WASHINGTON, DC—-In a letter to the bishops of Argentina sent in late March, Pope Francis directed them to govern the Church there following the Aparecida Document. The text states, in part, “[people] cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged. This responsibility weighs particularly over legislators, heads of governments, and health professionals.”
Judie Brown, president and cofounder of American Life League, and Michael Hichborn, director of Defend the Faith for American Life League, sent the following letter to all U.S. Catholic bishops:
Your Excellency,
RE: Pope Francis and Canon 915
We are renewed in our joy over the election of Pope Francis. One of the reasons for our happiness is the Holy Father’s reiteration of Catholic teaching as enunciated in canon 915. The report, published May 4 by LifeSiteNews and Breitbart News, states in part: “Pope Francis has directed the bishops of Argentina, his home country, to govern the Church there following a document that makes clear that Holy Communion should be disallowed for any person who facilitates abortion, including politicians. ‘These are the guidelines we need for this time in history,’ the pope wrote to the bishops.”
We pray that these words will be an encouragement to you as well because, like Argentina, the United States has her share of Catholics in public life who persist in their support of abortion while, at the same time, receiving Christ in the sacrament of Holy Eucharist.
We write to ask you, in view of this recent news report, to act on Pope Francis’ call and deny the sacrament of Christ’s real presence-body, blood, soul, and divinity-to every pro-abortion Catholic in public life who has not repented of his support for the heinous crime of abortion.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
You are in our daily prayers and we ask you to remember American Life League in your prayers as well.
Sincerely yours in the Lord who is LIFE!
Judie Brown, President Michael Hichborn, Director
American Life League ALL Defend the Faith
Judie Brown was appointed twice by Pope John Paul II and again by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Academy for Life.
American Life League, cofounded by Judie Brown in 1979, is the oldest national Catholic pro-life education and advocacy organization in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.all.org.
