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Catholic Bishop: Pro-Abortion VP Candidate Joe Biden Should Skip Communion
Life News ^ | 8/25/08 | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 08/25/2008 4:05:50 PM PDT by wagglebee

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading Catholic bishop delivered the opening statement of the quadrennial debate over whether or not pro-abortion Catholic politicians should receive communion. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver says Barack Obama's running mate Joe Biden should refrain from the sacrament.

Biden is a pro-abortion Catholic and has a long voting record of supporting abortion and opposing any sensible limits on it.

In an email sent Sunday to the Associated Press, Archbishop Chaput said Biden should following the teachings of the Church by opposing abortion or voluntarily refrain from receiving communion.

Not doing so would be "seriously wrong," he said.

"I certainly presume his good will and integrity and I presume that his integrity will lead him to refrain from presenting himself for Communion if he supports a false 'right' to abortion," the Catholic leader added.

Chaput told AP he would likely try to speak privately with Biden to encourage him to reform his abortion views or not receive the sacrament.

According to a Washington Times report, Biden took communion on Sunday at his home parish in Delaware, St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville.

This is the second time the abortion-communion debate has cropped up in the context of a presidential election -- with the first coming over concerns about John Kerry, the pro-abortion presidential nominee in 2004.

Then, more than a dozen Catholic officials told Kerry not to present himself for communion at churches under their purview.

Earlier this month, a top Vatican official, former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke -- now the prefect of the Apostolic Signature -- said all Catholics, including politicians, should not receive communion if they are pro-abortion.

Archbishop Burke also issued a challenge to ministers to make sure they are not providing the sacrament to pro-abortion lawmakers who have not repented from their position, which is at odds with the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.

Communion should be denied to pro-abortion politicians “until they have reformed their lives," he said.

Chaput has spoken out quite a bit about abortion in recent days -- with him rebuking the Democratic Party for using flowery language in the platform to direct attention away from its pro-abortion stance.

Earlier, the party refused to invite Chaput to the convention for a benediction.


TOPICS: Catholic; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; communion; joebiden; prolife
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Communion should be denied to pro-abortion politicians “until they have reformed their lives," he said.

Then priests need to start denying them Communion!

1 posted on 08/25/2008 4:05:50 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser; Salvation; NYer; Pyro7480

Pro-Life/Catholic Ping


2 posted on 08/25/2008 4:06:43 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee
The Democrats'Univited Guest

The Democrats' uninvited guest Posted Aug. 19, 2008 11:53 AM || by Phil Lawler || category Commentary

When the leaders of the Democratic Party gather in Denver for their nominating convention, they'll hear from a number of prominent religious leaders. They'll hear from several prominent Catholics, too. But they won't hear from the Archbishop of Denver, points out Julia Duin of theWashington Times.

Archbishop Charles Chaput would be a very, very interesting convention speaker. He's intelligent, witty, modest, and thoughtful. He has taken a special interest in the relationship between religion and politics, as demonstrated by his new book, Render Unto Caesar.

But if you were a Democratic leader… if you were a supporter of Senator Obama… would you want to hand Archbishop Chaput the microphone? Nope. His message would not be congenial to the "pro-choice" crowd.

Ray Flynn, former Boston mayor and later US ambassador to the Vatican, tells the Washington Times that the failure to include Archbishop Chaput is "a serious oversight" on the part of Democratic Party leaders. Serious, yes. Oversight, no. 


3 posted on 08/25/2008 4:18:53 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wagglebee
Pope Benedict and many other Bishops have also spoken out on this matter of no Communion for the pro-abort politicians.

Catholic Bishop: Pro-Abortion VP Candidate Joe Biden Should Skip Communion

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4 posted on 08/25/2008 4:20:18 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wagglebee; antonius

5 posted on 08/25/2008 4:20:56 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wagglebee

I’m glad that the Catholic bishop spoke up. This is war, guys! The enemy respects no rules, no principles.


6 posted on 08/25/2008 4:32:06 PM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (liberalism = serious mental deficiency)
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To: wagglebee
Then priests need to start denying them Communion!

