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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Sat May 15, 2004 12:08 am Bishop Issues Communion Warning to Voters |
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Bishop Issues Communion Warning to Voters
Friday, May 14, 2004
DENVER � The Roman Catholic bishop of Colorado Springs has said Catholics should not receive Communion if they vote for politicians who support abortion rights (search), stem-cell research, euthanasia and gay marriage.
Bishop Michael Sheridan (search) said voters should receive the sacrament only if they recant and repent in the confessional. However, he said no one will be enforcing the rule in the Communion line.
While several U.S. bishops have issued similar warnings to Catholic lawmakers who defy church teaching in policymaking, Sheridan is believed to be the first to expand that directive to voters this election year.
Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis said previously he would not give Communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (search) because the senator backs abortion rights.
Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans and Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston are among those who say Catholic politicians who dissent from church teaching should not seek to receive the sacrament.
Sheridan made his comments in a May 1 pastoral letter published in the diocese's newspaper and sent to each parish in the diocese. It is the second-largest in Colorado, covering 125,000 Catholics in 10 counties.
The bishop's statement drew sharp criticism from some quarters.
"I think it is an outrageous intrusion into what is supposed to be the separation of church and state. It is frightening," said Michael Merrifield, a Democratic state lawmaker who is not Catholic but represents part of the heavily religious Colorado Springs area. "It goes against everything that we believe is important to democracy since we founded this country."
In his letter, Sheridan said the separation of church and state does not mean that the "well-formed consciences of religious people should not be brought to bear on their political choices."
"Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the church," he said.
Sheridan did not return a call Friday from The Associated Press. But he told The Denver Post he singled out abortion and the other topics because they are "intrinsically evil." He also decried same-sex marriage as deviant behavior.
In practice, his warning will probably not have much impact on Catholics taking Communion because no questions are asked beforehand.
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver has not taken a stand so far on whether defiant Catholic lawmakers should receive Communion, but he has criticized them, saying they offer a "dishonest public witness."
Several other bishops have said they would not be comfortable denying Communion to Catholic politicians.
A special panel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (search) is developing guidelines for church leaders in their relationships with Catholic lawmakers. But it's not clear whether any action will come before Election Day.
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About time someone stepped up and said this. I cannot see how my fellow Catholics could ever support Kerry with his supporting stem cell research, abortion, and gay marriage(no offense to anyone plz).....three things that go in the completely opposite direction of the Catholic Church.
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Sat May 15, 2004 12:33 am |
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Oh my god (no pun intended), I think that was a serious mistake, on his (bishop of Colorado Springs) part, if not the Catholic church's. Seems rather controling and taking things a little too far. I mean, who are they to dictate who should and shouldn't run the country? This could influence people towards one party or another. Seems like they're trying to combine Church and State. Of course this was a "warning" and they really have no way to enforce it.
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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Seven of Nine
Sammie's Mammy
Joined: 16 Jun 2001
Posts: 7871
Location: North East England
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| Sat May 15, 2004 12:37 am |
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What's the Catholic Church's view on genetic modification?
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Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
Joined: 15 Sep 2001
Posts: 5581
Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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| Sat May 15, 2004 4:12 am |
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You know, I'm Roman Catholic. I've been taught from the Bible since I was old enough to read.
But I still agree with Stem Cell research, certain Abortion rights and the right to gay marriage.
Stem Cell research could help save Millions of people who have had Birth defects or organ failure and are close to death.
Abortion should be allowed if the victim was Raped or due to incest.
Gays have the same rights as anyone else. They are people just like us, who decide to live a different way of life. This is Segregation all over again.
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"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." President Thomas Jefferson
"A man's respect for law and order exists in precise relationship to the size of his paycheck." Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Sat May 15, 2004 4:24 pm |
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I dont think the Catholic Church should take steps top enforce this. However, if people do vote for someone who goes against several major Catholic beleifs, then they should take it apon themselves to not receive the sacrament of communion, just like people who are not Catholic are not alowd to.
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Sat May 15, 2004 10:56 pm |
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I suppose it all comes down to what you consider more important.
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun May 16, 2004 4:07 pm |
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Okay, now this is somewhat extreme, but the people that believe in those things do NOT believe in true Christain ideals...I do not, however, know where I stand, exactly, on this issue quite yet.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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