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PDF versionVatican official chides U.S. bishops on abortion
Highly unusual remarks call on Catholics to pressure bishops
Mar. 26, 2009
Archbishop Burke
Archbishop Raymond Burke, the former St. Louis prelate who now leads the Vatican supreme court, has called on parishioners to pressure reluctant bishops to withhold Communion from Catholic politicians who back legalized abortion.
He also said President Barack Obama "could be an agent of death" if his support for abortion rights becomes a model for leaders in other countries.
The archbishop made his highly unusual comments to anti-abortion activist Randall Terry in a videotaped interview that Terry showed March 25 at the National Press Club in Washington.
"It is weakening the faith of everyone," Burke said. "It's giving the impression that it must be morally correct to support procured abortion."
Terry, tbe former leader of Operation Rescue, came to Rome earlier this month with a delegation of US anti-abortion advocates to ask Vatican officials to remove U.S. Catholic bishops who were not doing enough to stop abortions.
He called for the removal of Bishop Loverde of Arlington and Archbishop Wuerl of Washington DC.
Among other U.S. prelates singled out by Terry for “rejecting church teachings” were Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and the former archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Terry accused them of not denying Communion to certain Catholic politicians.
"One of the reasons we are here is to specifically request the transfer of Bishop Loverde of Arlington and Archbishop Wuerl of Washington DC," Terry was quoted as saying.
He showed a document he presented to Vatican officials calling for the bishops' removal.
Terry was received into the Catholic Church in 2005
Terry said he conducted the 12-minute interview March 2 as part of his campaign to persuade the church to oust American bishops who allow abortion rights backers to receive Communion.
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Watch the Terry interview of Archbishop Burke (part one)
Watch the Terry interview of Archbishop Burke (part two)
NCR: February 3-16, 2012
Subscribe to NCR to get all the news and special features that aren't always available online. In this issue:
- US News: Bishops Host Conference on Immigration
Conference fields advocates' questions on law, policy
- Special Section: Deacons. Serving as parish administrator; roles of wives; and more
- Study: Black Catholics are more engaged
New study by Notre Dame researcher about parish involvement in America
Burke apologizes to his fellow bishops
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The following is the transcript of Terry’s interview with Burke, whose formal title is Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura.
Terry: Your Excellency, it’s a delight to be with you. Thank you so much.
Pleased to have you come, and to visit with you.
For the umpteenth time, I and the others are asking, under Canon 915 what should or should not be done?
The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person. And that, basically, for two reasons: number one, to prevent the person himself or herself from committing a sacrilege, and secondly, to protect the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. In other words, to approach, to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, when one insists on remaining in grave sin, is such a violation of the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist, so that Communion must not be given to people who are publicly, obstinately, in grave sin.
And so does that apply to politicians of any party that are saying: "Yes, it’s okay to abort children" –to kill children?
Yes, for someone who in any way contributes in an active way to the murder of innocent defenseless infants in the womb—children in the womb—from the very inception of human life, this is the greatest of sins. And such a person, until he or she has reformed his or her life, should not approach to receive Holy Communion.
And if they do approach, the person who is administering Holy Communion should say, “No.”?
Right. In fact, the Canon puts the burden upon the minister of Holy Communion whether it’s the ordinary minister which would be a bishop, a priest, a deacon—or an extraordinary minister—it doesn’t make any difference. It says they’re not to be admitted to receive Holy Communion. Normally speaking, in my experience, when I have spoken with, for instance, Catholic politicians who have insisted on supporting pro-abortion legislation and told them they should not approach any more to receive Holy Communion, in my experience they don’t. Now, where Bishops have not applied the Canon, often times it’s said that this will cause some kind of disorder at the time of distribution of Holy Communion. That’s not verified. It’s not using Holy Communion to make a statement at all, it’s simply respecting this most sacred gift we have - namely, the Body and Blood of Christ—which can only be received when one has repented of his sins. And I would also make the point—and I believe that it is true that on the contrary - those public figures—Catholics—who are consistently promoting pro-abortion legislation and policies—use reception of Holy Communion to try to justify what they are doing; in other words, to present themselves as devout Catholics, when in fact they are sinning against the most fundamental teaching of the moral law. [Thou shall not murder.]
When the election was approaching, Bishop Martino said he would not serve Communion to Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden. There were a handful of other bishops who made similar statements, for which the laity and the faithful were rejoicing.
But the deafening silence from so many other Bishops—and also the bishops who stepped up such as in Washington D.C., Virginia, others …Massachusetts…[and] said that we will serve communion—was so painful for us. What word of encouragement would you give, first to the laity on our struggle to bring orthodoxy back, and then to your brother bishops and priests?
I think simply to say: reflect upon this norm of the Church’s discipline—Canon 915—which is one of the most important canons to safeguard the greatest treasure that we have in this life, namely, the communion that we have with our Lord Jesus Christ, and His true body and His true blood; and to, in every way work so that also public witness is given to the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist. And so I would encourage the faithful when they are scandalized by the giving of Holy Communion to persons are publicly and obstinately in sin, that they go to their pastors, whether it’s their parish priest or to their bishop, to insist that this scandal stop. Because, it is weakening the faith of everyone. It’s giving the impression that it must be morally correct to support procured abortion, in at least in some circumstances, if not also generally. So they need to insist that their parish priest and the bishops, and for the rest…to my brother bishops and brother priests…simply to say: the service of the Church in the world today has to begin first and foremost with the protection of the life of those who are the most defenseless and the most innocent, namely the unborn, and certainly has to extend also to those who are gravely ill, or burdened with serious illness, who have special needs; and also now more and more their lives are being threatened by a culture of death which sadly has infected our nation. So I would just urge my brother bishops and my brother priests to see as the most fundamental witness and service which they can give in leading also the faithful in their pastoral care is the apostolate of the respect for human life.
