Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion
Catholic News Service ^ | July 31, 2003

Posted on 08/02/2003 3:07:26 PM PDT by NYer

BOSTON (CNS) -- Boston Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has stated that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion should not receive Communion of their own volition, but the church does not deny Communion to people approaching the altar, presuming they do so in "good faith." The Boston Archdiocese issued a July 29 statement outlining the new archbishop's position in response to a Boston Globe article. A July 27 Globe article discussed a 1992 controversy involving a Catholic politician who backed legal abortion when Archbishop O'Malley headed the Diocese of Fall River, Mass.


TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics; Worship
KEYWORDS: communion; kennedy; kerry; omalley
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-137 last
To: St.Chuck
Dear St.Chuck,

"That's a nice sentiment, but I guess it doesn't apply to 'Chappaquiddick Ted and Comrade Kerry.'"

It certainly does apply to them. I certainly denounce what they have done. In calling him by this moniker, I remind all what Chappaquiddick Ted did - murder. It is relevant, because what he most ardently works to protect in law is murder. Chappaquiddick Ted continues his murderous actions. I denounce it. I denounce it.

As for Comrade Kerry, perhaps you haven't read his totalitarian remarks about the appropriate nature of Church/State relations. He has denounced the pope for saying that Catholic politicans who work for creating legal homosexual "marriages" sin gravely. He has said that the pope has violated the principle of separation of Church and State. That is the totalitarian point of view. It elevates State to the highest place in the society, to the position of privilege. All else must fall under it. Church is merely tolerated as long as Church doesn't get uppity, and disagree with the party line. That is the totalitarian impulse. I denounce it. I denounce it.

But read what I've posted. As much as I revile all they do and stand for, I fear for their souls, and do not wish for them to be damned. I regret Archbishop O'Malley's inaction as well because it was a missed opportunity to try to draw these men to repentance.

Their actions are evil and perverse beyond description. They share the guilt for the blood of forty million innocent victims. They have shown by their actions that they embrace the sacrament of death, the sacrament of abortion. They have shown by their actions that they worship at the altar of Baal, the high places once torn down, now rebuilt, sacrificing anew to the pagan lusts of infanticide.

The evil they do is beyond any words I can muster. And they proclaim their filthy works, they proclaim their filthy love of their sacrament as the good, as the moral, as the sacred and holy.

Yet, God wishes all men to be saved, even these two. So do I. I am disappointed with Archbishop O'Malley's failure as well because these men, drowning in evil, at ease, comfortable with their horrible evil, need someone to shake them up, to say, "Repent before it's too late!"

I haven't said that it would be necessary to publicly call these men out and hold them up for humiliation. I've said that Archbishop O'Malley could have done this privately, a private call to each man, to say.

He could have said something like, "Your actions are those of a public sinner. You ought not approach for Holy Communion. You will be refused. The reason why I am doing is this is because your insistence on protecting in law the slaughter of innocents is gravely evil, and you likely are in mortal sin, and in danger of losing your soul. I encourage you to repent, to confess, to amend your life. The time for salvation is now."

I'm sure that Archbishop O'Malley could have said it ten times more elegantly, gracefully, and persuasively than that.

THAT's what I wished for these men. Perhaps it may have fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps not.

But that is one of the tasks of a bishop.


sitetest
121 posted on 08/03/2003 6:19:59 PM PDT by sitetest (They shall know you by your LOVE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Land of the Irish
AS I see it, the arrival of Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley in Boston is a reason for celebration. Let’s not foul it up by focusing on the sins of Kerry and Kennedy.

In the context of history, things are changing rapidly for the better. For the sake of all that is good, let’s have patience.

122 posted on 08/03/2003 7:52:17 PM PDT by Barnacle (A Human Shield against the onslaught of Leftist tripe.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Barnacle
“Those who…obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Communion.” Canon Law 915
123 posted on 08/03/2003 8:15:24 PM PDT by Land of the Irish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: Land of the Irish
I know, I know, the law is the law. But there must be room for discretion. Let’s keep things in perspective. If not, we’d all get speeding tickets on a daily basis.

I believe Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley is a good and wise man. And, I’m certainly willing to give his rationale the benefit of the doubt.
124 posted on 08/03/2003 8:40:33 PM PDT by Barnacle (A Human Shield against the onslaught of Leftist tripe.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: sitetest
"He could have said something like, "Your actions are those of a public sinner. You ought not approach for Holy Communion. You will be refused. The reason why I am doing is this is because your insistence on protecting in law the slaughter of innocents is gravely evil, and you likely are in mortal sin, and in danger of losing your soul. I encourage you to repent, to confess, to amend your life. The time for salvation is now." "

Living across the pond, I am not that familiar with K&K, but do you think that he might indeed have contacted them privately about this?

