H
HagiaSophia
Guest
On January 25, 199O, I wrote to the late John Cardinal O’Conner, then the Archbishop of New York:
"It is, of course, public knowledge (and, to many, public scandal) that the Governor of the State of New York, Mario Cuomo, persists in refusing to accept the Church’s teaching on abortion.* As I understand it, that teaching is a fundamental tenet of the Church and, by refusing to accept it, Governor Cuomo has separated himself from the Church.
*
“Excommunication is a drastic remedy which should not be utilized unless it is truly necessary.*In the case of Governor Cuomo, his scandalous, strident public statements appear to call for such drastic action.As you know, a bishop who was incarcerated for protesting abortion recently warned Governor Cuomo that if he persists in his course of action, he risks ‘going straight to hell.’ Governor Cuomo responded by stating that he defended both the right of a bishop to curse a politician and the right of a woman to choose to have an abortion.*In fact, the bishop did not curse Governor Cuomo; he gave him a warning which was certainly warranted.*Governor Cuomo’s reply, though clever, maliciously distorts the bishop’s statement and reiterates the Governor’s unwillingness to accept Church teaching…”
"It is also noteworthy that former Governor Hugh Carey, Governor Cuomo’s predecessor, recently expressed regret for his failure to fully accept the Church’s teaching on abortion. It is unfortunate that Governor Carey did not have the courage to do so while he was in public office, and it seems clear that Governor Cuomo, still contemplating further public service as an elected official, will not be dissuaded from his present course unless (and perhaps even if) he is excommunicated.
*
"In excommunicating Mr. Perez, Archbishop Rummel exhibited moral courage, which is lacking in Governor Cuomo.*The failure to excommunicate Governor Cuomo, notwithstanding his demagogic exploitation of the so-called abortion issue, would call into question the Church’s authority and integrity.
*
“I pray that your recent meeting with Governor Cuomo will help him to see the light.*If not, or if he sees the light but refuses to acknowledge it, then the Church should make it public that Governor Cuomo, by his own public actions, has separated himself from the Church.”
I received a polite reply, to the effect that quiet persuasion would be tried first.
*
On June 14, 1990, Cardinal O’Connor issued a 12-page statement on abortion policy in his archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic New York.
*
In pertinent part, it stated:
“Where Catholics are perceived not only as treating church teaching on abortion with contempt, by helping to multiple abortions by advocating legislation supporting abortion, or by making public funds available for abortion, bishops may decide that,for the common good, such Catholics must be warned that they are at risk of excommunication. If such actions persist, bishops may consider excommunication the only option.”
*
It also stated:
“To have the power to impose penalties and to use that power…are two different things.”
*
Excommunication is a power not exercised lightly.
*
A media ministorm ensued in the secular media.
*
The caterwauling was contemptible.
*
A New York Post columnist compared Cardinal O’Connor to the Ayatollah Khomeini and nominally Catholic political opportunists perhaps to be subjected to “inquisition” to the author-in-hiding, Salman Rushdie.
*
The New York Times charged that Cardinal O’Connor’s “uncompromising stance punishes Catholics in public life” and complained that “the Cardinal imposes a religious test of his own,” even though the Constitution prevents the government from imposing a religious test for public office.
*
Cardinal O’Connor was following fundamental Church teaching, not trying to force adubious personal opinion on others.
*
The same Constitution that bars religious tests for public office protects freedom of religion, including a religion’s right to maintain standards.
*
The Amish are entitled to shun, and the Catholic Church is entitled to excommunicate.
*
But, the other Catholic bishops of the United States did not rally to Cardinal O’Connor’s support.
*
By the following Sunday Cardinal O’Connor was declaring that he had “never threatened to excommunicate anyone.”
*
Presumably distinguishing a general warning from a specific threat.
