org/co_matters/

[Polycarp IV]

Pro-Abort "Catholic" Congressman Suggests Catholic Church's Tax Status be Revoked ST. LOUIS, July 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The conflict in the US Catholic Church over the issue of communion for pro-abortion public figures has again revealed the wide chasm between faithful and dissident Catholics.

Congressman William Lacy Clay, another "Catholic" Democrat who supports abortion on demand, has said that his Archbishop, Raymond Burke of St. Louis, has "gone too far." Rep.Clay has complained that Burke, one of the few US bishops who has said he would order his priests to refuse communion to public abortion-supporters, is crossing the Church/State line. He suggests that the Catholic Church ought to have its tax-free status revoked for engaging in political activity.

The Congressman from St. Louis was among the 40 Catholics who voted "no" to the federal partial birth abortion ban.

"I think Archbishop Burke has gone too far; he is now delving into politics," Clay said.

"Perhaps the Catholic Church should surrender their 501(c) status." Rep. Clay received a rating of "100" in 2000 from NARAL Pro-Choice America's list.

[Polycarp IV]

Ping!

(Yeah, I was going to take a break...but then I thought, "Why should I leave?")

[NeoCaveman]

You shouldn't leave.

Bishop Chaput is a great man, the heretical Congresscritter should check out Cardinal Bertone, the Cardinal's comments are right on too.

[Pyro7480]

"Welcome" back Doc! It seems the Archbishop of Chicago was on to something when he said Christians (and especially Catholics) will be suffering a real persecution in the near future. It certainly seems to be headed that way when Barry Lynn and this "Catholic" politican is using the threat governmental pressure to silence Catholic teachings. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[cpforlife.org]

"(Yeah, I was going to take a break...but then I thought, "Why should I leave?")"

EXCATLY!

And if the bishops were true shepherds and not politicians they would have ALL of their priests and themselves make a series of powerful homilies between now & November and several EVERY year that started with something like this:

One cannot be pro-choice on abortion and Catholic, the two are DIAMETRICALLY opposed and eternal enemies. There are Catholics who don't understand that and think they're Catholics. If you don't accept what the church teaches in the grave matters of faith and morals, and we know what those are in the Catholic Church, then you're NOT in communion with what the Church teaches and therefore you shouldn't go to communion.

[Siobhan]

A bump to your post and a salute to your persevering.

[cpforlife.org]

Election Day and Christian Responsibility

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The elections of 2004 are a critical juncture for the future and direction of our nation.

This year voters will either defend the Culture of Life, or advance the culture of death.  As Christians, we have a clear and moral obligation to register to vote and to carefully consider the candidates' position on the sanctity of LIFE when we cast our vote.

Christians are called to vote with a PROPERLY FORMED CONSCIENCE. This can be explained with one sentence from our LORD, which applies, even inside the voting booth, “Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brethren, you do to Me” (Mt.25:40).  From The Gospel of Life: “Abortion and euthanasia are crimes, which no human law can claim to legitimize.  In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to `take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it'.”

What about the other issues?  "Calls to advance human rights are an illusion if the right to life itself is subject to attack." Faithful Citizenship. A powerful consideration from Fr. Frank Pavone, "If a candidate can't respect the life of a little baby, how is he supposed to respect ours?" From A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters: “A disqualifying issue is one which is of such gravity and importance that it allows for no political maneuvering. It is an issue that strikes at the heart of the human person and is non-negotiable. A disqualifying issue is one of such enormity that by itself renders a candidate for office unacceptable regardless of his position on other matters.” FIVE such disqualifying issues are Abortion, Euthanasia, Fetal Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, and “homosexual marriage”.

Participation in the political process is a virtue, and every vote counts. Christians have every right to strive by legitimate means to shape public policy according to their moral convictions.  We are each, individually, called to help build a Culture of Life-voting in defense of LIFE is among the most important ways.

Children waiting to be born cannot speak for themselves-we are their voice. We must speak up in their defense at the voting booth. If we do not, millions more will never be allowed to speak.

This map has 17.5 states blacked out.  The population of these states is equal to the number of “legal” surgical abortions since 1973.  Perhaps this visual perspective helps one to grasp the number 44,000,000-that's 44 MILLION PEOPLE who are gone, dead--robbed of their God given Constitutional right to LIFE.

Help end this tragedy, promote registering and VOTING PRO-LIFE.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)

Kevin Jeanfreau Louisiana Director Knights for Life

Ed Jeanfreau Louisiana Chairman Knights for Life

Please Copy and Distribute widely

Download this document and others related at:

www.KnightsForLife.org

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

http://cpforlife.org/id126.htm

[sweetliberty]

Somebody should clue in John F'n.

[Saint Athanasius]

The Archbishop is a great man...

I love reading his articles in the Denver Register.

[Desdemona]

but then I thought, "Why should I leave?

Good question.

Chaput is right, as usual. We need more like him.

Lacy Clay is a poor excuse for a congresscritter. It would be nice if Burke would do something about the Clays, but I doubt it will happen.

