Priest: Catholics Who Voted For Obama Shouldn't Take Communion

[IthinkNOT!]

one Catholic priest is asking his parishioners not to take communion if they voted for Barack Obama for President.

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/34419879.html


This is a crock!

[YankeeMary]

Sick Sick Sick!!! How unfair to ask anyone to give up something to special and wonderful to them. God is love though they seem to forget.

[jeanea33]

Priest is way out of line. I think churches should stay out of politics.

[mosdata1]

Separation of church and state................. anyone?

[atprm]

First it wasn't a priest...It was three Catholic Bishops, from Atlanta, Charlotte, and Charleston. They didn't say no communion if you voted for Obama. They said Catholic Politicians that support Abortion rights should no longer receive communion.

[ilovecats]

First it wasn't a priest...It was three Catholic Bishops, from Atlanta, Charlotte, and Charleston. They didn't say no communion if you voted for Obama. They said Catholic Politicians that support Abortion rights should no longer receive communion.

lol.I misread the op,I thought it said"our priest".I thought it really happened to IthinkNOT.

[atprm]

Catholic bishops will fight Obama on abortion
Email this Story

Nov 11, 9:16 PM (ET)

By RACHEL ZOLL

BALTIMORE (AP) - The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration.

In an impassioned discussion on Catholics in public life, several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy. Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates.

And several prelates promised to call out Catholic policy makers on their failures to follow church teaching. Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., singled out Vice President-elect Biden, a Catholic, Scranton native who supports abortion rights.

"I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church," Martino said. The Obama-Biden press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas said politicians "can't check your principles at the door of the legislature."

Naumann has said repeatedly that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic Democrat who supports abortion rights, should stop taking Holy Communion until she changes her stance.

"They cannot call themselves Catholic when they violate such a core belief as the dignity of the unborn," Naumann said Tuesday.

The discussion occurred on the same day the bishops approved a new "Blessing of a Child in the Womb." The prayer seeks a healthy pregnancy for the mother and makes a plea that "our civic rulers" perform their duties "while respecting the gift of human life."

Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is preparing a statement during the bishops' fall meeting that will press Obama on abortion.

The bishops suggested that the final document include the message that "aggressively pro-abortion policies" would be viewed "as an attack on the church."

Along with their theological opposition to the procedure, church leaders say they worry that any expansion in abortion rights could require Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or lose federal funding. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago said the hospitals would close rather than comply.

During the campaign, many prelates had spoken out on abortion more boldly than they had in 2004, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back.

Yet, according to exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. The new bishops' statement is meant to drive home the point in a way that cannot be misconstrued.

"We have a very important thing to say. I think we should say it clearly and with a punch," said New York Cardinal Edward Egan.

But some bishops said church leaders should take care with the tone of the statement.

Bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from central church beliefs. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese.

"We must act and be perceived as acting as caring pastors and faithful teachers," said Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, S.D.

Dr. Patrick Whelan, a pediatrician and president of Catholic Democrats, said angry statements from church leaders were counterproductive and would only alienate Catholics.

"We're calling on the bishops to move away from the more vicious language," Whelan said. He said the church needs to act "in a more creative, constructive way," to end abortion.

Catholics United was among the groups that argued in direct mail and TV ads during the campaign that taking the "pro-life" position means more than opposing abortion rights.

Chris Korzen, the group's executive director, said, "we honestly want to move past the deadlock" on abortion. He said church leaders were making that task harder.

"What are the bishops going to do now?" Korzen said. "'They have burned a lot of bridges with the Democrats and the new administration."





and I understand the reason why the Priest in the OP did what he did, and fully support him for it.

[boopster]

It appears that these Catholic leaders have forgotten that not everyone is Catholic and thus have no right to try and shove their teachings down the throats of those who are not of their faith. It is one reason why we have separation of church and state. This country became a haven from religious persecution but these bishops appear to want to change things and punish those whom they feel are not down the right path. A politician's job is not to have their constituents follow their (the politicians) beliefs but to represent the voice of the people.

