Priest who paid for young girls’ abortions acquitted by bishop

[stevusmagnus]

So this priest and the Cardinal who acquitted him are in “full communion” with the Church? But Society priests are not? It would be ok to assist at a Mass said by Fr. Manel Pousa, but not at that of a Society priest? I just want to understand. Thanks!

lifesitenews.com/news/priest-who-paid-for-young-girls-abortions-acquitted-by-bishop

Priest who paid for young girls’ abortions acquitted by bishop
by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

Fr. Manel Pousa
BARCELONA, April 19, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Catholic priest who financed the abortion of two young girls in his care will not be excommunicated nor otherwise punished, the Archdiocese of Barcelona declared yesterday on behalf of Cardinal Archbishop Lluís Martínez Sistach.

The archdiocese also claims that it has support for its decision from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which it says ruled in favor of the priest in 2009.

Fr. Manel Pousa, who boasts that he has paid for abortions and has blessed homosexual unions, was tried last month to determine if he had earned an automatic or “latae sententiae” excommunication from the Catholic Church.

According to the law of the Church, canon 1398, anyone “who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication.” Pope John Paul II added that “The excommunication applies to all of those who commit this crime knowing the penalty, including those accomplices without whose cooperation the crime would not have been produced,” in his encyclical letter “The Gospel of Life,” in 1995.

However, the tribunal assigned to examine the case concluded “with the proper certainty” that “the aforesaid priest has not incurred the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae established by canon 1398, for not having been in agreement with the intention of procuring the abortion and for not having a principal complicity in the abortions, which were completely decided upon and brought about by two girls in a very precarious economic situation,” according to the archdiocese.

Pousa claims that the girls whose abortions he financed, would have killed their unborn children anyway, so he decided to “commit a lesser evil to avoid another greater (evil)” and ensure that the abortion would be done in safety. A similar argument is made by Planned Parenthood to justify the legalization of abortion worldwide.

Moreover, the archdiocese goes on to reveal that the Pousa case had already been brought before the Vatican’s Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), led by Cardinal William Levada, in 2009. Following his initial admission in 2008 that he had financed abortions, the CDF ruled that “this dicastery, after having examined the responses that have been sent, considers that the Rev. Pousa does not appear to have incurred any canonical penalty” according to the archdiocese, which points to the decision in order to justify its own.

In addition to his cooperation in abortions and homosexual unions, Pousa endorses the creation of priestesses in the Catholic Church, rejects clerical celibacy, and admits to having a girlfriend with whom he claims to have a celibate relationship. However, Pousa has only been charged for his cooperation in the killing of two unborn children, and has now been acquitted twice. He characterizes those who criticize his behavior as members of the “extreme right.”

According to the archdiocese, Cardinal Sistach “reiterates to Mn. Pousa that his work which he does at the service of the poorest and most marginalized of the society be done always in accordance with the teaching of the Church, with its social doctrine, and respecting every human life from its conception until its natural death.”

Pousa will continue to lead a Barcelona-area parish.

Contact information:

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
benedictxvi@vatican.va

His Eminence Marc Ouellet
Prefect, Congregation for Bishops
Piazza Pio XII 10
00193 Rome, Italy
Europe
phone: 011-3906-6988-4217
fax: 011-3906-6988-5303

His Eminence Mauro Piacenza
Prefect
The Congregation for the Clergy
Piazza Pio XII 3
00l93 Rome, Italy
Europe
phone: 011.3906.69.88.4l.5l
Fax: 011.3906.69.88.48.45
www.clerus.org

Cardinal William J. Levada.
Prefect for The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”
Piazza del S. Uffizio ll
00l93 Rome Italy
Europe
phone: 011.3906.69.88.33.57
phone: 011.3906.69.88.34.13
fax: 011.3906.69.88.34.09
email: cdf@cfaith.va

 

[Barbkw]

Where are the Donald Trumps of this world when they are needed?

Two simple words is all it takes, “You’re FIRED.”

 

[InquisitorMax]

…

Fr. Manel Pousa, who boasts that he has paid for abortions and has blessed homosexual unions, was tried last month to determine if he had earned an automatic or “latae sententiae” excommunication from the Catholic Church.