If Kennedy left without receiving communion, then this may indicate that words have been spoken. Is he known to have attended Mass without receiving communion before?
125 posted on 08/04/2003 1:37:02 AM PDT by Tantumergo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: Tantumergo
Dear Tantumergo,

I think it is reasonable to believe that he told them this:

http://www.rcab.org/News/ForTheRecord/ftr030729.html


sitetest
126 posted on 08/04/2003 5:38:41 AM PDT by sitetest (To permit them to receive is to reinforce the delusion that they may endorse the murder of innocents)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]

To: Tantumergo
Just as a general observation, I don't believe Kennedy and Kerry attend Mass except when it is "high profile." I remember that John Kerry married Teresa Heinz after he was divorced and before he had an annulment from his first marriage (which he applied for two years after the second marriage). I'm sure the annulment was granted (hey, we're in Massachusetts!) although I don't remember reading about it in the papers.
127 posted on 08/04/2003 6:08:51 AM PDT by american colleen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]

To: american colleen
Dear american colleen,

I can't say that it is still the case, but I seem to recall that Mr. Kennedy has been for many years a regular church-goer at Holy Trinity in Washington, DC.


sitetest
128 posted on 08/04/2003 6:48:41 AM PDT by sitetest (To permit them to receive is to reinforce the delusion that they may endorse the murder of innocents)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: sitetest
Could be... I am only going by what happens in Massachusetts.
129 posted on 08/04/2003 7:18:17 AM PDT by american colleen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: Land of the Irish
Love those signs. I've seen Bill Kotter holding those signs at a lot of pro-life marches.
130 posted on 08/04/2003 7:33:45 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Land of the Irish
I read an article on Canon Law 915, it argued that an Extraordinary EM has an obligation to deny communion, if the priest does not. What do you think?
131 posted on 08/04/2003 7:37:37 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: sitetest
The bishop OWES THEM THE OBLIGATION of calling them out, publicly, to turn away from their sin.

Yes. You're right. It's a charitable act.

132 posted on 08/04/2003 7:38:09 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Dear presidio9,


Regarding what Archbishop O'Malley tolerates, he has posted his policy on the Archdiocese of Boston website.

http://www.rcab.org/News/ForTheRecord/ftr030729.html

Here is what it says:

"July 29, 20033 - Response to the Boston Sunday Globe, July 27, 2003, pp.B10-11, “For roiled parish, uneasy compromise,” by Jack Thomas.

"In the story, Shirley Gomes, a then pro-choice candidate for the office of state representative recalls a conversation that she had with Bishop Sean: 'he assured me that if my position on abortion was an act of conscience, then I would not be denied Communion.'”

"Archbishop O’Malley wishes to make clear that there was much more to the conversation with now state representative Gomes. In particular, Archbishop O’Malley made it clear to her that a Catholic politician who holds a public, pro-choice position should not be receiving Communion and should on their own volition refrain from doing so. The Church presumes that each person is receiving in good faith. It is not our policy to deny Communion. It is up to the individual."

There it is. Though the archbishop believes the person ought not receive Holy Communion, the archbishop will not order that he or she be refused.

You may wish to look over this thread, which is largely about the dispute about this question.


sitetest
133 posted on 08/04/2003 4:15:17 PM PDT by sitetest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 126 | View Replies]

To: NWU Army ROTC
I am not familiar with the article you mentioned, but from what you say about it, I think I would be inclined to agree with it.
134 posted on 08/04/2003 7:42:52 PM PDT by Land of the Irish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies]

To: St.Chuck
I suggest you study your own religion, before you continue your feeble attempts to be an internet preacher.

How do you square Luke:15 with Luke 9:5?

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

135 posted on 08/04/2003 9:08:59 PM PDT by St.Chuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies]

To: Land of the Irish
#135 was meant for you.
136 posted on 08/04/2003 9:10:34 PM PDT by St.Chuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons

CONFUSIONS ABOUT POLITICAL JUDGMENT AND THE MORAL LAW

Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion

Bishop draws fire for targeting Chrétien

Kennedy likens Vatican stance on gay unions to 'bigotry' (oh, go get a job, you little creep)

Ignorance or Malicious Intent? "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to..."

George Weigel on Authentic Catholic Citizenship, and the Duty of Catholic Politicians to Behave as Catholics

Conservative Catholics urge Church to challenge "dissenters"

[Robert F., Jr.] Kennedy to speak at Festival of Faiths (Environmentalism as religion)

Faithful Catholic Politicians

Catholic Bishops Eye Possible Crackdown of Pro-Abortion Pols

PETITION TO EX-COMMUNICATE PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS

It is Time to Excommunicate the Politicians

137 posted on 11/25/2003 7:02:10 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-137 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