Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians

[Maranatha]

Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians

SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues – so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day.
…
In the rest of the edited version, some of the pope’s verbs were changed to make his remarks more generic.

Asked about the changes, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters May 10 that it was routine for the Vatican Secretariat of State to review the pope’s extemporaneous remarks and clean them up a little for publication.

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[childofmary1143]

Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians

SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues – so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day.
…
In the rest of the edited version, some of the pope’s verbs were changed to make his remarks more generic.

Asked about the changes, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters May 10 that it was routine for the Vatican Secretariat of State to review the pope’s extemporaneous remarks and clean them up a little for publication.

more

If anybody had any doubts that there is evilness in the Vatican then this should surely clear that up. For anyone to censor what the Pope says is wrong.

 

[bones_IV]

If anybody had any doubts that there is evilness in the Vatican then this should surely clear that up. For anyone to censor what the Pope says is wrong.

Here’s Judie Browns commentary.

all.org/newsroom_releases.php

“Pope Benedict’s comments on pro-abortion politicians are simply a reflection of the longstanding Catholic truth that we’ve been pointing out for years,” said American Life League president Judie Brown. “The long and short of it is quite simple: You can’t be Catholic and pro-abortion.”

 

[stbruno]

Gosh, I hope the pope writes an encylical on this topic,next time. Maybe then his message will not be watered down by his "spin-doctors!

 

[Holly3278]

I usually agree with what the Vatican does but this time I don’t. I think it is dumb for them to censor what the Pope has said. What the Pope said was truth and it does not need to be censored.

 

[childofmary1143]

Gosh, I hope the pope writes an encylical on this topic,next time. Maybe then his message will not be watered down by his "spin-doctors!

Well Pope Benedict’s predecessor did about 12 years ago. Called the Gospel of Life. I doubt another encyclical will do any change. Pope Paul VI wrote Humanae Vitae and how many Bishops are concerned that their flock are doing contraception?

 

[Steve_O_Brien]

I say the following with great respect for the Holy Father’s authority as the Vicar of Christ: Pope Benedict XVI’s original press conference statement on the legalization of abortion in Mexico was somewhat unclear and confused. Whatever the Holy Father meant, canon law, whose penalties must be interpreted strictly, does ***not ***authorize (under canon 1398) automatic excommunication of legislators who decriminalize the killing of unborn children, but canon law does allow bishops (under canons 1318, 1341-1342, 1369, 1371, and 1399) to issue by-name, announced excommunications of such legislators.

Popes and bishops must have the courage to undertake these by-name, announced excommunications of pro-abortion legislators. Under the pontificates of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and (thus far) Benedict XVI, this courage has not been exhibited. Nonetheless, the failure to issue these excommunications is one of the worst scandals in the entire history of the Catholic Church. The seriousness of this scandal can be understood if we ponder this question: “How can abortion be the mortal sin of murder if Catholic legislators can vote for its legalization and still be permitted to receive Holy Communion and to present themselves as Catholics in good standing?” This question must be asked, not only in Mexico, but also in the United States as well as all other nations.

Regrettably, it would be naïve to think that Father Federico Lombardi’s “toning down” of Pope Benedict XVI’s original remarks on the legalization of abortion in Mexico was done without the Holy Father’s approval. Brothers and sisters, as we consider the post-Vatican II crisis ravaging the human dimensions of the one true Church, we must unflinchingly face reality.

Let’s pray for the Holy Father.

Keep and spread the Faith.

 

[Heath_Bar]

Regrettably, the day of political correctness has even invaded the Vatican. Everyone is afraid of stepping on someone else’s toes. On such a horrible stain as abortion, though, the rhetoric should be as strong as possible. It should be “shouted from the rooftops” that it is wrong and if you are a politician of whatever political party and support abortion, you should at least have the sacrament of Eucharist withheld. These politicians are putting a political party before God, and that isn’t the way it should be. If you are a practicing Catholic, you have no choice but to be for the right to life.

 

[Teelynn]

Hmmmm…There goes that Fr. Lombardi again! Isn’t he just special?

 

[miguel]

…Whatever the Holy Father meant, canon law, whose penalties must be interpreted strictly, does ***not ***authorize (under canon 1398) automatic excommunication of legislators who decriminalize the killing of unborn children, …

Do you have a quote of 1398? My understanding is that it applies to direct participation in a single abortion…the abortionist, the woman, nurses present helping, etc…even husbands or boyfriends who drove the woman to the place. If this is correct, it seems odd to not include those whose actions in public office open the door to mass murder.

 

[Steve_O_Brien]

Do you have a quote of 1398? My understanding is that it applies to direct participation in a single abortion…the abortionist, the woman, nurses present helping, etc…even husbands or boyfriends who drove the woman to the place. If this is correct, it seems odd to not include those whose actions in public office open the door to mass murder.

"Can. 1398 A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication."

A latae sententiae excommunication is an automatic excommunication. In this type of excommunication, the bishop does not name the culprit publicly.

Again, since canon law penalities must be interpreted in a strict, not a broad, sense, this automatic excommunication does not apply to a legislator who votes for legalized abortion, even though such a vote is horrendously evil.

Nevertheless, such a legislator can, and should, be excommunicated by means of what canon law calls an “inflicted” (by-name, publicly announced) excommunication under the canons which I cited in my previous post. This public, individualized excommunication is especially appropriate inasmuch as the scandal to be countered is public and constitutes a grave threat to the lives, both natural and supernatural, of unborn children. What is most horrifying about abortion is that it deprives those infants of the possibility of attaining the supernatural happiness of the beatific vision in heaven.

Regrettably, like his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI has no intention–at least at this time–of urging the bishops to issue such by-name, publicly announced excommunications.

We should face up to the fact that the failure of the three post-Vatican II Popes (Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI) to issue such excommunications is one of the worst scandals in the entire history of the Catholic Church. Nothing can justify this failure. No Catholic should even attempt to excuse it.

Please note that the Code of Canon Law is accessible on the Vatican’s Web site.

Keep and spread the Faith.