(Just wanted to add that no one should criticize the lack of cleanliness in someone's else home unless their own house is immaculate)

[Anig2u]

How the hell is there separation of church & state when they are making laws that conform to their beliefs???

[atprm]

It appears that these Catholic leaders have forgotten that not everyone is Catholic and thus have no right to try and shove their teachings down the throats of those who are not of their faith. It is one reason why we have separation of church and state. This country became a haven from religious persecution but these bishops appear to want to change things and punish those whom they feel are not down the right path. A politician's job is not to have their constituents follow their (the politicians) beliefs but to represent the voice of the people.

(Just wanted to add that no one should criticize the lack of cleanliness in someone's else home unless their own house is immaculate)

how is it that they are shoving it down your throat ... unless you are CATHOLIC??? The event happened in a Catholic Church.

Thus, since it is our faith, then it IS their right... they aren't shoving it down the throats of those who aren't Catholic --

unless of course you aren't speaking about the Original post of this thread.

You would be very surprised how many politicians follow the along with their constituents....

[boopster]

how is it that they are shoving it down your throat ... unless you are CATHOLIC??? The event happened in a Catholic Church.

Thus, since it is our faith, then it IS their right... they aren't shoving it down the throats of those who aren't Catholic --

unless of course you aren't speaking about the Original post of this thread.

You would be very surprised how many politicians follow the along with their constituents....

take a look at "Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is preparing a statement during the bishops' fall meeting that will press Obama on abortion.

The bishops suggested that the final document include the message that "aggressively pro-abortion policies" would be viewed "as an attack on the church."

That I would interpret as the church telling government that if it is not following the church's doctrine as far as abortion goes, then they feel that the church is being attacked.

[atprm]

any large constituent can press the government to sway in their favor... do you think the Catholic Bishops are the only ones??? Better think that again, because I am sure that other Religious Orders have done the same.

Does that mean the government will bend to the will? Hard to say -- are Catholic Bishops not US Citizens? Yes they are --

so if you were a Satanist, and there was something you didn't like, and you wanted to persue it changed in the government, shouldn't you have that right as a citizen to do so??

Absolutely!

They are still citizens.

I seriously doubt Roe vs Wade will be reversed -- especially with a Democratic POTUS...but they have the right to persue it, as they have done since Roe vs Wade became law.

[boopster]

Yes people have rights to express themselves, but taking away communion in my opinion is a bullying tactic.

[atprm]

not really -- 2 different topics in one thread.

As a Catholic, you are to take Holy Communion free of sin and with a clear mind and soul.

If you voted for Obama/Biden, who are pro-abortion and pro-infanticide, then you do not have a clear mind, soul or conscience -- therefore, it would be hypocritical for you to take Holy Communion.

Canon law is very clear -- it has nothing to do with bullying. If the Catholic pro-abortionist goes to Penance, then he will be able to receive Holy Communion. Only God will know what is confessed in the confessional, and if he is truly sorry for supporting pro-abortionists.

The priest / Bishops have every right to dictate to their parishoners who is eligible for Holy Communion -- they are not doing this on a public square -- they are doing it in MANY Catholic Churches nationwide -- including my own.

~*~

Here is Canon Law 915

he canon upon which the whole issue depends is canon 915, which states that 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 (my italics). On the surface, this may appear to constitute a pretty clear-cut answer to the question! One might say that politicians who repeatedly assert their support for the legalized killing of unborn children, and who vote again and again for laws to this effect, are playing with spiritual fire. If that doesn’t constitute “obstinate persistence in manifest grave sin,” then what does? So under this canon, how could a Catholic elected official who supports abortion possibly be permitted to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist?

Yet there are a number of fine distinctions that need to be made — and usually aren’t — before drawing any black-and-white conclusions about the sacramental life of Catholic politicians who vote in favor of abortion “rights.” This is not to suggest that the Catholic Church holds that there is any moral grey area when it comes to abortion. Deliberately murdering innocent children is never acceptable, nor is the willing acquiescence of anyone in their deaths. But before we point fingers and utter outright condemnations across the board, let’s be sure we can appreciate both the theological and canonical distinctions that first must be made.

