I think many of the pro-abortion politicians have been excommunicated “latae sententae” (automatically), by the very fact that through their actions, they have facilitated abortions. Their public and legislative support of the abortion law, refusing to support efforts to abolish this invalid law, means that they have had a hand in abortions. No letter from a bishop, or the Pope, or anyone else is required for them to be excommunicated. They are so, ipso facto, i.e., by the very act that they have performed in their support of abortion laws.I heard that Ms Pelosi was threatened with excommunication if she continued her pro choice advocacy.Was she ever excommunicated?Are there any other pro choice Catholics either in government or otherwise to your knowledge been excommunicated?
You are right, they have excommunicated themselves by their choice. Only, a sin that carries out an excommunication, as abortion, can not be forgiven by a priest in confession, but by the bishop or someone delegated from him. If a person repent from an abortion should approach a priest and he will put it in the knowledge of the bishop and iniciate all the steps necessary for the comming back to the Church.I think many of the pro-abortion politicians have been excommunicated “latae sententae” (automatically), by the very fact that through their actions, they have facilitated abortions. Their public and legislative support of the abortion law, refusing to support efforts to abolish this invalid law, means that they have had a hand in abortions. No letter from a bishop, or the Pope, or anyone else is required for them to be excommunicated. They are so, ipso facto, i.e., by the very act that they have performed in their support of abortion laws.
What needs to happen for them is for them to repent, go to Confession, and be reconciled with the Church and Christ before they die. Otherwise, they’ll experience a “hot time in the old town tonight,” forever.
Most often in this country, the bishop delegates his authority to forgive those excommunicated because of abortion to the parish priest.You are right, they have excommunicated themselves by their choice. Only, a sin that carries out an excommunication, as abortion, can not be forgiven by a priest in confession, but by the bishop or someone delegated from him. If a person repent from an abortion should approach a priest and he will put it in the knowledge of the bishop and iniciate all the steps necessary for the comming back to the Church.
Sorry I’m in a hurry and not have time to give you the quotes.
God bless you
If these people are automatically excommunicated, why do they still receive the Eucharist? Shouldn’t the priest refuse them?I think many of the pro-abortion politicians have been excommunicated “latae sententae” (automatically), by the very fact that through their actions, they have facilitated abortions. Their public and legislative support of the abortion law, refusing to support efforts to abolish this invalid law, means that they have had a hand in abortions. No letter from a bishop, or the Pope, or anyone else is required for them to be excommunicated. They are so, ipso facto, i.e., by the very act that they have performed in their support of abortion laws.
What needs to happen for them is for them to repent, go to Confession, and be reconciled with the Church and Christ before they die. Otherwise, they’ll experience a “hot time in the old town tonight,” forever.
Yes, he should.If these people are automatically excommunicated, why do they still receive the Eucharist? Shouldn’t the priest refuse them?
He should deny communion if they were, in fact, excommunicated. Obviously they have not been.Yes, he should.
Hello Scoobyshme,I think many of the pro-abortion politicians have been excommunicated “latae sententae” (automatically), by the very fact that through their actions, they have facilitated abortions. Their public and legislative support of the abortion law, refusing to support efforts to abolish this invalid law, means that they have had a hand in abortions. No letter from a bishop, or the Pope, or anyone else is required for them to be excommunicated. They are so, ipso facto, i.e., by the very act that they have performed in their support of abortion laws. …
Not only do our legislators make abortion legal, they fund specific abortions with tax payer funds. I think that a case can be made that the funding of an abortion is participation in procuring that abortion.Hello Scoobyshme,
I respectfully disagree. Canon law regarding penalties must be read/interpreted strictly. So, since the law says that a person who actually procures a completed abortion is automatically excommunicated (canon 1398), it is contrary to the nature of this law to expand the meaning to include all those who have a hand in making abortion legal. The law is speaking of the actual act of abortion…
Hi Joe,Not only do our legislators make abortion legal, they fund specific abortions with tax payer funds. I think that a case can be made that the funding of an abortion is participation in procuring that abortion.
As I recall some South American bishop did declare that such legislators would be excommunicated. Don’t remember now which country and whether any actions resulted.Hi Joe,
From the perspective of moral theology, there certainly is participation/cooperation which can rise to the level of objective, mortal sin. This is the purview of c. 915. But, regarding excommunication, you’d have to point to an actual, specific abortion that took place only because of a particular politician’s actions. That would be pretty hard to do and, up until now, has never even been tried.
Dan
I object to your deceptive title on this thread, in that I know of no pro abortion advocates.I heard that Ms Pelosi was threatened with excommunication if she continued her pro choice advocacy.Was she ever excommunicated?Are there any other pro choice Catholics either in government or otherwise to your knowledge been excommunicated?
Abortion is not a “theological” or “religious” issue, its a human rights issue. Abortion is the murder of an innocent human being and the maiming of her mother.The church should stay out of politics. Our country is not a theocracy and should never become one. The church should not use coercive methods to create the secular government. I agree with the church’s position on abortion. But I do not agree with excommunicating pro-choice advocates. Whenever the church gets involved with the state, the church becomes corrupted in some way. The church needs to remain holy and pure.
You seem to be confused about the Catholic teaching on a number of issues. Perhaps this is why you have chosen to be so active here on Catholic Answers in the Moral Theology Forum. You must be looking for clarification. Let me help.Agree with jocomo and disagree with vera. Partial birth abortion IS now against the law and I DO support this law. It was never abortion in the first place. Killing a 9 month old undelivered fetus is not abortion; it is infanticide. Otherwise, family decisions belong to me, my wife and children, to be guided by God’s word (in our case, the RCC). The government has no right to interfere and should never have that right. And abortion does NOT maim mothers; rather, making abortion illegal WOULD maim mothers because they would be forced to go into back alley clinics and allow butchers to perform the abortion as they did for centuries before Roe v. Wade.
You are correct, Joe. Here is a link to a story. catholicnewsagency.com/news/lawmakers_who_vote_in_favor_of_abortion_in_uruguay_incur_excommunication/As I recall some South American bishop did declare that such legislators would be excommunicated. Don’t remember now which country and whether any actions resulted.