Bishop to Gov. Davis: Choose Abortion or
Communion
At least one bishop in America is enforcing the Vatican's
warning to allegedly Catholic politicians. Sacramento
Bishop William Weigand says California Gov. Gray Davis must
renounce his support of abortion or stop taking Holy
Communion.
"As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone,
politician or otherwise, who thinks it is acceptable for a
Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts
his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with
the church," Weigand announced Wednesday during a cathedral
Mass mourning the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
"Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge
this and choose of his own volition to abstain from
receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart."
Proud of the Right to Kill
Would Davis alienate La-La Land's largely pro-abortion
electorate? Russ Lopez, a spokesman for the scandal-plagued
governor, said the bishop was "trying to make an example,
and that's sad. But Governor Davis has said repeatedly that
he is proud of the legislation he has signed giving women
the right to choose. He will not back down."
Lopez criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how
to practice their faith," the Sacramento Bee reported
today.
'Who's Going to Be Left?'
Many Catholics are pro-abortion, according to Lopez. "Does
the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving Holy
Communion? Who's going to be left in church?"
In his homily, Weigand quoted from papal doctrine: "Those
who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave
and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human
life." The bishop praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, who
last month said the governor should stop showing his face
at St. Patrick's Orphanage unless he renounced his
pro-abortion stance.
Davis told Kavanagh: "I'm unapologetically pro-choice, and
I'm not changing my position."
'Can't Have It Both Ways'
Weigand said: "Ever since the little incident last month,
people have been asking questions. They asked "how can a
Catholic be in good standing and still hold that point of
view? I'm saying you can't be a Catholic in good standing
and hold that point of view. The governor's position is
very public and contrary. ... You can't have it both ways."
Davis thumbed his nose at the bishop and monsignor
Wednesday by issuing a press release in which he praised
himself for making California what he calls "the most
pro-choice state in America."
"He goes to church, and he says his prayers, and that's
good," said Weigand. "But he's been aggressive on this
issue, even boastful.
"I'm just trying to clarify that he is not in line with the
Catholic Church on an issue that the pope has said is the
most important issue of our day."
newsmax.com |
