Because so many of the Catholics in the pews who give to the Church are also liberal Democrats. The political ramifications of excommunicating ALL the liberal Democrats who support abortion would decimate the churches.
The Bishops would have to make it crystal clear that supporting abortion in any way, shape or form means that you are NOT Catholic. Bam! No more contributions.
Sorry to seem cynical. But just follow the money.
I would leave a Church that sold itself for 30 pieces of sylver.
The Church has always courted the rich and powerful. The following link describes Ted Kennedy’s funeral. Notice how it mentions that the Archbishop of Boston officiated at the service.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story?id=8442072
Perhaps I’m mistaken but didn’t Senator Kennedy support abortion? Did he not womanize, abuse alcohol? How about Mary Jo Kopechne?
The Church could have made an huge statement by not participating in the lovefest honoring Ted.
You may want to go read Cardinal Sean’s blog on this matter. He made several points that this article missed.
- He did not preside or concelebrate at this service. It was not in his parish, which is the Cathedral. What he did was grant the final blessing to the diseased before the casket is taken out the door. If you look at pictures, he’s not in his habit or vested for mass. He is in choir robes. You do not “officiate” a service in choir robes. They are meant to be worn when you are a hierarch who is in attendance at a service.
2, Whether we agree with his acceptance or not is a whole other point. But he explained that the children and relatives asked him to be there. They are as important as everyone else.
- He is a friar (brother) first. As he told the people of Boston when he was installed as Archbishop, “God has sent you a different kind of bishop. He has sent you a Franciscan Brother.” It is against the Rule of St. Francis to deny anyone support at the time of mourning or to imply that anyone is not forgiven. “To console rather than be consoled” and “to forgive in order to be forgiven” that is the motto by which all Franciscans live, handed down by our Seraphic Father in 1209.
As to the question in the OP, I believe that someone responded to it rather well. Those to whom the law applies are automatically excommunicated. There is no need for the Church to make it a public issue. The purpose of excommunication is to bring back the person in error, not to alienate him by humiliating him and creating a hostile relationship with him. We just need to look at Luther to see how helpful humiliation and condescension was to him.
If the person chooses to make it a public issue, then the bishop has the right to respond, as was the case with Patrick Kennedy. It was Mr. Kennedy who made it public, not the bishop.
Another thing about excommunication is that the person has to commit the crime mentioned in the law and know that the consequence is excommunication. In such a case, there is full knowledge and consent. Bishops have spoken to many pro-abortion Catholic politicians and have told them not to receive Holy Communion. The bishops are not going to make every single conversation public. As Cardinal Arinze once asked or said (I’m not sure if it was a question or statement), “What do you want us to do? Do you want us to send a troop of Swiss Guards to arrest them?”
There is a point where we have to allow people to grapple with their conscience and answer to God at the appointed time.
The faithful have to understand that the Church hopes and seeks to bring all people into the fold, not alienate people by making a bad situation worse. You make it worse when you come across as the bully. The best thing to do is to privately encourage these folks to act morally, allow the consequences to stand and help them get out of these difficult situations when they are ready to do so. As long as we know that this is the process, the rest of us should be able to get on with our lives and allow the Lord to do his part at turning hearts when human words no longer have the desired effect.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
