Posted on 01/29/2004 6:30:44 AM PST by cpforlife.org
The emergence of Senator John Kerry as a presidential candidate raises crucial questions about how bishops may react, seeing that he presents himself both as a staunchly pro-choice politician and as a practicing Catholic. The issue is of immediate moment, for it is a time when bishops across the United States -- including on Kerry's home turf of Boston -- have been issuing statements or even canonical declarations warning those who favor abortion to abstain from the Eucharist.
Kerry represents Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and hails from Boston. He has seized control of the Democratic primaries -- at least for the moment -- and professes to paid heed to his religion. "I am a believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic," he has been quoted as saying.
But only a week ago, newly-installed Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley struck out against pro-choicers like Kerry, telling a Catholic website called LifeSiteNews.com, "These politicians should know that if they're not voting correctly on these life issues that they shouldn't dare come to Communion."
Those words appear at great odds with Kerry's voting record and may put him on a collision course with the Church, should he ever assume control of the Oval Office. In fact Kerry even opposes a ban on partial-birth abortion. According to his campaign website: "John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.
These positions are the perfect opposite of the Church's, and if elected his standing as a "practicing" Catholic could generate significant -- and perhaps even monumental controversy -- leaving open the possibility that America's second Catholic President could become the first to be prohibited from receiving Holy Communion, the Church's defining sacrament.
Just last November Archbishop Raymond L. Burke -- now in St. Louis but at the time bishop of LaCrosse, Wisconsin -- issued a canonical notification prohibiting the Eucharist for pro-choice lawmakers.
"Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion," said the notification. "They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publicly renounce their support of these most unjust practices." The document repeated the Vatican's teaching that Catholics involved in lawmaking have a "grave and clear obligation to oppose" any measure that is an attack on human life. "For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them," it says.
This was followed by a statement by New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes -- who less than two weeks ago said that "the Louisiana bishops are sending a copy of this document to each of our elected Catholic public officials in Baton Rouge and Washington. When Catholic officials openly support the taking of human life in abortion, euthanasia or the destruction of human embryos, they are no longer faithful members in the Church and should not partake of Holy Communion. Moreover, citizens who promote this unjust taking of human life by their vote or support of such candidates share in responsibility for this grave evil."
The need is to pray for the potential leaders, as opposed to simple condemnation. Can John Kerry return to faithful Catholicism?
And maybe taking a few more wives and lopping off their heads...
"Abortion? I am all for it…
for “certain undesirable organizations”
"Abort N.O.W., NARAL, and Planned Parenthood!
Abort Roe v Wade and all “laws” that allow the
MURDER of my unborn friends!"
"Life is Sacred from the moment of conception!"
Click here to read a press release from the current president of the
Federation of Americans waiting to be born.
Ok, John it's time to pick, one you can only have one..
I am a believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic
Sorry, his beliefs are not consistent with the church, he needs more practice. Maybe he can get some pointers from his buddy Ted.
I think it should read "I am a non believing but still practicing Catholic, as long as I can get away with it"
Nope!! This ain't going to happen...
It's that simple.
I am blessed to live in a great diocese and pray to hear a pronouncement to this effect from my bishop soon.
The numbers below speak for themselves.
As a Catholic I am disgusted to have to say that statistically, had more Catholics voted in the 2000 presidential election, the pro-abortion candidate - Algore would have won. Worse still a majority of "Catholics" voted for Klintoon both times.
- 2000 Presidential Election -
Source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/epolls/US/P000.html (Note: The above chart was constructed using data from the listed source.) Half of the people who voted are aged 18-44, and eighty percent claim to be Christian.
All in the 18-44 group were in school since Roe v. Wade, and could have received a Pro-Life education .
(That reminds me, I need to make sure my passport is up to date.)
That's basically correct. There is the Vatican document on Catholics in political life which outlines the moral principles which must guide Catholics on issues of human life. Technically,as I understand it, the issue regarding Communion is one of "discipline" and at the discretion of bishops to determine. What seems to be going on is "collegiality" - individual bishops consulting with one another on how they understand the issue. It's clear that someone who is involved in propaganda and political campaigns to promote abortion is no longer a Catholic in good standing. And he or she should not be receiving Holy Communion while engaged in the public scandal of promoting grave evil - the murder of the unborn. Now, finally, some bishops appear ready to enforce this. Or, at least, make it known that that is the policy in effect in their diocese. We shall have to wait and see whether priests and bishops actually take the next step and deny such pro-abortion Catholics (that sounds horrible doesn't it?)Communion at actual Masses.
One positive effect of this will be that it will make clear which bishops are truly and courageously Catholic. That will be good for the Church and good for the world.
Jackie's problem is that Onassis' first wife was still alive when they married. It was his divorce, not hers, but still the marriage was adulterous. IIRC.
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