The election of Obama sent shock waves around the world concerning the right to life of babies because of his commitment to pursue FOCA, to try to force hospitals - Catholic hospitals - into giving the morning after pill, other things – [the repeal of the] Mexico City policy. From your vantage point here in the Vatican, what kind of fruit around the world is this poison that’s percolating in America producing?
There is no question, and I certainly see it here, living now here in Europe, and Italy, and also with the kind of communication within all of Europe that Barack Obama—President Obama—is a charismatic figure. And there was a great deal of—especially through the media—a great deal of publicity and so forth regarding the “hope,” the word that he used so much, that he offered—not only for the United States— and for the world. And so you can be certain that the whole world, and especially the English speaking world—which let us recall, is a great part of the world—is following very carefully and attentively what this man is doing—this world leader—which he is. And therefore, it becomes more incumbent upon us then ever, also in our responsibility for the scandal and the harm being done, not only in our own nation which is in itself— which we think about 50 million since the Roe v. Wade decision, 50 million unborn infants murdered—but also to consider the effect that our nation is having on the whole world in this culture of death.
America has the call to lead—to use its influence in the way that will give glory to God and will serve the common good in its most essential element: and that is by turning around this culture of death, and especially protecting the right to life of the unborn. So our responsibility is even greater than just for our own nation - which is in itself such a weighty matter. But we have to see how this is also having, adding a tremendous influence in the English speaking world, but also in the whole world, because of the charismatic nature of our present President. But in any case, no matter who is the President of the United States, here is a world leader with a tremendous capacity to promote the common good, but at the same time sadly, who could—by promoting and implementing anti-life legislation measures—could be an agent of death.
If I was a Catholic in another country, I would be watching the news unfold in America hearing the silence of so many Catholics, the debate over communion, and it might have the effect of me just saying, “Well, we have abortion here, they’ve got it there, let’s just all learn to live with it and go on about our business.”
Well, I think this is precisely the effect that it has had. The communications today are instantaneous. The whole world knows that a very high percentage of Catholics in fact voted for this very anti-life candidate and so they watch this very carefully, and what the world needs to see now is a strong witness on the part of all Catholics and we can’t be content with the fact that some 55% - or whatever it is - who for whatever reason, supported this anti-life program. They have to see now that Catholics in the United States are alive and faithful and that they are going to work to protect human life, and above all, to let the President of the United States know that this is the number one issue.
There are many Catholics who believed that to vote for Obama - knowing his promises to extend child-killing even further - that to knowingly vote for him under those circumstances was a type of cooperation with moral evil. It was cooperating with evil. Do you concur with that and if so, why?
Well, the fact of the matter is, it is a form of cooperation, because by voting we put a person in office. And people say, “What does my vote matter?” Well, your vote is either a vote to put someone in office who will do what is right and just, or someone who won’t. And so if you, knowing that abortion is a grave crime against human life – is the killing of an innocent, defenseless human life - and you vote for the candidate who says that he intends to make that more available – that practice of infanticide - you bear a responsibility. That is, you have cooperated in the election of this person into office, there’s no question about it.
Archbishop, thank you for your time. Do you have any closing comments or exhortations?
President Obama uses this word “hope” in a way that for us is very disturbing. We need to have hope, the hope that is founded in Jesus Christ, alive for us in the Church; Jesus Christ who gave His life for everyone without exception, and with a particular love for the suffering and for those who are the most defenseless. And so we have to be filled with hope and give ourselves more than ever to His work, to His mission of protecting human life, and so I ask God to bless you very much in what you are doing to advance the cause of life.
Thank you, Your Excellency; long life to you.
I prefer not to comment about
I prefer not to comment about what the Bishops say among themselves but rather encourage all to watch and pray for all concerned. There is surely more going on in this discussion than what meets the eye. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is a marvel in our eyes. Grace and peace with prayers in Christ...
Is there any Canon Law that
Is there any Canon Law that "punishes" Priests who "continue to live in Sin" and offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, while hearing Confessions like this guy in New York:
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6140926&page=1
Priest's Alleged Affair Sparks Lawsuit
'Your Presence Struck Me Like a Thunderbolt,' Priest Allegedly Told Distraught Woman
By SCOTT MICHELS
Oct. 30, 2008
A Catholic priest allegedly seduced a distraught woman after hearing her confession, telling her to have an affair with him because it was "ordained by God," the Queens, N.Y., woman claims in a lawsuit.
Judith Rodrigues-Lytwyn claims the ensuing affair caused her to suffer "severe stress, anxiety, guilt, fear, humiliation and shame," the lawsuit says.
According to the lawsuit, Father Elvis Elano professed his love for her immediately after her first confession at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows in Queens, N.Y.
"Your presence struck me like a thunderbolt," Elano allegedly told Rodrigues-Lytwyn, who says she was distraught over her recent divorce and her ex-husband's alleged drug use.
The lawsuit, first reported by the Web site The Smoking Gun, claims Elano immediately began courting her and encouraging her to have sex with him to overcome her grief over her divorce and "because it was ordained by God."