1) First of all, let’s note that as the canon clearly states, a person needn’t be under a sanction like excommunication in order to be denied Holy Communion. This cannot be stressed enough, because much paper and ink has been expended over the (entirely legitimate) question of whether pro-abortion politicians who claim to be Catholics are ipso facto excommunicated or not. But it is critical to keep in mind that this is a separate issue from that of whether or not they may receive the Eucharist.

For a distinction must be made between Catholics who are actually under a sanction like excommunication, and Catholics who “just” sin. While ordinarily it’s pretty safe to say that all excommunicated people have sinned, the reverse statement is untrue — since not all sinners are under excommunication.

And while an excommunicated person is not permitted to receive the Eucharist (c. 1331.1 n. 2), it does not follow that every Catholic who is not under excommunication may do so. Note that canon 915 is not limited to Catholics who are excommunicated (or interdicted, which does not concern us here). In other words, it is possible, under canon 915, for a Catholic to be refused Holy Communion without being under a sanction.

So is it safe to say that John Doe, by the very fact that he votes time and again in support of abortion, is a sinner? Well, there is no doubt that what he is doing is, according to Catholic teaching, morally wrong. It is objectively evil to cooperate in this way in the killing of the innocent.

[atprm]

A distinction has to be made between the personal responsibility of the Catholic wishing to receive a sacrament to be properly disposed internally, and the authority of the minister to make a determination that the person is not worthy to receive it. These may arguably be two sides of the same coin, but they still remain two very separate aspects of the administration of the sacraments. In the past some have claimed that observing canon 915 is entirely the responsibility of the communicant, not of the minister who is distributing Holy Communion.

But such an argument is utterly devoid of merit. The code actually addresses specifically the obligation of every Catholic to refrain from receiving the Eucharist if he is conscious of grave sin in canon 916. This canon states that such a person must first confess his sins in the sacrament of penance (except for extraordinary situations which are not the rule, and which do not concern us here). Note that this canon immediately follows the canon 915 we have already been discussing above. In other words, first canon 915 addresses the duty of the minister of Holy Communion to withhold it from certain persons who may seek it; and then canon 916, in turn, addresses the obligation of potential communicants to check their consciences before approaching to receive the Eucharist. These are two different, albeit related, responsibilities.

What are we to conclude from all this? In sum, dealing with abortion-supporting Catholic politicians who wish to receive Holy Communion requires a balancing act. On the one hand, the clergy have a duty to establish that these politicians understand that their position is fundamentally incompatible with Catholic teaching; if it is clear that they understand this and yet continue to maintain their positions anyway, they are not to receive the Eucharist. If they try to do so anyway, the minister of the sacrament should withhold it from them. We must firmly assert that the infinite gift that Our Lord gave us of Himself in the Holy Eucharist has to be accorded the reverence that is due to Him, and that scandal should be avoided at all costs.

you can read the canon law here: http://catholicexchange.com/2008/10/16/114145/

[boopster]

A politician's first allegiance is allegedly to the people who elected him/her to represent them. From what I read, the church believes that a Catholic politician should vote based on the teachings of the church and if they go against it, then they don't have the right to participate in communion. This then becomes a tug-of-war between a politician doing the job they were elected to do and their religious beliefs.

[janelle]

Our state has Kathleen Sebelius as Governor. It's rumored Obama will put her in his cabinet. Our state also has Tiller the abortionist who will do abortions up til the baby is born. He is one of a handful who will do that. Sebelius has supported him all along the way. She has protected him from prosecution lets him get away with whatever he wants to do.

Are people suppose to look the other way no matter what? Our church is suppose to remind us and teach morals. It would be kinda stupid if they teach it and then ignore what they teach.

If Obama has his way all hospitals would do abortions and every doctor would do them no matter if it goes against their conscience. Talk about separation of church and state. Obama would stop that. The bishops have to do something.

