Lifenews.com reports the following response from several pro-abortion Catholic lawmakers to Pope Benedict’s statement that politicians who advance abortion have excommunicated themselves:
Eighteen pro-abortion members of Congress lashed out on Monday in a letter opposing remarks Pope Benedict XVI made about pro-abortion Catholic politicians. The Catholic Church leader told reporters last week that any Catholic elected official who supports abortion has automatically excommunicated themselves.
Led by pro-abortion Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, eighteen members of the House issued a statement responding to the pope’s comments.
“We are concerned with the pope’s recent statement warning Catholic elected officials that they risk excommunication and would not receive communion for their pro-choice views,” the statement read.
They said that the penalty of excommunication “offend(s) the very nature of the American experiment and do(es) a great disservice to the centuries of good work the church has done.”
http://www.lifenews.com/nat3122.html
I find this to be such a laughable statement. Catholic lawmakers in supporting abortion through their legislative duties take actions which, to use their own words, offend the very nature of the teachings of the Catholic Church (or to put it crudely, the rules). When the Church says that they have automatically excommunicated themselves, these lawmakers argue that it goes against American principles. How funny. I didn’t know that the Church had to answer to American principles. I thought that the Church answered to a Higher Power.
You can’t have it both ways. If you are Catholic, the Church sets out the moral precepts you are to follow. If you don’t believe in these precepts, why call yourself a Catholic? There are plenty of other churches where abortion is not an issue.
It’s silly, however, to lecture the Church that it is going against American ideals by holding its members to a standard higher than laws made by men. I just don’t think the Church is here on earth to support the “American experiment” as defined by liberal congressmen and women.
Keepin' It Real 
To me, it is the height of arrogance for Liberal Democrats to think they can now boss around the Pope. I’m not a Catholic, but I know the importance of the Pope’s position to the religion.
I guess ‘separation of church and state’ only applies if someone of religion desires to address the state, not the other way around.
Comment by LewWaters — May 15, 2007 @ 9:45 pm |
Lew,
It’s the same as “academic freedom” – only applies to the liberal faculty members!
Comment by keepitreal — May 15, 2007 @ 10:45 pm |
You should see how it is in Europe. In my country, Croatia that is. The church is against us joining the EU because then they wouldn’t have a saying in what’s going on. Because of them all shops are closed on Sundays.
Comment by gossipshow — May 16, 2007 @ 5:10 am |