Rodrigues-Lytwyn "immediately became overwhelmed" by Elano's advances and embarked on a four-month-long affair with him, the lawsuit says.
"We're dealing with someone who was going through a difficult period in her life and was manipulated by someone so he could take advantage of her," Rodrigues-Lytwyn's lawyer, Andrew Laufer, said.
Elano, who is no longer at Our Lady of the Snows, could not immediately be reached for comment. Msgr. Ray Chappetto, the pastor at the church, was out of town and was unavailable today.
Father Kieran Harrington of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn said he could not comment because the diocese had not yet been served with the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Elano ordered Viagra over the Internet and arranged sexual encounters with Rodrigues-Lytwyn at her house and at a hotel in Montauk, N.Y.
She claims she broke off her relationship after Elano admitted that he had developed a rash in his groin area and legs.
Reducing Abortion in
Reducing Abortion in America:
The Effect of Socioeconomic Factors
www.catholicsinalliance.org
Joseph Wright¤
November 2008
Executive Summary
Family, social and economic supports reduce abortions
Recent research finds that the abortion rate among women living below the poverty level is more than four times that of women above 300% of the poverty level. This study of all U.S. states finds that social and economic factors such as higher male employment, lower poverty rates and economic
assistance to low-income families have contributed significantly to reducing the number of abortions in the United States in the 1990s.
Elected officials can use socioeconomic public policy to reduce abortions
The findings in this study suggest that elected officials can utilize effective and appropriate socioeconomic public policies to reduce abortions. These include: promoting policies that increase male employment; lower the poverty rate; provide funding for child care for working women; and increase
economic assistance to low-income families. Legislation aimed at these goals can effectively reduce abortion in America.
Socioeconomic factors reduce the abortion rate
Analysis of nationwide data suggests that the economic status of pregnant women factors prominently into their abortion decision. Public policies that provide assistance and support to low-income families are rarely framed as ways to reduce the incidence of abortion. However, the findings from this study suggest that a two standard deviation increase in economic assistance to low income families is correlated with a 20% lower abortion rate in the 1990s. Across the entire United States, this translates into roughly 200,000 fewer abortions. Further, higher male employment in the 1990s was associated with a 21% lower abortion rate; and lower poverty rates were correlated with 10% reduction in the abortion rate.
For all Americans, and particularly faithful Catholics who view abortion as a tragedy, understanding how social and economic support for women and families can reduce the number of abortions is paramount. This study is an attempt to estimate how socioeconomic factors and state abortion laws affect the abortion rate.
I feel with all the
I feel with all the constraceptives that we have young ladys and also older women should not be having abortions. It is even sadder to even thing that they are using abortion for a form of constraceptives, if this is what they are doing.It is the year 2009 and abortions are still happening. It is sad.
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke,
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, today 3/26, apologizes for allowing a video with Randal Terry that was made on March 2, 2009.
He doesn't apologize for WHAT HE SAID.
Again, Rome is apologizing for the wrong thing.
RJ
=====================
3/26/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
ROME, Italy (Catholic Online) - On March 25, 2009 Randall Terry held a Press Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. At the Conference he showed and released the transcript of an interview which he had done with the Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop Emeritus of Saint Louis and Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
On March 26, 2009, several reliable sources, including "Whispers in the Loggia", released the following official responsive statement from the Office of His Excellency, Archbishop Burke, expressing serious concerns over the use of the interview and the statement. We set it forth in its entirety, with no comment, for our readers:
Statement of His Excellency Archbishop Raymond Burke in Response to the use by Randall Terry of his interview
Recently, Mr. Randall Terry and some of his associates visited me in Rome and asked to videotape an interview with me to share with pro-life workers for the purpose of their encouragement. The interview was conducted on March 2, 2009.
Sadly, Mr. Terry has used the videotape for another purpose which I find most objectionable.
First, Mr. Terry issued a media advisory which gave the impression that I would be physically present at the press conference during which he played the videotape, when, in fact, I was in Rome.
Second, I was never informed that the videotape would become part of a press conference.
Third, I gave the interview as a Bishop from the United States to encourage those engaged in the respect life apostolate, not as the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
Fourth, I was never informed that the videotape would be used as part of a campaign of severe criticism of certain fellow bishops regarding the application of Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law.
If I had known what the true purpose of the interview was, I would never have agreed to participate in it.
I am deeply sorry for the confusion and hurt which the wrong use of the videotape has caused to anyone, particularly, to my brother bishops.
(Most Rev.) Raymond L. Burke
This is but one more reason
This is but one more reason why the Church should separate itself from the Repub party which is espousing an anti abortion stance that is only done for the purposes of spreading it's fascist Big Business agenda. This entire mess has been and is being perpetrated by the likes of Atwater, Rove, Luntz, the Kagans, O'Reilly, Hannity, Murdoch, Malkin, Ingraham, Gingrich, GHWB, GWBush and Jeb Bush, Palin, and all of the others who worship the theology of prosperity.
In the past, before Pope John Paul II aligned Holy Mother Church with the Repub party all they had were the Cons and the Straussian Neocons. Now the Theocons(the Religious Right) have joined them.
All of this is nothing more than a kind of Nazi Theo-Fascism. The Religious Right, which includes the Church has been sucked in by these people, all of whom are making tremendous amounts of money by this situation which seems sure to rent the Church asunder.