[DrHolliday]

one Catholic priest is asking his parishioners not to take communion if they voted for Barack Obama for President.

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/34419879.html


Yep, I'm liking my choice to leave the Lutheran Church for the Catholic Church more and more. :clapping

[atprm]

A politician's first allegiance is allegedly to the people who elected him/her to represent them. From what I read, the church believes that a Catholic politician should vote based on the teachings of the church and if they go against it, then they don't have the right to participate in communion. This then becomes a tug-of-war between a politician doing the job they were elected to do and their religious beliefs.


that's all right on paper, and probably makes a person feel more upstanding --but let's get back to reality...

Yes, a Catholic or Christian should vote on what they were taught in church -- if anything, otherwise he is a hypocrit and does not have the right to celebrate the rites of the faith if he is not living the faith.

That is not to say that everyone does, but in our faith, we have the rite of penance, and before you celebrate in Holy Communion -- you should do so in clear conscience...you can't be sorry for the sin if you continually oppose the teaching of the faith and repeat the sin over and over.

That is the theology of our faith -- if you do not like that theology, the double doors in the back of the church work both ways.


there are 2 different topics at discussion in this thread ... one being the church in SC and other being the 3 Bishops.

[DrHolliday]

That is the theology of our faith -- if you do not like that theology, the double doors in the back of the church work both ways.

Exactly. Too many people come to church wanting to conform the church to their beliefs, and far too many ministers allow that to happen. Yeah, those churches may grown in numbers, but they get watered-down and end up with spiritually weak members in their congregation.

[Jolie Rouge]

Yes people have rights to express themselves, but taking away communion in my opinion is a bullying tactic.

They are asking that you abstain from recieving communion if you voted for a POTUS who has stated that newborn babies have no rights and has desribed them as "post-partum fetus' " THe bishps have no idea who you voted for as all elections are by secret ballot - they are asking that you follow the dictates of your conciense.

[Jolie Rouge]

that's all right on paper, and probably makes a person feel more upstanding --but let's get back to reality...

Yes, a Catholic or Christian should vote on what they were taught in church -- if anything, otherwise he is a hypocrit and does not have the right to celebrate the rites of the faith if he is not living the faith.

That is not to say that everyone does, but in our faith, we have the rite of penance, and before you celebrate in Holy Communion -- you should do so in clear conscience...you can't be sorry for the sin if you continually oppose the teaching of the faith and repeat the sin over and over.

That is the theology of our faith -- if you do not like that theology, the double doors in the back of the church work both ways.

there are 2 different topics at discussion in this thread ... one being the church in SC and other being the 3 Bishops.


:yeah

[Anig2u]

A politician's first allegiance is allegedly to the people who elected him/her to represent them. From what I read, the church believes that a Catholic politician should vote based on the teachings of the church and if they go against it, then they don't have the right to participate in communion. This then becomes a tug-of-war between a politician doing the job they were elected to do and their religious beliefs.

You need to separate state & church. The politician should be able to do that. They can pick one or the other but can't have it both ways..sorry..it's kinda like having your cake and eating it too.

[meltodd69]

I think the church should focus on its own problems. Like molesting children and the clergy having sex with little boys! How can they talk about what is right and wrong when they themselves are not without sin? They want to protect unborn children, but then do unspeakable things to children behind closed doors. Instead of the church protecting our children that are here today, they protect the sinners which are thier own leaders. I don't know which is worse the ones committing these types of acts or the ones protecting them.
If the church wants to preach politics then take away thier tax-exempt status. And if they want to teach about rights and wrongs they should practice what they preach first IMO!

[Anig2u]

I think the church should focus on its own problems. Like molesting children and the clergy having sex with little boys! How can they talk about what is right and wrong when they themselves are not without sin? They want to protect unborn children, but then do unspeakable things to children behind closed doors. Instead of the church protecting our children that are here today, they protect the sinners which are thier own leaders. I don't know which is worse the ones committing these types of acts or the ones protecting them.
If the church wants to preach politics then take away thier tax-exempt status. And if they want to teach about rights and wrongs they should practice what they preach first IMO!