[lrslattery]

Lacy Clay is a poor excuse for a congresscritter. It would be nice if Burke would do something about the Clays, but I doubt it will happen.

On radio station KTRS 550 am this afternoon during the drive time local news update, Representative Clay indicated that his meeting with Archbishop Burke went well and they are going to continue to meet. The first meeting, he said, was a religious moment, more of a religious meeting. Neither party is discussing the details of the meeting.

This could be good news in that Rep. Clay and Archbishop Burke are going to meet again.

Please continue to keep both Rep. Clay and Archbishop Burke in your prayers. There is nothing other than the grace of God that will permit an enlightening of the mind and a conversion of the heart in the battle to save the unborn and to save others souls from scandal.

[RobbyS]

There are those who argue that we must accept the law even though we do not agree with it. But we have an obligation as citizens of the United States to oppose unjust law. Abortion law is unjust, and far more radical than the abortion law of an openly secular country like Sweden. Our courts have given to women an absolute power to kill at their pleasure, a right so unsparing of their unbonr children that discredits any claim they might make for special consideration. To spare sa handful of women the agony they might suffer from having to bear a hideously deformed child or other such horrific events, we have given them an open license to kill.

[Polycarp IV]

There are those who argue that we must accept the law even though we do not agree with it.

Would they say the same about slavery?

Lex malla, lex nulla. (A bad law is no law.) -- St. Thomas Aquinas

[RobbyS]

Did you know that Lincoln had a hard time getting the 13th Amendment through Congress? This after he had handily won re-election. So even in the North in 1865, Congress voted to abolish slavery only because they recogized that the institution was already dead, killed by main force.

[GirlShortstop]

Please continue to keep both Rep. Clay and Archbishop Burke in your prayers. There is nothing other than the grace of God that will permit an enlightening of the mind and a conversion of the heart in the battle to save the unborn and to save others souls from scandal.

BUMP

[Mike Fieschko]

Did you know that Lincoln had a hard time getting the 13th Amendment through Congress? This after he had handily won re-election. So even in the North in 1865, Congress voted to abolish slavery only because they recogized that the institution was already dead, killed by main force.

This is partly true. Lincoln was re-elected in November 1864, and the Ciivl War did not end until April 1865.

The Senate had approved the 13th Amendment in 1864, before the election. The House did not approve it until January 31, 1865, after the election, but before the next Congress, elected in November 1864, would take office on March 4, 1865. So, it was the 'lame duck' House of Representatives, elected in 1862, which passed it.

All Republican members of the House voting, voted in favor except one (Clay of Kentucky). Of the 56 nays, 55 of them were Democrats. Sixteen Democrats voted in favor.

Since an amendment requires a two-thirds majority to pass each house of Congress, Lincoln needed support from Democrats to get it passed. See http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/rbaapc:@field(DOCID+@lit(rbaapc21010div1))

The 13th Amendment was ratified by December 1865. Interestingly, New Jersey rejected it in March 1865, then ratified it in 1866.

[broadsword]

This is not about the Church interfering in politics, it is all about a few good bishops rightfully telling Catholics how to be Catholic.

But for the Babykiller Party, Catholic is only a claim to make to get the (lost) Catholic vote. And by their unchallenged example they have been getting Catholic souls for Satan.

[Dominick]

He suggests that the Catholic Church ought to have its tax-free status revoked for engaging in political activity.

I for one would redouble my efforts to bring in money to cover this loss, if only the Church would be the Church. Good thing I am not a Bishop, I would be going through shepherds crooks pretty fast by breaking them over some people's heads.

Notice Dem politicians speak at black churches all the time, and make stump speeches thee, and that isn't politics. Tell a guy don't come around here, to Unite yourself in Christ with us, when you despise our principles, and that is called politics.

[Desdemona]

I'm glad they met.

I don't know. I've lived in the Clay's district my whole life and they've always been pretty hard-nosed about this. Maybe Burke can get through to him.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Abp Burke and Abp Chaput (also Sheridan in Colo Springs and Bruskewitz in Lincoln, NE) seem to be fine men who conduct themselves as real shepherds and not hired hands like so many leaders. When Burke and the few others spoke out very clearly recently about the whole CINO politicos and the Eucharist, I was delighted - at least a few still give the Eucharist and the Real Presence the respect it deserves!

Kerry and all these other "catholic" (so called; lower case "C" deliberate to denote not truly Catholic status) politicos are a disgrace and embarrassment. I admire the charity of those who pray for such people, they have far more Christian charity than I have. Personally, I'd rather see these CINO politicos and their supporters within the Church given the left foot of fellowship out the church-house door. Not likely to happen in the majority of US dioceses and parishes, but it would be nice to see. At some point a clear an decisive line has to be drawn against evil, and against all these termites that are sound bound and determined to fifth-column and destroy the Church from within by forcing their agendas on everyone. Why the heck don't they just plain leave and join the local ECUSA church? (Rhetorical question) Most ECUSA churches would welcome these rodents with open arms, and their views are much more compatible.

To those who have far greater charity and patience than I, who pray for the souls of these CINOs, I take my hat off to you, you are far better followers of Christ than I am.