If Cardinal Burke feels he has been entrapped by the likes of Randall Terry will they one day say the Cardinal is another one of us hated and godless liberals. Haven't we all been entrapped by the Cons and the Neocons. They just hate paying taxes. Are we not our brothers keepers? If that means paying some taxes then so be it. Compared to what Jesus asked(give up all that you have...) paying some taxes seems little enough, by comparison.
The URL for the above
The URL for the above statement by Cardinal Burke is:
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=32846
It was left off by mistake.
RJ
I will be very saddened if
I will be very saddened if Archbishop Burke and his ilk prevail.
The Code of Canon Law is not
The Code of Canon Law is not 'Puritanism.' The canonical laws are indeed the Church’s Sacred Discipline and are binding on Catholics who reject these laws and know they are rejecting the Church.
All diocesan priests and deacons are ecclesiastically bound to obey the canonical notification (c.915). Canon 915 places the responsibility on the minister - 'ne admittantur' - who, in some canonists' opinion, could be punished according to canon 1389 §2, should he unlawfully administer the sacrament with the consequent danger of scandal for the rest of the faithful. In addition, canon 1339 prescribes the possibility of punishing any person who causes grave scandal by any violation of a divine or ecclesiastical law.
The Code of Canon Law (CIC), or "Codex Iuris Canonici" has always been in effect. It was codified in l917 and contained 2,414 canons. It was revised in l983 by Pope John Paul II and contains 1,752 canons.
Canon 915 is promulgated within CIC, Book IV, "The Sanctifying Office of the Church," within Title III, "The Blessed Eucharist," within Chapter I, "The Celebration of the Eucharist," within Article 2, "Participation in the Blessed Eucharist." Neither this canon 915 nor Bishop Burke's 'notification' applies to the reception of the other Sacraments.
Cases considered in this canon 915 also include: 1] any interdict or excommunication ferendæ sententiæ (one inflicted by the superior); 2] the same penalties latæ sententiæ (inflicted by the perpetrator on himself...by his very act); 3] grave manifest sin, obstinately maintained, which could be the case of the estimated 500 Catholic pro-abortion politicians in the U.S.
I recommend Obama for pope!
I recommend Obama for pope! Enough said.
With Obama as Pope, then
With Obama as Pope, then Catholics might be listned to at last...maybe even the women!
I can't imagine why you think
I can't imagine why you think that if Obama were Pope the women would be heard. He has participated in the most diabolical misogynist attack on women. Both Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton were openly attacked by him and his cult worshipers. Suggesting that women would be litened to by this man is a joke.
God bless Archbishop Burke. I
God bless Archbishop Burke. I will include him in my daily Rosary that he may have the continued strength of character to speak out.
The denial of the Eucharist
The denial of the Eucharist to anyone for any reason is the height of hypocrisy. And you can tell Archbishop Burke that I said so!
No, it is following the
No, it is following the teaching of the Church.
Canon 915: Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
You, sir, have no idea what you're talking about.
OK, Mike. You got me. But I
OK, Mike. You got me. But I would rather rely upon the judgment of Jesus than that of canon law. It seems to me that folks like Joan of Arc and Galileo Galilei were labeled, "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin" and look what happened, one was canonized and the other received a papal apology. Therefore, I restate my strong conviction that denying the Eucharist to anyone for any reason is hypocritical. I might now add, thanks to your canonical expertise, that it's obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin. And yes, I know exactly what I am talking about.
Should we also deny Communion
Should we also deny Communion to politicians who voted for the Iraq war? Who vote for the death penalty? Who vote to close the border forcing immigrants into the desert to die? All these also violate Catholic teaching according to Rome and the bishops statements. Why is abortion such a litmus test? What about a consistant, loving ethic of life. Eucharist should not be used as a weapon or to exclude but remind us that we are one body.
Thank you, Br. Robert! And
Thank you, Br. Robert! And they wonder why people are fed up and leaving. God is 'inclusive' - not 'exclusive'.
I just read the story
I just read the story regarding Archbishop Burke and the U.S. Bishops/abortion. While I agree that abortion is taking a life, I am so tired of the sanctimonious attitude our church is taking. Yes, the unborn have no one to speak for them. But, who is speaking for the numerous young people who have been abused by priests - were parishioners urged to tell their bishops to do more? Does it do any good when they do? As a Catholic school teacher, I can attest to the fact that, once again, the lay teachers are the ones who feel the brunt of the scandal in the church...jumping through hoops to make sure their 'pasts are clean'. I realize that I am talking about two different issues here, but Archbishop Burke, if you are going to cite canon law, than apply it to ALL situations, not just your favorite cause.
Two more sets of questions
Two more sets of questions for Archbishop Burke that Terry should have asked:
1) Under Saddam Hussein, abortions were totally outlawed in Iraq. Why, then, with your deafening silence and by your single-issued stance, were you so silent when pro-abortion America invaded this pro-life country? How do you respond to many people who believe you are far more of a neo-con Republican than a true Catholic - so quickly dismissing Pope John Paul II's vehement opposition to this senseless war that Republicans so loved?
2) Where was your outrage when the so-called Pro-Life Republican party held the White House and the majority in the House and Senate, plus 9 of the last 11 Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Republicans ... and Roe v. Wade still stands? Can you understand why there is deep cynicism when this so-called 'pro-life party' ran all four branches of government, yet chose not to confront this issue and overturn Roe v Wade, yet every election cycle continues to beg for the pro-life vote?
