Pro-abortion Catholics in Congress
Statement from Joseph Starrs, director of American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church:
Today's ad is a graphic reminder of a very serious problem in the body politic and within the Church itself. For years, many Catholic politicians have professed their "personal" opposition to abortion, but in the same breath they invariably conclude with this nonsensical and morally incoherent line: "But surely I cannot impose my religious beliefs on others."
Opposition to the destruction of innocent human life in the womb is not a religious doctrine or a particular theological point of view.
We are obligated to stand up for the defenseless and speak out for the voiceless regardless of faith, creed, or political party. Stopping this wholesale destruction of millions of children is a matter of civil rights that should transcend everything else.
Catholic politicians who chose to ignore this non-negotiable truth defy both the Church they claim membership in and the society in which they dwell.
Some have made the argument that pro-abortion Catholic politicians are only part of the problem and their failure to defend innocent human life has been made manifestly easier by a failure of leadership within the Church. This argument is not without merit.
The Catholic bishops, by virtue of their office, must boldly teach and - when needed - admonish and correct. Too often a bishop is unwilling to sit down face to face and say to a pro-abortion Catholic, "As your bishop, I must warn you that your soul is in mortal danger. By your PUBLIC words and actions you have placed yourself outside of the church and are therefore not in communion with the church." Such a statement by a bishop to a wayward member of the Church, while it may be called "tough love" is also true and honest love. As Mrs. Brown just stated, it is an act of mercy - and is in no way a punitive measure.
It is for this reason that we believe the current stance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - that enforcement of Church law in this matter is optional - is simply wrong. If it is wrong for a pro-abortion politician to receive communion in St. Louis, then is wrong in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. or anywhere else.
A year ago this month, Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, Wisconsin (now archbishop of St. Louis) issued a decree that banned all pro-abortion Catholic politicians from receiving Holy Communion in his diocese. About 12 other bishops have followed Bishop Burke's example. We urge the rest of the Catholic bishops in the United States to do the same.
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Release issued: 24 Jan 05