…

Pousa claims that the girls whose abortions he financed, would have killed their unborn children anyway, so he decided to “commit a lesser evil to avoid another greater (evil)” and ensure that the abortion would be done in safety. A similar argument is made by Planned Parenthood to justify the legalization of abortion worldwide.

…

In addition to his cooperation in abortions and homosexual unions, Pousa endorses the creation of priestesses in the Catholic Church, rejects clerical celibacy, and admits to having a girlfriend with whom he claims to have a celibate relationship. However, Pousa has only been charged for his cooperation in the killing of two unborn children, and has now been acquitted twice. He characterizes those who criticize his behavior as members of the “extreme right.”

According to the archdiocese, Cardinal Sistach “reiterates to Mn. Pousa that his work which he does at the service of the poorest and most marginalized of the society be done always in accordance with the teaching of the Church, with its social doctrine, and respecting every human life from its conception until its natural death.”

This could almost be a spoof to wind up traditionalists.

I wonder if the real argument is over what it means to be a good Catholic. Since the 60’s, standards have dropped way down. Or so people think. Unfortunately for them, doctrine hasn’t changed. Hell is still hot.

‘Social justice’ follows from the correct worship of God; it’s not our main mission.

I see these things as the result of a huge loss of self-confidence; prelates chasing after public approval instead of Divine.

 

[jilly4ski]

Maybe he has repented and had the excommunication lifted.

 

[stevusmagnus]

Maybe he has repented and had the excommunication lifted.

There was never a recognized excommunication to begin with.

The story is real.

 

[jilly4ski]

There was never a recognized excommunication to begin with.

The story is real.

Except that material participation in an abortion is an automatic excommunication. (Of course from the article it seems like they were trying to say that he didn’t incur the “latae sententiae” in the first place.

 

[damooster]

Except that material participation in an abortion is an automatic excommunication. (Of course from the article it seems like they were trying to say that he didn’t incur the “latae sententiae” in the first place.

That is what they were saying. The Archbishop conducted an investigation to determine if the priest did incur latae sententiae, and concluded that he did not. The Archbishop then forwarded his findings to the CDF to verify his findings, and the CDF agreed with him.

That’s what makes this terrible situation even worse.

 

[latingirl]

I swear the pope needs to get on his combat boots and clean house!

 

[mexilad]

All I can say is Huh? and God help us please.

 

[CMatt25]

I swear the pope needs to get on his combat boots and clean house!

And if he doesn’t clean it completely to your satisfaction, then what?

 

[guanophore]

And if he doesn’t clean it completely to your satisfaction, then what?

The Catholic thing to do is to remain in unity with our leadership, even with their shortcomings.

Heb 13:17

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.

We are to pray for them.

1 Tim 2:8-9

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

James 5:15-16
16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.

 

[NeedImprovement]

This is really sad … looks like we need to be praying for more than one person here.

Following the links in the fist linked article originally posted by stevusmagnus, I ended up at this one entitled Catholic priest who finances abortions remains unpunished by bishop .

Apparently Father Pousa is somewhat of a celebrity. That he provided financing for abortion, first surfaced in a book written about him.

As sad as this story is , what doesn’t surprise me is (blue highlights mine) :
"the article linked directly above:

" Pousa is a celebrity in ultra-liberal Catalonia, where he has won the Solidarity Prize from the Catalonian Institute of Human Rights ".

This would appear to be all part of the same beast -
the article linked directly above:

…" The Pousa scandal follows on the heels of revelations in September of last year that Catholic hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Barcelona were performing abortions and distributing the deadly abortion drug, RU-486."

guanophore is right :That a Catholic priest has become deafened by the accolades - to the point where he can no longer hear the cry of a child in his/her mother’s womb directly before he/she is slaughtered, cries even louder for our prayers. It’s tragic !

We are all sinners, but this story almost defies common sense .

There is a startling reality which is emerging - coming more and more to light : that the blessing of homosexual unions and abortion are both part of a larger problem - a problem which contaceptives also contribute to. Father John Hardon S.J. calls this “problem” **Sexual Suicide **. Human Rights Institutes and Commissions are a principal vehicle used to promote “sexual suicide”.

… He characterizes those who criticize his behavior as members of the “extreme right.” …

Might we in turn, characterize what he is doing as "extreme wrong" then ?