Thank you for pointing out
Thank you for pointing out the hypocricy of Bishop Burke. He, like so many other bishops who feign a passion for the anti-abortion position, were no where to be found when it came to the abuse of children by priests. Nor do you hear of these bishops demanding that their own (meaning bishops) address their own moral failure in the abuse of children. This obsession with abortion is just a ruse designed to distradt our attention away from the moral failure of bishops.
Bishop Burke's comments would
Bishop Burke's comments would imply that an anti-abortion stance would justify the violation of basic moral demands such as an end to the death penalty, adequate health care, the administration of justice, a just wage, access to education for all, and respect for constitutional rights. The last election bosed such a choice. To decide to vote on the basis of one more requirement to the exclusion of others is to permanently hand governance in the United States over to the most conversative and exploitive political elements in the nation.
And the most cynical users of
And the most cynical users of the Catholic vote for over 30 years. We need to get wise to that usage.
The move is highly unusual
The move is highly unusual because it signifies that the Vatican is not going to take that posiition, and that Burke has been forced to try to empower the laity to take up the call. It is a strategy that will also fail.
This story just confirms my
This story just confirms my belief that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are making laws and rules a substitute for God. Who can tell anyone they are in grave sin but God? Who really knows the sins anyone commits? And what about the sins committed by priests, bishops, and even popes through the years? Didn't Jesus say, "Don't look for the speck in your brother's eye without first removing the plank from your own?" Yes, the Church does a wonderful job protecting the unborn, but what about the children abused by priests and others, the noncombatants killed in wars and ethnic cleansings, the homeless who have fewer shelters because some parishes refuse to have them in their buildings, the elderly who are neglected and abused, sometimes in Catholic hospitals and nursing homes, the prisoners waiting on death row for execution? What does the Church do for them? I haven't heard much from any level of the church on these issues, for example, the situation in Darfur. Pope Benedict was just in Africa. Did he go to Darfur? Why not?
AMEN!!!
AMEN!!!
A child-like faith tends to
A child-like faith tends to forget that faith is about relationships, not rules.
I find that way too many in the leadership of our church today are forgetting that. They have made faith a matter of obedience rather than a journey in which we all help each other. Faith cannot be seen as a series of rules to which one assents. When membership in the church is reduced to this level, it cannot provide us with a community within which people may gladly make the journey.
Archbishop Raymond Burke
Archbishop Raymond Burke couldn't of said it better, just because America wants to dish the constitution and let other do so for their own benefit doesn't mean the Catholic church should not need to follow their law. We the People need to step up NOW!
Blessings to Archbishop Raymond Burke.
One might ponder if Jesus
One might ponder if Jesus would shake his head in wonder over church administrators that opt for law over love in seeking to address the root causes surrounding respect for life. It is much easier to condemn, then find common ground and move forward.
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus do?
Look to the Apostles for the
Look to the Apostles for the Holy Spirit is their God...
So killing the innocents in
So killing the innocents in unjust wars, supporting death through capital punishment, or being unwilling to clothe the naked or feed the hungry are acceptable as a politician, but have common sense and in extreme cases of rape or incest support safe, legal abortions, and that is not acceptable. Pay millions because of bad oversight and under-the-rug sweeping of the few bad priests? No problem, just close churches. No wonder the "Mother" church has lost its own moral compass.
The ghost of Joe McCarthy is
The ghost of Joe McCarthy is alive and well and is being chanelled by people like Burke and Terry. Where will it all end?
Let me say again, the
Let me say again, the Republicans with the conservtive Christians and anti-abortion stance had six years under President Bush with the power to pass any bill about abortion they wanted. They even had a conservative Supreme Court for part of the time and they did not ban abortion. So tell me they do a better job than Obama in reducing abortions - not!
Is the good bishop saying
Is the good bishop saying "sensus communis be damned", vis-a-vis the election of President Obama, but, "praised be the sensus communis" in pressing bishops to refuse communion to pro-choice public figures?
Here we go again ... using
Here we go again ... using Communion as a threat and a weapon. Seems to me I read something in the gospels about Jesus giving Communion to Judas even though Judas was about to betray him. I guess the evangelists had it all wrong. Then again, they did not have access to the Gospel according to Raymond Burke or Randall Terry. Too bad!
When are these people going to stop sitting in judgment on everyone else while perpetuating their "my way or the highway' system? This is the ultimate in arrogance!
Ignorance is Bliss Now you
Ignorance is Bliss
Now you know why the Bishops will NEVER teach Scripture in their Dioceses.
They like to keep the "dumb" Catholics as "dumb" as possible so that they will have their weekly checks flowing in.
God save the Catholic Church
Bravo to Archbishop Burke!
Bravo to Archbishop Burke! It's great see a bishop in the church who is not afraid to stand up for the truth!
Hopefully, Archbishop Burke will be elected Pope someday!!!!! The first American pope!!!
WE LOVE YOU, ARCHBISHOP BURKE!!!!!!!! God bless you!!!
This stance took no courage.
This stance took no courage. Burke is merely grandstanding the position supported by the sycophantic minions surrounding him. Just like Paul VI with "Humanae vitae" he's hiding behind centuries of antiquated thinking. Real courage would recognize that new and expanded knowledge requires a re-examination of our concepts, and would pray for open minds to do it. John XXIII gave us an opportunity for courage, but the reactionaries have retreated with cowardice.
He is, I hope you will
He is, I hope you will forgive me, an unstable man. He picks fights wherever he goes. St. Louis is a very conservative Archdiocese and he was not a very popular fellow here. He's abrasive and out of touch. Watching his tiny little body board that plane for Rome made many thousands of Catholics happy. Authoritarianism needs to go or we'll be able to sell off all the big fancy churches we have and hold mass in the few remaining telephone booths in the U.S. And it's prelates like him who will make that possible.
