The recent proclamation by the Catholic Bishop of Ottawa that Holy Communion should be denied from politicians that hold an opinion contrary to the Church’s teaching on the Right to Life is commendable and long overdue.There have been a few courageous Bishops that have made similar statements here in the U.S., Archbishop Burke is one that comes to mind.
However, by-and-large, the Bishops south of the Canadian border have been silent, or if they have spoken on the matter, they have equivocated.
There is no middle ground in the proper disposition towards the Catholic teachings regarding the sanctity of life.
Simply put, from conception until natural death all human life is sacred and needs to be nurtured, developed and maintained regardless of a Catholic politician’s personal or political convictions.
Any Catholic that maintains a position contrary to the Church on this matter is in grave error, or serious sin.
The conditions necessary for the proper reception of Holy Eucharist require that Catholics be free from mortal sin in order to partake in the Eucharistic Mystery.
The Canadian Bishop of Ottawa rightly indicates that faithful Catholics cannot have an opinion on human life that is different from the Magisterial teachings of the Church. If indeed they maintain such a stand, they are not welcome to the reception of the Holy Eucharist.
What is the problem here in the States? Is it that this concept is so hard to grasp; or, rather is it that the United States Bishops lack the tenacity and fortitude to make the same public statement?
The United States is in the midst of a pre-convention presidential nomination race. The recent Pew Survey that shows American Catholics at 23.9 percent of the population, comprise the largest single group of religious voters in the United States.
With such a commanding percentage of influence, and the potential to seriously affect the political process in our November elections, it is time to mount a political, social, moral and ethical Catholic campaign that will reflect our most sacred beliefs in the polls and in the vote counts.
Most especially, the American Bishops have the opportunity and the duty to mount a national crusade that champions the rights of all religious bodies, rights of human life and dignity, and the true Christian principles that founded our nation.
In an increasing period of theological pluralism that threatens the harmony of the United States, the American Bishops need to speak out now for all Catholic religious freedoms as well as the rights of all people to live a life of peace and happiness.
If, in fact, our American Bishops do not meet the challenge and oppose political entities that pursue secularization and governmental interference in our Catholic educational facilities, health care services and Churches, the chance to politically and spiritually influence the future of the American Culture will be lost by the Bishops.
It has been over 30 years since the Roe vs. Wade decision and our Bishops and Catholic people are still stuck in the quagmire of protest against this wrongful Supreme Court decision. We have protested, we have paraded, and we have prayed and even instituted Rosary Walks for the rights of the unborn to human life and dignity.
Now, as a majority block of Catholic citizens, the Catholic Church in America needs to change governmental policy through Catholic political and social actions that will tell all other Americans of our Catholic values and moral principles.
Our Bishops - - the Apostolic Successors - - must be part of this campaign.
They need to be visible and vocal champions of the Church’s moral message in a unified moral voice of ethical and moral stability.
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Sotto Voce
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