But will they? The bishop's comments amount to nothing more than suggestions unless they are backed up with consequences, and that just doesn't happen very often. It seems like priest and bishops can pretty much give Communion to anyone they want. I don't see consequences most of the time (remember the transvestite "nuns" in San Francisco some time ago?).

7 posted on 08/25/2008 4:52:44 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: wagglebee
While I agree with Chaput's position, it's not the position of the Archbishop of Washington DC, and it's his opinion that matters here. Archbishop Wuerl is enabling these liberal Democrat Catholic politicians to continue misrepresenting the Catholic Church IMO. Archbishop Chaput should refrain from talking about events happening outside of his jurisdiction, and start talking about what he's doing (or not doing) re events happening in his own backyard.
8 posted on 08/25/2008 4:57:51 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (What can I say? It's a gift. And I didn't get a receipt, so I can't exchange it.)
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To: wagglebee
Can they be thrown out of the Church? Not the Priest but those supporting pro-death.
9 posted on 08/25/2008 5:05:28 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Psalm 83:1-8 is on the horizon.)
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To: Alex Murphy
While I agree with Chaput's position, it's not the position of the Archbishop of Washington DC, and it's his opinion that matters here.

I would be inclined to think that Archbishop Burke's position trumps all of them:

Head of Vatican's Highest Court: "Obligation to Deny Communion to Pro-Abortion" Politicians


10 posted on 08/25/2008 5:05:51 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: guitarplayer1953

There are certain procedures involved, but yes, they can certainly be excommunicated and though I am certainly no expert on canon law, I believe that some of them have excommunicated themselves even without a formal declaration.


11 posted on 08/25/2008 5:09:05 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Salvation

Your list is wonderful and I think you should email it (probably the articles, not the FR threads) to every bishop in the country.


12 posted on 08/25/2008 5:10:36 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee
Then priests need to start denying them Communion!

...assuming the politicians in question even bother to show up for Mass, much less present themselves for the Eucharist...

13 posted on 08/25/2008 5:25:00 PM PDT by castlebrew (Gun control means hitting where you intended to!)
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To: wagglebee
1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one [was] Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 00016 1:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [be] a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it [be] a daughter, then she shall live. 00017 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 00018 1:18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 00019 1:19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 00020 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 00021 1:21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Here in Exodus God blessed the midwifes because they would not kill the men child's as the Pharaoh ordered. How much more would God bless someone who can change the law of the land?

14 posted on 08/25/2008 5:25:54 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Psalm 83:1-8 is on the horizon.)
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To: castlebrew

ALL ‘Rats seem to show up in church at election time.


15 posted on 08/25/2008 5:28:44 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

Wasn’t there a (rather nutty) nun who led the opening prayer at the DNC convention?


16 posted on 08/25/2008 5:40:15 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: wagglebee
I would be inclined to think that Archbishop Burke's position trumps all of them

I hope you are correct. However, these liberal bishops & archbishops have demonstrated a bold willingness to bend or even break the rules before. I doubt that they will fall in line behind Burke so easily.

17 posted on 08/25/2008 5:47:09 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (What can I say? It's a gift. And I didn't get a receipt, so I can't exchange it.)
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To: wagglebee

All I need to know about the Democratic Convention and Catholics is that Archbishop Chaput, the highest ranking Catholic in Denver has NOT been invited to any of the events.


18 posted on 08/25/2008 5:48:46 PM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E. That spells free. freerepublic.com baby)
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To: wagglebee
Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm


19 posted on 08/26/2008 4:12:38 AM PDT by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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To: Alex Murphy
While I agree with Chaput's position, it's not the position of the Archbishop of Washington DC, and it's his opinion that matters here.

During the convention, Biden (and probably Pelosi) are physically in Denver, therefore under the jurisdiction of Abp. Chaput. If they should attempt to receive communion in the Denver archdiocese, it's Abp. Chaput's authority which counts.

That's why it's important that Chaput has responded swiftly and decisively. If Wuerl would only do the same ...

20 posted on 08/26/2008 8:23:42 AM PDT by Campion
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