There will certainly be
There will certainly be blowback on this issue, as Wurl, Mahoney, McCarrick and Loverde are highly shrinking violets. Burke has violated the collegiality of bishops in a way that he will likely regret. He may have thought this was his avenue to a red hat, however this incident will likely put the kabbosh on this. He just made life harder for his boss. Never delegate up.
Burke is also incorrect in his assessment of the moral gravity of being pro-choice. To be pro-choice is not to support abortion, but to disagree with attempts to prohibit it using civil law. One need not be a proponent of adultery or sodomy to believe that laws against these things should be off the books. It is not a mortal sin to disagree with the Church on how something is to be done, such as how to reduce abortions.
There was a story just today about the number of abortions going up because of the financial crisis. People have not suddenly started committing adultery, needing abortions to cover the fact - nor has there been an increase in young people living fast and loose. Rather, familiies with children are making tragic choices because they cannot afford another child. The answer to this is not to fine their abortion providers, forcing the practice of abortion underground, but to dramatically increase the income of families - not by $13 per week - but by greatly increasing the tax credit for each child (this would also make obtaining a new home more affordable - much more so than downpayment assistance).
Burke and the pro-life bishops (including Wurl and Loverde, who he criticizes) need to concede that while Roe v. Wade is tragic and they don't agree with the result, it was rightly decided. There are three legs to Roe, none of which should be overturned:
1. Federal Supremacy in equal protection matters. When legislating on matters which affect one class of people, such as women, the states are on a very short leash. The argument for States Rights was the argument in support of the Slave Power. This evil argument for balkinazation should not be echoed, even in defense of life, as a High Court ruling based upon it would result not only in the creation of aborition states and illegal abortion states, but would also overturn much in the way of civil rights precedent (like Loving v. Virginia). While conservatives have long wanted to overturn federal power in this area, the Church should not join them - or be surprised when a President who's parents could not have visited Virginia as a married couple because of the law of the day would not be supportive of their cause.
2. Regardless of the moral law, the civil law in the United States is very clear that legal recognition begins at birth. This is found in the plain language of the 14th Amendment. As Congress can enforce the amendment, they can tweak this toward an earlier date - however the states surely cannot.
3. Until and unless Congress recognizes the unborn as a third person in the matter, states cannot interfere with the private relationship between a woman and her doctor.
Aside from the Unborn Victims of Violence Protection Act, there is no law which was passed to legalize abortion, although you would never know it from the rhetoric of the Church and the pro-life movement. Consequently, there is nothing to be in favor of, or against. Further, the pro-life movement has not advanced any legislation at all to recognize the unborn at the federal level at any stage of pregnancy. If it were to do that, abortion would be a national political issue and Catholic politicians would then be obligated to support it or give some satisfactory reason for not doing so (or altering it so it could be supported). With no bill on the table, however, no Bishop has any cause to deny communion to any Catholic politician or voter based on their stance on this issue.
I do hope we keep a balance
I do hope we keep a balance throughout this discussion and include all kinds of killing. For, example, we are in two immoral wars. Will our Catholic chaplains refuse communion to military personnel after they have participated in killing civilians in Irak? What about refusing communion to our state officials after they have executed someone on death row? And there are other examples. Mr. Terry mentions the "deafening silence." Yes, let's talk about the seamless garment approach to life. So, Im am requesting to meet with Archbishop Burke to discuss this. Please let me know when and where I need to be. Thank you.
Doesn't the good bishop
Doesn't the good bishop remember that Judas Iscariot was invited to the last supper? Isn't it time he he/they got off the punishment strategy and began to love?
The Good Bishop does NOT read
The Good Bishop does NOT read Scripture.
Most Catholic Bishops do NOT read Scripture.
Most Catholic Pastors do NOT read Scripture.
Most Catholic Deacons do NOT read Scripture.
Most Catholic Clergy would fail a SCRIPTURE ecxamination, if they had to take a written exam each year.
That is why, they AVOID teaching Scripture in most Parishes.
Pope Benedict DOES NOT KNOW this, and he could not care less. He is just too old.
The Catholic Church ought to retire all these OLD MEN once they reach 65 years.
God Save the Catholic Church.
We DO have separation of
We DO have separation of Church and State in this country!!! When the Church comes to acknowledge the HURT it imposes on people maybe then, it can be true to the LOVE that Jesus preached. And ti the dictum: Judge NOT less YOU be judged!!
S Slater
This is so sad. I would love
This is so sad. I would love to hear another Canon Lawyer speak to the other possible interpretations of Canon 915, 'cause I don't see Archbishop Burke's in there at all. How in the world can any Eucharistic Minister know with certainty that anyone who presents him/herself for communion has not received sacramental confession? They cannot! And if they are a sacramental minister who denied absolution, they would be guilty of a worse sin than even abortion, for breaking the sacramental seal. It is very hard to find Jesus in any of this.
Perhaps those of us who
Perhaps those of us who believe in abortion in limited cases, like rape and incest and all others could wear a big "A" when we went to church so we could be identified. Also those who believe in the death penalty could wear a big "DP" and those that support the slaughter in Iraq, including already born innocent children could wear a big "I." We really do need to identify the sinners amongst us. Also any priest involved in the pedophile cover up could wear a big "P" so we would know who they are.
