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Sixty Catholic Democrats in Congress wrote an open letter Friday titled "Statement of Principles" explaining why the Catholic Church should "not" deny Holy Communion to professed Catholics who promote abortion.
Their letter coincided with the June meeting of the US bishops, who discussed the question of "Eucharistic coherence" and conditions under which a Catholic should not present himself to receive Holy Communion.
Clearly, the shadow of "devout" Catholics Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are looming over the conversation.
The real question is not a "Catholic" question, it is a moral, ethical, biblical---Christian question.
A closer look at the bishop's response.
Be informed, not misled.
I am not a Catholic, but 70,412,021 claims to be in the US and 1.2 billion worldwide claims to be Catholic.
That would include the President of the United States...and the Speaker of the House---both powerful positions.
And both are cheerleaders for abortion and its advancement, here and around the world.
60 Catholic Democrats in Congress have asked their church to deny biblical teaching.
Apparently, these 60 Democrat Catholic politicians in Congress believe their church should forsake ages-old biblical teaching that killing unwanted unborn babies is morally wrong because it is murder.
They never actually try to make the case as to why being an abortion advocate should be OK morally, rather they try to make the "relative" case that because of politicians' position and influence they should be excused from the moral responsibility of abortion. And because of their good works in other areas.
The letter, titled "Statements of Principles," says in part, "As legislators in the US House of Representatives, we work every day to advance respect for life and the dignity of every human being. We believe that government has a moral purpose."
It does. That is biblical.
They continue, "We are committed to making real the basic principles that are at the heart of Catholic social teaching: helping the poor, disadvantaged, and the oppressed, protecting the least among us and ensuring that all Americans of every faith are given meaningful opportunities to share in the blessings of this great country."
They continue to make a case for social justice, then this: "We envision a world in which every child belongs to a loving family and agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life."
To justify their pro-abortion activities, they affirm their commitment to reducing unintended pregnancies, encourage mothers to carry their child to term and provide resources to help raise healthy and secure children.
They even claim they work to provide alternatives to abortion.
However, once they walk out of the shadow of their church, into the shadow of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and other "devout" Catholics and other religious people, they vote for every single policy that kills more unwanted, unborn children ---all the time calling it "women's healthcare." And they follow Biden's lead in advancing abortion around the world.
The 60 politicians declare that "the weaponization of the Eucharist to Democratic lawmakers for their support of a woman's safe and legal access to abortion is contradictory."
The 60 politicians are asking for a modern-day "indulgence."
It was morally corrupt then---it's morally corrupt now. Will the Catholic Church morally bend to the will of politicians?
The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" states, "From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person---among which is the inviolable right to every human being to life."
The Catholic Church has consistently taught that "taking an innocent human life in abortion is always gravely evil."
Their Catechism calls abortion "gravely contrary to the moral law" and "therefore a person who procures an abortion incurs ex-communication from the church" by "the very commission of the offense."
The group of Democrat Catholic lawmakers says "they seek the church's guidance and assistance but believe also in the primacy of conscience."
Only a conscience seared with a hot iron could lead someone to affirm and advance the killing of unwanted, unborn children.
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordilene said Saturday that pro-abortion legislation is a "grave moral evil."
In his pastoral letter on Saturday titled, "Before I Formed You in the Womb I Knew You," the archbishop wrote, "Abortion is not a 'Christian' or 'Catholic' issue: the dignity of the human person is a value that is, or should be, affirmed by us all."
He said, "Abortion is the ax laid to the roots of the tree of human rights, when our culture encourages the violation of life at its youngest and most vulnerable condition, other ethical norms cannot stand for long."
And he said this: "In the case of public figures who profess to be Catholic and promote abortion, we are not dealing with a sin committed in human weakness or a moral lapse: this is a matter of persistent, obdurate, and public rejection of Catholic teaching."
"Moreover, Catholics in public life," he says "who participate in abortion or seek to advance it through legislation or advocacy" cause scandal..."precisely because these are actions which many people are aware."
"Scandal," he says in the context of Catholic teaching, means "an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil."
"Indeed," he says "when one looks directly at what actually happens in an abortion, it is hard to imagine anything more heinously evil."
Concluding, he says to those Catholics who are in political power,
"God has entrusted you with a prestigious position in our society. You have the powers to affect societal practices and attitudes. Always remember that you will one day have to render an account to God for your stewardship of this trust."
"Please stop the killing," he pleads. " And please stop pretending that advocating for or practicing a grave moral evil---one that snuffs out an innocent human life, one that denies a fundamental human right---is somehow compatible with the Christian faith. It is not."
Bishops vote overwhelmingly to address "worthiness to receive communion."
The US bishops voted overwhelmingly Friday to approve drafting a document on the reception of Holy Communion, a topic with clear repercussions for President Joe Biden---a professed Catholic who supports the expansion of abortion.
The bishops voted 168 in favor, while only 55 voted against and 6 abstained on a vote to address the issue head-on.
The document will clarify that people "cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated."
Friday, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, who heads up the bishop's office for pro-life activities, says abortion is not the only issue with Holy Communion, but it is the most visible because "having a pro-abortion Catholic president has brought attention to the issue and forced the bishop's hand."
He said, "This is a Catholic president that's doing this, the most aggressive thing we've ever seen in terms of this attack on life---when it's most innocent."
Takeway.
Biden, Pelosi, and others who have been given political power in our country by the people, are trying to bend their Catholic Church to conform and affirm their political ideology even when it contradicts their church's teaching---and more importantly God' Word.
I'll be talking more about the attempt in our culture to conform both the church and the individual to a deceptive, failing, destructive ideology on our daily radio program this morning.
Please join me on the air, online, or on your phone. Here's how.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful. Be Faithful.