Why Archbishop Wuerl Can No Longer Punt on Pro-Abort Politicos
(Hat tip: Creative Minority Report)
Rick at Divine Ripples writes that Archbishop Wuerl of D.C. "needs to discipline pro-abortion lawmakers":
... That may sound like common sense, but not when one considers the position of the Archbishop of the nation’s capital. In a statement, he says that the spiritual direction for Catholic politicians who publicly support abortion, “can best be made by the bishop in the person's home diocese with whom he or she presumably is in conversation.” It is like the politician from CA who works in DC for a year is suppose to be guided by her bishop in CA even if she commits scandal in DC - like supporting abortion despite the explicit prohibition of the Pope himself.My Comments:
The problem with the right to life issues is that only one party is considered and others are overlooked e.g. the mother but not the child and in this case the visiting politician but not the resident parishioners.
Correct me if I am wrong, but what some bishops don’t get or refuse to understand is the impact of the politician’s reception of the Eucharist to the faith community. The politician who defies the bishops’ and pope’s teaching, guidance and orders about defending life goes and receives the Communion as though she did nothing wrong or was unaware of any wrongdoing scandalizes the community.
There is a pastoral approach to help the politician by tolerating that until she sees the light. But what about the pastoral approach to the faithful who are confused and scandalized into wrongdoing. They would think, “The bishop allows her to receive communion even if she supports abortion, so abortion might not be that bad. Then, they go and procure it themselves or advise others of the moral relativity based on that praxis. And all this from the perception that the local bishop gave when he relegated the duty of spiritual guidance to another bishop and worse when he neglected his pastoral responsibility to control scandal in his local faith community.
[More]
As others have pointed out, Archbishop Wuerl is in a bit of a predicament where HHS Secretary-designate Sebelius is concerned. Her bishop, Archbishop Naumann, has already taken corrective action in regard to her pro-abort policy making. Archbishop Wuerl is now faced with implementing Archbishop Naumann's directives in regard to Sebelius or ignoring them.
Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Response of Archdiocese of Washington to Pro-Abort Senators Receiving Communion
Deal Hudson Asks: "Will Archbishop Wuerl Follow Cardinal Egan?"
CBS: Cardinal Egan "Rips" Giuliani For Taking Communion [UPDATED]
Novak Criticizes Cardinals for "Disobedience" in Giving Pro-Abort Catholics "a Pass" During Papal Visit
"Wafer Wars, Wedge Issues and the Pope’s Visit" [UPDATED]
Pro-Abort Catholic Politicians to Receive Communion at Papal Mass [UPDATED]
Archbishop Burke Preaches Tough Communion Rule
More on Archbishop Burke's Article on Canon 915 (Regarding Communion and Pro-Abort Politicos)
Archbishop Burke on Bad Catholics in Political Life
Archbishop Wuerl's Stand on Lawmakers Who Back Abortion Angers Some Conservative Catholics
Abortion and the New Archbishop - A Shot Across the Bow
Wuerl to be Installed Today - Mass in Washington, D.C., Will Mark His Debut as Archbishop
McCarrick's Successor Seen as Loyal, Diplomatic, "a Vote for Continuity"; Not Denying Communion has "Served Us Well" (15 links)
Pope Names Wuerl New Archbishop of Washington, DC
Bishop Wuerl's Name Surfaces for D.C.
The Final Word on Pro-Abort Pols and Communion?
Bishop Wuerl: Bishops Should Consult One Another Before Speaking On National Issues Like Kerry And Communion
Labels: Bishops, Blessed Sacrament, Culture of Death, Dissident Catholics, Pro-Life, Voting Your Values
posted by Pro Ecclesia 8:19 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Excellent observation. But Archbishop Wuerl has not implemented the sanctions of other bishops in his archdiocese either. Do you know if those sanctions apply only at the local ordinary's jurisdiction.
I have to take exception to your title. Never underestimate the capacity of a bishop to punt.
The NFL should hire these guys.
There is a good reason that outspoken and orthodox bishops like Archbishop Chaput are not stationed in places like New York and DC. This is the reason. For all the talk about the responsibilities of Catholics in public life, NOBODY is going to shake up the American Catholic Church by doing anything serious to stop them from supporting any anti-life causes they want. It would result in situations like Connecticut all over the country.
The Church "is no country for old men." The Church is losing it's salt because it does not want to shake things up. That lukewarmness & compromise may not lead to another CT, but it will slowly kill the Church. Fidelity to the Lord is the only way to go. All this shmoosing and hob nobbing with the top brass serves no purpose than to betray the Lord all over again as an expedient solution i.e. better to have the unborn die than the entire nation to suffer.
I heard Archbishop Naumann on the Laura Ingraham show talk about this. He said he has talked to Wuerl about. Though he mentioned that it also depends on where she takes up actual residence. Very few politicians actually live within the diocese, and could easily be under Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Apparently the bigots put this together with Voice of the Faithless:
http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2009/03/connecticut-bill-on-catholic-church.html
Folks, this was an attempted coup to take control of the Catholic Church in Connecticut by an alliance of schismatic Catholics and bigots in the legislature. We live in interesting times indeed.
Oops! My prior comment was posted in the wrong thread.
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