Sounds good, but not all priests & church's are like that. You need to reword it to those who do these things.

[Jolie Rouge]

I think the church should focus on its own problems. Like molesting children and the clergy having sex with little boys! How can they talk about what is right and wrong when they themselves are not without sin? They want to protect unborn children, but then do unspeakable things to children behind closed doors. Instead of the church protecting our children that are here today, they protect the sinners which are thier own leaders. I don't know which is worse the ones committing these types of acts or the ones protecting them.
If the church wants to preach politics then take away thier tax-exempt status. And if they want to teach about rights and wrongs they should practice what they preach first IMO!

There are a hundred thousand good priests for each sick SOB. But of course the sick SOB makes better press. We had a youth director here that got three under age girls pregnant ... not a whisper on the news ... they were Southern Baptist. Then there was a Prespaterian Pastor who was arressted tried and convicted for fondling ( and worse ) little boys ... nope no news there... There are some sick SOB's in the world ... but don't condemn and entire group for the actions of a few.

Isn't that what you keep saying ?

Maybe you should take your own advise to heart.

[atprm]

It's the same concept of condemning all Ohioans because a group of a few hundred rioted through Cincinnati several years ago... and "immature adult 'kids'" burned down Cols because they lost an OSU game.


So are all Ohioans bad???

[meltodd69]

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound like I meant all of them. My DS belongs to that faith and his priest is a very good man. That was my mistake and I stand corrected.

[DrHolliday]

My only questions are: "Why are more priests not doing this?" and "Why did this not happen sooner?"

The Catholic church has been outspoken about being pro-life for over twenty years now. Has a saturation point finally been reached where many in the Catholic community are finally saying, "Enough is enough"? Let us hope so.

[atprm]

Our Parish has been doing this since the election -- every week, without fail...

most of the "traditional" Catholic Churches (you know the ones -- devout members, kneelers, stations of the cross, ladies wear chapel veils) do it here -- versus the "liberal" Catholic Churches (you know those too -- no kneelers, everyone thinks they are the priest, no one genuflects or makes the sign of the cross upon entering the AUDITORIUM).

[Bahet]

It's the same concept of condemning all Ohioans because a group of a few hundred rioted through Cincinnati several years ago... and "immature adult 'kids'" burned down Cols because they lost an OSU game.


So are all Ohioans bad???

Oh ok. I get it. So it's just like condeming all gays as 'in your face' because a few had an ostentatious parade.

[janelle]

Oh ok. I get it. So it's just like condeming all gays as 'in your face' because a few had an ostentatious parade.

We would agree they aren't helping. They are the Fred Phelps of Baptists.

[freeby4me]

If they didnt have parades to clue people in that this is a problem, people would say "Well, they obviously are happy with the way things are or else they'd be trying to do something."

[janelle]

If they didnt have parades to clue people in that this is a problem, people would say "Well, they obviously are happy with the way things are or else they'd be trying to do something."

Have you heard about those parades or seen them on TV? Looks like everyone there is very happy or high since they are exposing themselves in public and doing worse.

[ElleGee]

Have you heard about those parades or seen them on TV? Looks like everyone there is very happy or high since they are exposing themselves in public and doing worse.

I go to them EVERY year here in Providence and when they have the Gay/Portuguese festival in Provincetown Mass.. They are the BEST and FUNNEST looking parades I have ever seen

My kids go with us to the one in Providence and there is nothing vulgar about them..

[speedygirl]

I go to them EVERY year here in Providence and when they have the Gay/Portuguese festival in Provincetown Mass.. They are the BEST and FUNNEST looking parades I have ever seen

My kids go with us to the one in Providence and there is nothing vulgar about them..

