Very well put.
I am not sure how much more she could do.This is a double edgeed sword and like the good bishop, I too am glad that I’m not Ms. Pelosi’s bishop. On the one hand the bishop should not make her a martyr and on the other we have an obligation to maintain discipline. Ms. Pelosi certainly doesn’t help matters by announcing that she is “a practicing Catholic.” There is going to be a point where she’s going to push so far that there won’t be anything else that the bishop can say to her, except, “Do not present yourself for communion.” She’s playing the same card that Patrick Kennedy played and it’s going to get old with the bishop. At some point he’s going to tire of talking to her. You’d think some people who are smart enough to get themselves elected to positions such as her’s would be just as smart in other areas.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
It isn’t simply a question of discipline though, it is a question of integrity. The Church must have integrity. You know the common phrase, ‘you are only as strong as your weakest link’. When I think of integrity I think of a structure or substance that is consistent throughout the whole. A building that has a weak spot lacks structural integrity. A piece of fabric with a tear in it lacks integrity. One weak point undermines the whole. This lack of integrity leads to destruction. With the building, it leads to collapse. With the piece of fabric, it leads to it being torn in two.This is a double edgeed sword and like the good bishop, I too am glad that I’m not Ms. Pelosi’s bishop. On the one hand the bishop should not make her a martyr and on the other we have an obligation to maintain discipline. Ms. Pelosi certainly doesn’t help matters by announcing that she is “a practicing Catholic.” There is going to be a point where she’s going to push so far that there won’t be anything else that the bishop can say to her, except, “Do not present yourself for communion.” She’s playing the same card that Patrick Kennedy played and it’s going to get old with the bishop. At some point he’s going to tire of talking to her. You’d think some people who are smart enough to get themselves elected to positions such as her’s would be just as smart in other areas.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
The only thing that I would add to what has been said here is a comment on “leading others to sin”. Catholics know that abortion is a grave sin. We all know the teaching of the Church on this matter. Those who choose not to follow this truth, are not being led by Ms. Pelosi. They are choosing for themselves. The immorality of abortion is not the best kept secret in the world. In justice, we can’t say that she’s leading others into sin. Those who walk down the same road as she does, do so knowing where they walk.
Dead right; but following along behind a public figure can make it easier.
There is not need for a public excommunication.
Its probably needed in the interest of avoiding scandal, though, and hopefully to wake up some of the not so public dissenters. For the benefit of non-Catholics, and Catholics with shaky faith: "Not only must the bishops do the right thing; they must be SEEN to be doing the right thing.". Not everyone understands Canon Law. (i dont! cringe cringe)
Some people say that it would not make her a martyr. But I’m not sure I agree with this. When the bishop of Providence told Mr. Kennedy that he should not receive communion and when he responded to Mr. Kennedy’s statements in the open, there were many Catholics, especially here on CAF, who posted against the bishop saying that he was making this a political issue and that he was turning this into a circus or that he was seeking publicity for himself.
The only “Catholics” who respond that way are off the rails. First and foremost, it`s a spiritual issue, as you and i know. Madam Pelosi and Co would be martyrs only in the eyes of their fellow travellers.
When you have Catholics, who claim to be so, making these statements on a Catholic site such as this and it’s allowed, then there is some truth to the concern about making a martyr out of a sinner. Were I in a position of authority, the first thing I would not have allowed would have been Catholics to post all those negatives about the Bishop of Providence. If we want to be Catholic and be tough about it, then let’s do it across the board. Let’s not demand that the bishops be tough and then beat them down when they are tough and allow it in a public forum. Let’s support them by calling to task those who don’t do so.
Yep, can`t disagree with that one. A moderator should have stepped in.
And yes; we should publicly express our support and encouragement of the bishops who stand up for the Truth. And call the others to task … privately, at least at first, as Scripture says.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Christ dined with sinners, all right, but He called them to repentance.
Currently there is not hard fast law on denying these politicians communion. The Vatican does not want to make such a law. This is left to the principle of subsidiarity. Every bishop has to make a choice for his diocese. The Vatican has expressed a concern that such politicians should voluntarilly not approach communion. But the Holy Father himself has stopped short of issuing such a policy. He has only gone as far as stating that these people should refrain from communion voluntarilly. This question has been posed to the Vatican by bishops around the world and the Holy Father has given the same response several times.
There are times when it is nice to just sit back and think “That is our Bishop”