Pro-choice is not equivalent
Pro-choice is not equivalent to pro-abortion. Rather, it means respecting the consciences of others. In pluralistic country like the US, lawmakers cannot force their religious beliefs onto US citizens by putting them in the US Code.
Why not support lawmakers who pursue policies that eliminate the reasons for abortion, such as poverty, abuse, human trafficking...
Abortions decline when Democrats are in office, no matter what so-called pro-life candidates and organizations say.
Bishops would be more credible if they supported campaigns to help the poor, children, and at-risk families as well as truely pro-life policies.
Archbishop Burke seems to
Archbishop Burke seems to miss the distinction between objective moral evil and personal sin. The latter requires that the person committing the act knows it is evil and does it anyway. That is not true for every person who does not completely support the Church's position on abortion.
Seems like we are war with
Seems like we are war with the culture when it come to being "pro-life" which is what the term the NCR should use rather than the term anti-abortion. Do you use pro-abortion for pro-choice? Canon Law needs to be respected. Pastoral solutions that many bishops have tried to implement have had the effect of undermining the Church's teaching on pro-life issues--bishops need to be prophetic, clear and use Church law when pro-choice Catholics have highly visible leadership roles in the Church or society. Bishops are not politicians, but prophetic church leaders in a Church that has canon law. They should follow the law.
If there's anything the
If there's anything the Church in America does not need, it is input from Raymond Burke and Randall Terry.
Right on! It is people like
Right on! It is people like the two of them who actually "prevent" the love of God and his infinite mercy!
This guy couln't carry
This guy couln't carry cardinal McCarrick,s Staff. he should have silenced in Saint Louis and not kicked upstairs to Rome. Another case of passing the buck.Wake up Rome!
Oh, great! "Bulldozer Burke"
Oh, great! "Bulldozer Burke" (who if he were in the United Nations would have us in a nuclear holocaust, because of his lack of diplomacy), is up to his old tricks again. And does this myoptic man believe that Catholics voted for President Obama just because he supports abortion rights? Don't these so-called "orthodox bishops" understand anything about what is going on in America today?
And who died and appointed Randall Terry in charge of anything? We don't have enough common-sensed Bishops like Wuerl and Loverde as is, who, if given a chance, can at least dialogue with Catholic politicians. And Terry wants them moved? Does this man honestly believe that denying Communion (utilizing it as a weapon) will bring about repentance?
Do these short-sighted men understand the implications of what they want? All the Democratic Catholic politicians who are for abortion rights (and who were either elected to office or were appointed) would have to resign from offices and change their party's affiliation. They couldn't continue to be Democrats, hold office of any type---because if they do so----they will not be able to receive Holy Communion. And the further implication is, that all Catholics who voted for Obama/Biden have committed grave sin---must go to confession and change their political party's affiliation, as well.
This very concept is just the thing that John Kennedy stated would not happen during his administration. The Vatican would not be directing his presidency. If Burke (or the Vatican) are going to use their positions and the sacraments to 'control' American domestic policies---then, this is an entanglement of a Church State (Vatican) with another State (United States). It is an attempt to direct the policies of a sovereign nation (United States) using religious/spiritual intimidation I have written these words before and I will use them again---this is nothing less than an exercise of Catholic Fascism by the hierarchy of the Church.
"denying Communion (utilizing
"denying Communion (utilizing it as a weapon)"
- This is a very flawed viewpoint that you have.
Here is Canon 915:
Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
That entire section of Canon Law is devoted to how to receive the Eucharist in a proper, reverent manner.
This is is done out of reverence and protection of the Eucharist. It IS, afterall, the actual Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It shouldn't be given to those who publically sin gravely for the same reason it shouldn't be trampled underfoot or given to biologist Paul Z. Myers.
Remember, the Eucharist isn't some kind of Pez candy we have a right to just because we want It. It is the Body and Blood of Christ and must be received correctly.
The Eucharist is a gift to us
The Eucharist is a gift to us from Jesus, Mike in KC. Jesus was not the one who put all the rules upon who is worthy and who is not. That came from the Hierarchy, who are very quick to impose a "No Communion for YOU" on the laity---but don't impose it upon themselves in their massive sinning.
In fact, the Eucharist was the first sacrament of reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was non existent in St. Augustine's time. The Eucharist is a spiritual food that we all need.
Oh, yes, Canon Law----don't get me started on it. There is a pastoral interpretation of it that Bishops like Burke failed when they were taking their Comprehensive Exams.
This is a very wise man who
This is a very wise man who speaks truth...THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL MUST PREVAIL most especially for the unborn..which is where it all begins...A gift...If we continue to devalue life the truth is WE will not PREVAIL...
I pray, I grieve, I hope.. for my hope is in God who made heaven and earth..
As a committed follower of
As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, I have some serious concerns about taking this "anti-abortion" to this degree.
I do have a problem with the "right to life" campaign when it ignores, or doesn't speak out on those who support war, or continue to allow torture under the guise of "national security". Isn't taking the life of many innocent young men and women in war also consider murder?
What about the death penalty? Isn't that also taking the life of one of God's children?
And what about those who take the life of those who are brave enough to come out of the closet and admit that their sexual orientation is "different" than those around them? Is that OK?
What about those men who abuse children? What is being done to protect the life of those children?