I agree. We have one in our city as well and if anyone is caught doing anything vulgar they'll be arrested. They are heavily patrolled and there are people from all walks of life there. No dudes in a$$less chaps. ;)

[freeby4me]

I go to them EVERY year here in Providence and when they have the Gay/Portuguese festival in Provincetown Mass.. They are the BEST and FUNNEST looking parades I have ever seen

My kids go with us to the one in Providence and there is nothing vulgar about them..


I agree. We have one in our city as well and if anyone is caught doing anything vulgar they'll be arrested. They are heavily patrolled and there are people from all walks of life there. No dudes in a$$less chaps. ;)

Now come on you two, you MUST be lying! I mean really, we are talking about "The Gays" after all.


*sarcasm*

[speedygirl]

Now come on you two, you MUST be lying! I mean really, we are talking about "The Gays" after all.


*sarcasm*

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Elle and I are living up here in Sodom and Gomorrah so we wouldn't know any better, LOL ;)

[freeby4me]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Elle and I are living up here in Sodom and Gomorrah so we wouldn't know any better, LOL ;)

LOLOL I think that'll be my next residence, I should fit in just fine eh??

[janelle]

Not in SF. Anything goes and no arrests.

[ElleGee]

LOLOL I think that'll be my next residence, I should fit in just fine eh??

Come to the dark side... We have cookies lol

[janelle]

Come to the dark side... We have cookies lol

You have cooties??? Oh cookies, that is very different. LOL

[ElleGee]

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o319/Morfedel/Funnies/TheUltimateDeal.jpg

[janelle]

LOL, I get a kick out of kidding you El, you have such a good sense of humor. LOL

[DrHolliday]

Our Parish has been doing this since the election -- every week, without fail...

most of the "traditional" Catholic Churches (you know the ones -- devout members, kneelers, stations of the cross, ladies wear chapel veils) do it here -- versus the "liberal" Catholic Churches (you know those too -- no kneelers, everyone thinks they are the priest, no one genuflects or makes the sign of the cross upon entering the AUDITORIUM).

That's good to hear. I left the Lutheran church on account that I didn't hear ANYTHING on pro-life. My dad is active in his Lutheran church and the men's group told the pastor that the church needs to be more pro-life. I hear now that the Missouri Synod is making January Pro-Life month so I guess there are a lot of people like my father and me speaking out.

[DrHolliday]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Elle and I are living up here in Sodom and Gomorrah so we wouldn't know any better, LOL ;)

I think Sodom is on the West Coast and Gomorrah the Northeast. I could be wrong though. :whistle

[speedygirl]

I think Sodom is on the West Coast and Gomorrah the Northeast. I could be wrong though. :whistle

LOL You could be right. ;)

[DrHolliday]

LOL You could be right. ;)

We had a neighbor that visited his daughter in college a while back. He had a favorite coffee cup that he took with him that had a rainbow on it. He was an older guy that was not aware of the new meaning of the rainbow. His daughter informed him though.

Funny thing is, he was/is a man's man. Someone could have got their lights punched out over misinterpreting his coffee cup. It's a crazy world we live in. :twitch

[speedygirl]

We had a neighbor that visited his daughter in college a while back. He had a favorite coffee cup that he took with him that had a rainbow on it. He was an older guy that was not aware of the new meaning of the rainbow. His daughter informed him though.

Funny thing is, he was/is a man's man. Someone could have got their lights punched out over misinterpreting his coffee cup. It's a crazy world we live in. :twitch

It's funny that you mentioned this. As a teen in the 70's I had a huge collection of rainbow things, my bedroom had a huge rainbow mural, etc...and I showed my kids (they're grown) the photos and they asked me if I had supported gay rights back in the day. I had to tell them a rainbow back then was just that, a rainbow! lol.

[Jolie Rouge]

Sorry Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo, You Can’t be Catholic and Pro-Abortion
by Rebecca Downs | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 4/2/13 3:08 PM

It is the opinion of myself and other faithful, Catholic pro-lifers that Vice President Joe Biden and Governor Andrew Cuomo be denied communion as a result of their pro-abortion views.

