Brazilian Archbishop on Pro-Abortion Politicians

The Brazilian Archbishop Emeritus who tried to prevent a nine-year old girl from undergoing an abortion has spoken out against politicians who support abortion and those who support such politicians. He denounced abortion and...

* reminded that "the Law of God is above any human law"

* said that "the silence of so many people [regarding abortion] is extremely worrisome, especially by those who are in public office"

* reminded that "Silence can be interpreted as tacit acceptance, and it can constitute complicity in the practice of abortion" [Refresher: Ways of being an accessory to sin]

* said that "honest citizens" cannot vote for politicians who defend "abortion, divorce or other violations of the Law of God. Such candidates cannot represent...any honest citizen"

May all U.S. bishops follow suit in issuing clear moral direction for voters!

[12/14]

Let's be clear: NO

What seems obvious to countless laity is apparently "ambiguous" to certain persons in higher Catholic education. The President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities claims that the 2004 USCCB statement which reads: "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions" is ambiguous. He claims that "greater clarity is needed." Perhaps a simple "DON'T DO IT" would be more clear. Or would that also be too ambiguous for a person holding such a lofty position? Excuses, excuses. [story here] [5/11]

Archbishop Burke's Recent Comments

Catholics who are refreshed by hearing orthodox Catholic prelates speaking plainly will surely appreciate the recent comments of Archbishop Raymond Burke, formerly of St. Louis and now Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura ("leader of the Church's supreme court"). These comments included statements that Canon 915 clearly forbids administering Holy Communion to those publicly and obstinately in grave sin ("The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations"), that laity should pressure their bishops and priests over the scandal of notorious sinners receiving Holy Communion ("I would encourage the faithful when they are scandalized by the giving of Holy Communion to persons [who] are publicly and obstinately in sin, that they go to their pastors, whether it’s their parish priest or to their bishop, to insist that this scandal stop"), that when a president promotes and implements anti-life legislation he could be "an agent of death", and that "President Obama uses this word 'hope' in a way that for us is very disturbing. We need to have hope, the hope that is founded in Jesus Christ, alive for us in the Church; Jesus Christ who gave His life for everyone without exception, and with a particular love for the suffering and for those who are the most defenseless." His comments were given in a recent interview with an anti-abortion activist & convert, Randall Terry, and shown to the National Press Club in Washington on March 25.

Update: Burke apologizes that comments were used to attack bishops, but not for substance of his comments (story here)

[3/26, updated 3/27]