O NO! NOT AGAIN!! I'm
O NO! NOT AGAIN!! I'm breathlessly awaiting the display of righteous indignation and fury on the part of the usual Church-bashers: "How could Archbishop Burke be so stupid, so benighted. No wonder people are leaving the Church. It's an embarrassmet to be a Catholic" I say: let the man speak. He has a right like everybody else to give his honest opinion, just like everybody else who will be contriubting their two cents to this blog. Don't just denigrate and insult the archbishop. I'm tired of this constant yapping and vitriolic hatred against "Holy MOTHR Church". If you're unhappy with Her, just find yourself a church you're comfortable with and get off the Rock.
The question is not us
The question is not us denigrating Burke, but Burke denigrating his brother Bishops - one of whom happens to be my local Ordinary (who is rabidly pro-life).
Please read the responses
Please read the responses here that are not "Church-basing" but articulate another point-of-view and the implications of what the Bishop suggests.
Jesus was known to share
Jesus was known to share dinners with so many lowlifes & sinners that he actually gave scandal...should the Catholic Church do anything less??
No one "deserves" the Eucharist...God gives it freely to strengthen EVERYONE, especially the sinful (and who isn't???)
Jesus was also condemned by
Jesus was also condemned by the religious leaders of his time for healing a blind man on the Sabbath
This Burke archbishop is a
This Burke archbishop is a total and dangerous pharisee who is in the church business to apply discipline and inflict other punishments to otherwise good Christians who happen to think killing on the warfront and in the execution chamber is worse than letting an unwanted fetus go.
He is now urging other bishops to apply man's law as outlined in the Roman Canon with a total disregard for divine law as expounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He is further inciting church-goers to pressure their bishops to humiliate these good people by using the Eucharist as a weapon to hurt them.
For anyone who has had the slightest Godly experience, this man and his cohorts are absolutely diabolical and should not be leading the Catholic church.
This is an excellent example
This is an excellent example of Vatican naivete regarding the consequences of making abortion illegal. If abortion is made illegal, it might dampen demand slightly, but it will mostly create an underworld that profits from providing unsafe abortions, killing moth and child alike. Which is the lesser of two evils: allowing abortion to remain and retain access to safe procedures (as much as one may decry them morally) or driving desperate women into the hands of black market abortionists and making their choice criminal.
I am anti-abortion, but I differ significantly in my approach. I consider it far more productive to address the reasons why abortions occur and what can be done to reduce demand. Bush's "war on drugs" did not curtail drug usage. Instead, it packed the federal prisons with underprivileged minorities who became drug runners and dealers because they had no other means of livelihood. The Volstead Act did not stop misuse of alcohol. Instead it created great profits for the mafia, led to bloodletting in wars over territory, and selling of an unregulated product that was tainted with poisons that killed people.
Outlawing abortion is appealing in its simplicity, and therein lies the problem. It's a nonsolution.
Just another indication of
Just another indication of the irrelavancy of the Church in today's world.
Where is the compassion for
Where is the compassion for the reasons for abortion: abject poverty, health issues, mental illness, sex abuse, patriarchy, social injustice against women in society and the church, incest,etc.? Whom have you voted for that would alleviated these conditions? Abortion will never be eliminated unless these other issues are addressed. Loving your neighbor, caring for the homeless, working for peace, offering your hand in helping the world, these are some of the remedies that will make the desperate act of abortion unnecessary.
Condemnation will never work. Our church has a long tainted history of that!
Bishop, I voted for Obama in
Bishop, I voted for Obama in spite of, not because of, his position on abortion. I am also an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharistic.
So, am I fired?
I too voted for Mr. Obama not
I too voted for Mr. Obama not because of, but in spite of, his position on abortion, which incidentally, in practical terms, is identical to that of Mr. McCain; i.e., neither of them was going to do a damn thing to stop or even limit abortion, the only difference was that Mr. Obama was at least honest about his position.
BTW, although "Archbishop" Burke, like most "Novus Ordinarians" is completely clueless (and in his case, bereft of the faith itself) regarding the Catholic faith, there's no such thing as a laymen being an "extraordinary minister" of the Eucharist. Although for the most part it's nothing but an invalid cookie anyway (on account of grave defect in form, matter and intention), it still constitutes subjective sacrilege to have what purports to be the "Corpus Christi" placed by a laymen (or laywoman) into the paws of the "communicant"; often a person not properly disposed to receive Communion anyway, regardless of their position on abortion.
If you're really serious about your Catholic faith, I would suggest jettisoning the "Novus Ordo" Sect (i.e., the accursed spawn of the "Vatican II" Robber Council) where you currently attend, and consider joining a traditional Catholic parish, where you'll be assured of a completely valid Mass and other sacraments.
Best wishes and hoping the "Archbishop" Burke, too, will abjure his heresy and return to the bosom of Holy Mother Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
As a mother of six I voted
As a mother of six I voted for Barak Obama because his agenda encompasses all aspects of life, not just the issue of abortion. Randall Terry and Archbishop Raymond Burke have a one issue agenda - if you don't count Archbishop Burke's anti-woman agenda while archbishop in St. Louis. On the other hand, when you look at the abortion issue, it too is anti-woman. Where was the outrage of Randall Terry and Archbishop Burke during the sexual abuse crisis? Where was there concern for those innocent children, yes, just like the unborn, who were taken advantage of all those years? Let's get with the program Jesus advocates when he asks us to love one another as we would love ourselves; not just those who are in lock step agreement with us on every issue. Remember, during this season of Lent that Jesus forgave those who hung next to him on the cross as well as those who crucified him.QQ2p4
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