If these two men would rather have their politics than their faith, so be it. You cannot be pro-abortion first and Catholic second; in fact, it’s only one or the other. You can’t be both.

I have personally met Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a man whom I hold in high esteem. A qualm I have with him, though – perhaps my only qualm – is that he has not acted as his predecessor, Cardinal Edward Egan, did. Egan did deny communion to churchgoers who did not share the Church’s teaching on abortion. Unfortunately, though, when Joe Biden attended the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s, Dolan not only served Biden communion, but cheerfully announced his presence.

Now, Biden may claim to be pro-life, but then he says he can’t impose this belief on other people, and on other religions? Well, okay – he’s not pro-life. Being pro-life is about not only what religion you belong to, but accepting the truth and the fact that life begins at conception.

And as the post on Patheos points out, Dolan and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference are suing the Obama administration. So such cheerfulness seems a bit odd. While Biden and Dolan met after Mass, it is not clear what they discussed.


Recently, Jason Jones of Movie to Movement wrote a letter to Cardinal Dolan asking that Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York be excommunicated for his views on abortion. If anyone is facilitating abortion right now and should be denied communion, it’s Andrew Cuomo. By now you’ve almost certainly heard about Cuomo’s bill to expand abortion in New York, a state which is already far ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to easy abortion access and high abortion rates.

The letter which Jones wrote has been published by World Net Daily. http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/filmmaker-asks-bishop-to-excommunicate-cuomo/

As I have said, if Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo want to have their politics, then if such politics conflict with the Catholic faith, then they cannot have both. If Cardinal Dolan and the rest of the Church are to remain consistent with teachings on abortion, then they must be not afraid to deny communion to those who refuse to uphold such truths about the right to life.

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/04/02/sorry-joe-biden-and-andrew-cuomo-you-cant-be-catholic-and-pro-abortion/

[Jolie Rouge]

Archbishop Vigneron: No Communion For Catholics Who Support Same-Sex Marriage!
By, Naraj Warkioo



“A Catholic Cannot Say,
I Believe The Church Offers The Saving Truth Of Jesus,
And Then Reject What The Church Teaches!”

Detroit professor and legal adviser to the Vatican says Catholics who promote gay marriage should not try to receive holy Communion, a key part of Catholic identity.

And the archbishop of Detroit, Allen Vigneron, told the Free Press Sunday that Catholics who receive Communion while advocating gay marriage would “logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury.”

The comments of Vigneron and Edward Peters, who teaches Catholic canon law at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, are part of a polarizing discussion about gay marriage that echoes debate over whether politicians who advocate abortion rights should receive Communion.

In a post on his blog last week, Peters said that Catholic teachings make it clear that marriage is between one man and one woman. And so, “Catholics who promote ‘same-sex marriage’ act contrary to” Catholic law “and should not approach for holy Communion,” he wrote. “They also risk having holy Communion withheld from them … being rebuked and/or being sanctioned.”

Peters didn’t specify a Catholic politician or public figure in his post. But he told the Free Press that a person’s “public efforts to change society’s definition of marriage … amount to committing objectively wrong actions.”

Peters, an attorney who holds the Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair at Sacred Heart, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to be a referendary of the Apostolic Sinatura, which means he helps advise the top judicial authority in the Catholic Church. Peters’ blog, “In Light of the Law,” is popular among Catholic experts, but not everyone agrees with his traditional views.

Peters has said before that liberal Catholic Democrats, such as U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, should be denied Communion because of their statements and positions.

In 2011, Peters said that Cuomo should not receive Communion because he is an outspoken proponent of gay marriage. Last month, Peters said, “Pelosi suffers from one of the most malformed consciences in the annals of American Catholic politics or … she is simply hell-bent on using her Catholic identity to attack Catholic values at pretty much every opportunity.”

In 2002, Catholic Jennifer Granholm’s support of abortion rights became an issue in the gubernatorial race a month before the election, when Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida released a letter saying Catholic politicians had a “special moral obligation” to oppose abortion.

Last month, Vigneron said at a news conference that maintaining views that oppose abortion and support traditional marriage are important for Catholics.