*
And the next day Katie Couric of the Today show wastelling viewers that there were widespread concerns that the late President John F. Kennedy might take orders from the Vatican and such church-state concerns “persist” as a result of Cardinal O’Connor’s “bold attempt to discipline politicians.”
michnews.com/artman/publish/article_6832.shtml
"It is, of course, public knowledge (and, to many, public scandal) that the Governor of the State of New York, Mario Cuomo, persists in refusing to accept the Church’s teaching on abortion.* As I understand it, that teaching is a fundamental tenet of the Church and, by refusing to accept it, Governor Cuomo has separated himself from the Church.
*
“Excommunication is a drastic remedy which should not be utilized unless it is truly necessary.*In the case of Governor Cuomo, his scandalous, strident public statements appear to call for such drastic action.As you know, a bishop who was incarcerated for protesting abortion recently warned Governor Cuomo that if he persists in his course of action, he risks ‘going straight to hell.’ Governor Cuomo responded by stating that he defended both the right of a bishop to curse a politician and the right of a woman to choose to have an abortion.*In fact, the bishop did not curse Governor Cuomo; he gave him a warning which was certainly warranted.*Governor Cuomo’s reply, though clever, maliciously distorts the bishop’s statement and reiterates the Governor’s unwillingness to accept Church teaching…”
"It is also noteworthy that former Governor Hugh Carey, Governor Cuomo’s predecessor, recently expressed regret for his failure to fully accept the Church’s teaching on abortion. It is unfortunate that Governor Carey did not have the courage to do so while he was in public office, and it seems clear that Governor Cuomo, still contemplating further public service as an elected official, will not be dissuaded from his present course unless (and perhaps even if) he is excommunicated.
*
"In excommunicating Mr. Perez, Archbishop Rummel exhibited moral courage, which is lacking in Governor Cuomo.*The failure to excommunicate Governor Cuomo, notwithstanding his demagogic exploitation of the so-called abortion issue, would call into question the Church’s authority and integrity.
*
“I pray that your recent meeting with Governor Cuomo will help him to see the light.*If not, or if he sees the light but refuses to acknowledge it, then the Church should make it public that Governor Cuomo, by his own public actions, has separated himself from the Church.”
I received a polite reply, to the effect that quiet persuasion would be tried first.
*
On June 14, 1990, Cardinal O’Connor issued a 12-page statement on abortion policy in his archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic New York.
*
In pertinent part, it stated:
“Where Catholics are perceived not only as treating church teaching on abortion with contempt, by helping to multiple abortions by advocating legislation supporting abortion, or by making public funds available for abortion, bishops may decide that,for the common good, such Catholics must be warned that they are at risk of excommunication. If such actions persist, bishops may consider excommunication the only option.”
*
It also stated:
“To have the power to impose penalties and to use that power…are two different things.”
*
Excommunication is a power not exercised lightly.
*
A media ministorm ensued in the secular media.
*
The caterwauling was contemptible.
*
A New York Post columnist compared Cardinal O’Connor to the Ayatollah Khomeini and nominally Catholic political opportunists perhaps to be subjected to “inquisition” to the author-in-hiding, Salman Rushdie.
*
The New York Times charged that Cardinal O’Connor’s “uncompromising stance punishes Catholics in public life” and complained that “the Cardinal imposes a religious test of his own,” even though the Constitution prevents the government from imposing a religious test for public office.
*
Cardinal O’Connor was following fundamental Church teaching, not trying to force adubious personal opinion on others.
*
The same Constitution that bars religious tests for public office protects freedom of religion, including a religion’s right to maintain standards.
*
The Amish are entitled to shun, and the Catholic Church is entitled to excommunicate.
*
But, the other Catholic bishops of the United States did not rally to Cardinal O’Connor’s support.
*
By the following Sunday Cardinal O’Connor was declaring that he had “never threatened to excommunicate anyone.”
*
Presumably distinguishing a general warning from a specific threat.
*
And the next day Katie Couric of the Today show wastelling viewers that there were widespread concerns that the late President John F. Kennedy might take orders from the Vatican and such church-state concerns “persist” as a result of Cardinal O’Connor’s “bold attempt to discipline politicians.”
michnews.com/artman/publish/article_6832.shtml