Call to Action et. al. excommunicated?

[Black_Jaque]

I remember reading somewhere that a bishop in Colorado or some western state excommunicated Call To Action and a host of other catholic disention groups from both ends of the spectrum.

Then the vatican upheld it.

Apparently everyone who is a member of one of those organizations is supposed to renounce their membership, lest they are excommunicated also.

I’m wondering if that excommunication applies to all members of those organizations, or only members in the diocese of the bishop who made the proclamation?

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I believe you are referring to Bishop Bruskewitz of the Diocese of Lincoln.

I may be wrong, but I think it pertains to all members of the Call to Action. Maybe someone else might come on who would know for sure. The Bishop is the Bishop of my Diocese and I am very proud of his stance.

:heart:Blyss

 

[PatienceAndLove]

One would assume that if the Vatican upheld the excommunication, then it applies to all members of the groups, not just in the original states of excommunication.
Do you know what groups besides Call to Action were excommunicated?

 

[1ke]

The excommunication that Bishop Bruskewitz announced in 1996 covered members of Call to Action, Catholics for a Free Choice, Planned Parenthood, the Hemlock Society, the Freemasons, and the Society of St. Pius X in the Lincoln Diocese.

The excommunication order applies only within the Lincoln, Nebraska diocese.

But the Vatican’s judgment against Call to Action does raise questions about the status of the group’s members in other dioceses.

It’s not clear at this point if it applies to all members, or only Call to Action Nebraska.

 

[catholicmessage]

Whether the excommunication applies to all members of those groups or just to the ones in the Diocese of Lincoln, it is better safe than sorry. If we really want to be Catholic and to please the Lord, we should not support a group that seeks to tear down His Church.

 

[Black_Jaque]

I’m not a member of any of those groups. If, due to the vatican’s involvement, this excommunication extends beyond the diocesan boundaries, I would like to encourage my own pastors in their duties.

I know our priests have a tough job and don’t need unnecessary criticism, but I also think they need to know they are supported in doing their duty. Sometimes a leader needs to know that once he steps out of the trench to lead the charge, someone will be following him.

 

[Evan]

The vatican did not uphold the excommunications, because that was not the question put to the vatican. What was upheld was the right of the diocese, with the permission of the bishop, to establish in the diocesan law, that members of certain groups can be excommunicated.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

The vatican did not uphold the excommunications, because that was not the question put to the vatican. What was upheld was the right of the diocese, with the permission of the bishop, to establish in the diocesan law, that members of certain groups can be excommunicated.

I hope the following helps. The original decree:

Decree of Automatic Excommunication:
"All Catholics in and of the Diocese of Lincoln (Nebraska, USA) are forbidden to be members of the organizations and groups listed below. Membership in these organizations or groups is always perilous to the Catholic Faith and most often is totally incompatible with the Catholic Faith
(re-ordered and annotated by Ray Dubuque

Call to Action ( Liberal Catholic )
Call to Action Nebraska ( Liberal Catholic )
Catholics for a Free Choice ( Liberal Catholic )
Society of Saint Pius X (Ultra-Conservative Catholic)
Saint Michael the Archangel Chapel (Ultra-Conservative Catholic)
Freemasons (non-Catholic masonic)
Job’s Daughters (non-Catholic masonic)
DeMolay (non-Catholic masonic)
Eastern Star (non-Catholic masonic)
Rainbow Girls (non-Catholic masonic)
Planned Parenthood (non-Catholic reproductive health)
Hemlock Society (non-Catholic death with dignity)
"Any Catholics in and of the Diocese of Lincoln who attain or retain membership in any of the above listed organizations or groups after April 15, 1996, are by that very fact (ipso-facto-latae sententiae) under interdict and are absolutely forbidden to receive Holy Communion.

Contumacious persistence in such membership for one month following the interdict on part of any such Catholics will by that very fact (ipso-facto-latae sententiae) cause them to be excommunicated.
. . .
Absolution from these ecclesial censures is reserved (to) the Bishop.
This notice, when published in the Southern Nebraska Register, is a formal canonical warning.
By mandate of the Most Reverend Bishop (Bruskewitz) of Lincoln
(signed) Reverend Monsignor Timothy Thorburn Chancellor
March 19,1996"

The following article affirms their excommunication". I called the Chancery Office in the Lincoln for clarity. I was told that a bishop can only create law within their own diocese’ within the Lincoln Diocese members of Call to Action and the other 10 groups are indeed excommunicated, but only in the Lincoln Diocese.

Vatican affirms bishop’s excommunication of Call to Action members
By S.L. Hansen
12/8/2006
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)

LINCOLN, Neb. (CNS) – The Vatican has upheld Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz’s decision 10 years ago that membership in Call to Action “is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith” and results in automatic excommunication.

In a Nov. 24 letter to the Lincoln bishop, made public Dec. 8, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, told Bishop Bruskewitz that his ruling “was properly taken within your competence as pastor of that diocese.”

“The judgment of the Holy See is that the activities of Call to Action in the course of these years are in contrast with the Catholic faith due to views and positions held which are unacceptable from a doctrinal and disciplinary standpoint,” the cardinal said in his letter.

“Thus to be a member of this association or to support it is irreconcilable with a coherent living of the Catholic faith,” he added.