(* "Hail Mary, full of grace.The Lord is with thee…. ")

 

[thirddec]

Sounds like this priest needs a transfer; I’m thinking there is a parish priest in the philippines needs an extra priest in his parish. I’m thinking this priest in the Philippines should straighten him out

 

[Cojuanco]

Sounds like this priest needs a transfer; I’m thinking there is a parish priest in the philippines needs an extra priest in his parish. I’m thinking this priest in the Philippines should straighten him out

If not from the priest, certainly from the laity.

 

[DJgang]

And if he doesn’t clean it completely to your satisfaction, then what?

I’m not the one you are asking however…

Does it occur to you that it is very possible this could make people leave the Church?

I am very pro life, as I should be as a Catholic, and this story is wavering my Faith, I must be honest.

I do not think the poster was meaning that she personally would or could do something, it was a statement of frustration, and highly valid I might add.

God help the Church!

 

[wild_thing]

All I can say is Huh? and God help us please.

I’m with you. What the heck? How can this action be let go without some kind of repercussion?

 

[santodomingo]

Cardinal Sistach, the cardenal of Barcelona who is P. Pousa´s direct superior, is one of the major contributors to the appostasy of Catalonia. All vestiges of true faith are being systematically erased with either the approval or the inaction of Cardenal Sistach. Catholicism is replaced with Catalonian nationalism.

They have preferred their idol of nationalism to the Living God. The Catalonian bishops campaigned in favour of the pro-abortion regional statutes, because it gave Catalonia more autonomy from the rest of Spain. Despite being profoundly pagan and anti-life, they said it was “good for the country”. They remain silent when heretics from catholic universities rob catholics of their faith, when dissident priests and religious boast of their hatred of all things holy. However, they are always careful to be friends with the local politicians, no matter how anti-christian their legislation is.

This is simply the last straw that confirms me in the idea that the Catholic Church in Catalonia is governed by wolves, not shepherds. Satan himself could hardly have done a better job. Nowadays the number of Mass-going catholics in Catalonia is under 4%, whereas in the rest of Spain it´s close to 10%. There is hardly a single seminarian in all the region (a region of 10 million souls).

It is a sad, sad situation. Catalonia, the home of St. Anthony Mary Claret, is now a post-christian region.

 

[CMatt25]

I’m not the one you are asking however…

Does it occur to you that it is very possible this could make people leave the Church?

I am very pro life, as I should be as a Catholic, and this story is wavering my Faith, I must be honest.

I do not think the poster was meaning that she personally would or could do something, it was a statement of frustration, and highly valid I might add.

God help the Church!

Hi DJ, absolutely it occurs to me. As I know it would not be the first time actions or inaction by the hierarchy caused people to waver and possibly lose their Catholic faith. Once a lack of trust arises, then for some that can lead to questioning other matters. So I understand the frustration very much, though on other fronts. I just sometimes find it interesting how traditional Catholics, who I assume think of themselves as among the most faithful, too have difficulty with the Church. I will pray for you and let us all pray for another wherever we are along on faith journeys. A blessed Easter to you. Peace.

 

[Elizium23]

Does it occur to you that it is very possible this could make people leave the Church?

I am very pro life, as I should be as a Catholic, and this story is wavering my Faith, I must be honest.

It is sad then that you are placing your faith in sinful human beings who can err, rather than placing your faith in God and His Church, which guided by the Holy Spirit, cannot make a mistake.

Now about Catalonia. I was engaged to a woman who lives outside Barcelona and I was very pleased at first to hear that she was a Catholic. In fact, she is a convert from an atheist family and I expected her faith to be very strong.

On the contrary, she gradually revealed to me that she rejects Church authority on such basic things as what constitutes grave sin. She believed she could do anything she wants without repercussions, and our discussions became especially heated whenever the subject turned to human sexuality. Premarital sex, abortion, divorce and remarriage, you name it, she disagreed. Liturgy, who cares. I spent a month with her in Spain and only saw a Mass twice, she did not care to go to church every Sunday. She thought it was crazy and fanatic of me when I refrained from Holy Communion without having Confession first.

Her priests and bishops seem never to preach on any serious subject and she informed me that my American Catholicism sounded like a breakaway sect rooted in the 17th century. Of course she is a proud Catalan and her national identity means more to her than God. Independence, she would vote for it in a heartbeat. You are absolutely right about the Catalonian apostasy.

 

[mattkubes]

Disgusting.

How long, O Lord?