“Were we to abandon them, we would be like physicians who didn’t tell their patients that certain forms of behavior are not really in their best interest,” said Vigneron, who oversees 1.3 million Catholics in southeastern Michigan.

Asked by the Free Press about Catholics who publicly advocate for gay marriage and receive Communion, Vigneron said Sunday: “For a Catholic to receive holy Communion and still deny the revelation Christ entrusted to the church is to try to say two contradictory things at once: ‘I believe the church offers the saving truth of Jesus, and I reject what the church teaches.’ In effect, they would contradict themselves. This sort of behavior would result in publicly renouncing one’s integrity and logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury.”

Vigneron said the church wants to help Catholics “avoid this personal disaster.”

http://www.freep.com/article/20130408/NEWS05/304080041/Detroit-area-Catholic-leaders-urge-gay-marriage-supporters-to-skip-Communion

[janelle]

So many of my Catholic nieces and nephews support gay marriage. Scary really. They put the equal sign on their facebook page. My DIL did the same and I think my other DIL would do it as well except she has so many pics of her kids on facebook.

They "like" the guy from star trek who married his boyfriend. Seems all the shows they watch on TV has pushed for gays and what they want to do. I'm not sure if an article like this would make them think differently.

[hblueeyes]

I am not here to judge or make judgements. But what the government does and what the church does are two vastly different things. I believe that committed partners who live as such deserve the same rights and benefits as everyone else. I also do not believe that homosexuality is wrong or a sickness and if it were, would it matter. I also have never read any biblical passage ( I am no expert) saying it was a sin unless forced upon, like the soldiers who took advantage of young boys. I am more disturbed by the news spending tons of time on this one issue instead of what the crooks in washington are doing, or not doing.

Me

[Jolie Rouge]

No - but as a practicing Catholic I get tired of people taking the "Buffet Approach" to their faith ... quote the bible when it is convient and ignore it when it is not... ( Biden and Pelosi leap to mind ) shouting "I am Catholic" when convient but haven't been practicing Faith or attending Church excect for Christmas & Easter - or campaign events.

[Jolie Rouge]

US president undermines Catholic schools after Vatican Prefect praised them
The US President has made an alarming call for an end to Catholic education in Northern Ireland in spite of the fact that Archbishop Gerhard Müller told Scots that Catholic education was 'a critical component of the Church.’
BY Ian Dunn | June 17, 2013

President Barack Obama repeated the oft disproved claim that Catholic education increases division in front of an audience of 2000 young people, including many Catholics, at Belfast’s Waterfront hall when he arrived in the country this morning.

“If towns remain divided—if Catholics have their schools and buildings and Protestants have theirs, if we can’t see ourselves in one another and fear or resentment are allowed to harden—that too encourages division and discourages cooperation,” the US president said.

The US politician made the unfounded claim despite a top Vatican official spelling out the undeniable good done by Catholic education in a speech in Glasgow on Saturday and in his homily at Mass on Friday.

Archbishop Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, told an audience in Scotland that Catholic education provided a rare place where ‘intellectual training, moral discipline and religious commitment would come together’ while giving the presitigous Cardinal Winning Lecture on Saturday to officially launch the St Andrews Foundation for Catholic teacher education at Glasgow University. During Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, on Friday night he said that ‘the Catholic school is vitally important … a critical component of the Church,’ adding that Catholic education provides young people with a wonderful opportunity to ‘grow up with Jesus.’

Mr Obama is in Northern Ireland to take part in the two day G8 Summit at the Lough Erne resort in Enneskillen


http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/29253/us-president-undermines-catholic-schools-after-vatican-prefect-praised-them/

[boopster]

if that is how he feels then perhaps the US should abolish prep school like the one he attended and have everyone go to public schools which then would alleviate any divide between social classes.....and i wonder how he had the audacity to tell another country how to run their educational system when the one here is far from perfect! (or was that his inherited irish blarney coming out of his mouth?)

[pepperpot]

What an ass....