Bishop Bruskewitz said he hopes Cardinal Re’s letter will bring clarity to Catholics who have continued their affiliation with Call to Action, Call to Action Nebraska or the 10 other groups cited in the original “statement of extrasynodal legislation,” a formal canonical notice that they would be automatically excommunicated if they remained members of those groups.

After the Vatican decision, Bishop Bruskewitz said he felt a duty to lead the people under his pastoral care away from organizations perilous to the faith

I applaude Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz’s courageous decision and I think it should serve as a reminder to members of Call to Action and others including some on this forum that hold similar views that they are in serious error. It is also interesting to note that Call to Action lost their appeal to Rome and have ungratiously refused to acknowledge the excommunication and have said some pretty audacious things about the Bishop and Rome.

Iowa Mike

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Excuse my ignorance, but would someone explain Call to Action for me? I have been to the site, and I believe I have an idea, but I would like some clarification.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

Excuse my ignorance, but would someone explain Call to Action for me? I have been to the site, and I believe I have an idea, but I would like some clarification.

Go to www.catholic.com and click on the book icon below the title “Wolves in Sheeps Clothing”. This letter by Karl Keating explains the threat to the Church from dissident groups like 'Call to Action". The following is the beginning of the letter:

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers,

This is a painful letter for me to write.

Why? Because it deals with a painful problem that affects thousands of priests, nuns, deacons, and other individuals who are in charge of millions of souls.

The problem is the wave of theological and moral dissent
that is in danger of overtaking the Church in America.

The dissenters—who are well organized—are systematically trying to subvert and “reconstruct” the very foundations of our Catholic faith.

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

I’ve written many times to warn people about Call to Action, Women’s Ordination Conference, Catholics for a Free Choice, CORPUS (the National Association for a Married Priesthood), Dignity, FutureChurch, and many other self-proclaimed “change agents” present in the Church today etc. etc. etc…

Sincerely in Christ,

Karl Keating

Call to Action is a dissident group that wants to reform the Catholic Church. They don’t want to leave the Church, they want it to conform to their view of the world. Amoung other things, they want to end priestly celebasy, they want to ordain women as priests, they want a impose a Catholic Consitution (read Keating’s letter for a full explanation). CTA refuses to accept the authority of the Pope, refuses to obey direction from their bishop…it’s CTA’s way or the highway. This is similar to the many other dissident groups. These groups have one thing in common…they want the Church to reform and accept abortion, euthanasia, divorce, stem cell research, female priests, allow priests to marry and on and on and on. They don’t want to be bound by the Bible, bow to the authority of the Chair of Peter…they simply want to get into a room and decide how the Church should run…Oh yea…I forgot…they want to be in charge too.

To learn more about CTA go to their web-site cta-usa.org/. When you get there go to the menu on the left side and click on “Who we are”. A menu will pop up on the right side of this title. Click on CTA Mission. This will give you an idea of what they want to do. Don’t be fooled, note that no where on their web-site do they mention that they have been excommunicated. They try to wrap their agenda in some high tone statements. But when you strip away the junk…they are just another dissident group.

Iowa Mike

 

[Black_Jaque]

OK so the excommunication only applies to members of those organizations within Bishop Bruskowitz’s diocese.

The only reason the vatican got involved was because Call to Action appealed the excommunication and it was upheld. Therefore Call to Action Nebraska and its members are excommunicated. But this does not apply to Call to Action Minnesota, or New York, or whereever.

The other organizations did not appeal the excommunication which is why the vatican did not address their cases.

 

[Strider]

All of which is the reason I suggested (though, retaining my realism, not expectantly ) that if the members of the USCCB voted similar action against all of the groups Karl nmes on “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” in all of the dioceses in the USA, the problem would be much less than it is now.
Members of these groups groups would no longer have the open support of their dissident organizations.
Action like this is really the responsibility of the bishops, not Karl or any other lay organization. But, with the lack of action by the bishops, somebody’s got to do it, so Karl steps up to the plate.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

OK so the excommunication only applies to members of those organizations within Bishop Bruskowitz’s diocese.

The only reason the vatican got involved was because Call to Action appealed the excommunication and it was upheld. Therefore Call to Action Nebraska and its members are excommunicated. But this does not apply to Call to Action Minnesota, or New York, or whereever.

The other organizations did not appeal the excommunication which is why the vatican did not address their cases.

Actually you are correct in saying that members of Call to Action and the other groups mentioned, outside of the Diocese of Lincoln, NE, are not excommunicated. However, when I spoke with the Chancery Office a priest told me that a Bishop can only make ‘law’ within his own diocese. If no other Bishop has excommunicated these groups they would have no reason to appeal to Rome. However…the goals and objectives of these groups is essentially the same nationally. Since their Nebraska chapter or affiliate as been excommunicated by Rome, I think it’s safe to say members outside of Nebraska are living in serious error.

Iowa Mike

 

[Iowa_Mike]

All of which is the reason I suggested (though, retaining my realism, not expectantly ) that if the members of the USCCB voted similar action against all of the groups Karl nmes on “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” in all of the dioceses in the USA, the problem would be much less than it is now.
Members of these groups groups would no longer have the open support of their dissident organizations.
Action like this is really the responsibility of the bishops, not Karl or any other lay organization. But, with the lack of action by the bishops, somebody’s got to do it, so Karl steps up to the plate.

Yes, I think the USCCB is remiss in not expelling these people nationally…it is really sad.

Iowa Mike