Update: See Bishop DiMarzio’s condemnation of both parties here.
We have seen in blistering detail the way the Church goes about dealing with the mere allegation of sexual impropriety between consenting adult parties when a priest is involved. If an allegation is deemed credible, the priest is out, laicized. The same for allegations involving minors. This is all to the good in the case of minors, and less so in the case of consensual relation between adults, as we have thoroughly vetted here at Coming Home this past week.
In the case of pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage politicians such as Governor Andrew Cuomo, the time has come for the bishops to remove the gloves. Yesterday, I posted an article by a Canon Lawyer who explored this in some detail. I also posted an article, wherein I opined that we have all, laity and clergy, waited too long and allowed too much corrosion to set in that led to this new gay marriage law. It was simply too little, too late.
Abortion and gay marriage are realities in America in no small measure because of Catholic politicians who have sponsored them and fiercely defended them. But for sporadic cases, one cannot point to the bishops for an example of a comparatively fierce defense of the faith regarding these issues. We see how effective the kid glove treatment has been.
In yesterday’s post, Canon Lawyer Ed Peters makes the case for Governor Cuomo being publicly denied communion until he repents. This is as much for his sake as it is for bringing clarity to the laity. The bishops are far more severe in their treatment of priests based solely on allegations, how much more muscular should their response be to Catholic politicians who visit such atrocity on our nation?
They are either ‘in communion’ with us, oneness in the Body of Christ, or they are not.
It’s time for a Dallas Charter for our rogue Catholics in high office.
Thoughts?
The priests and politicians should be treated the same. US Bishops are only good in disciplining their priests. It is the right time now that lay people who support Abortion and Gay marriage should be excommunicated from the Church if they don’t repent. The Bishops should mean what they say.
Well said. Actions always speak louder than words. The Bishops lack of action on the issues of gay marriage and abortion has continued to erode their credibility and thus their effectiveness in the public square.
Would somebody ask Hubbard and Dolan if they would give Cuomo Communion?
Dr. G.,
I could not agree more. In my training I was taught over and over that to ignore the behavior would not reinforce it, but this only works if the intended consequence was to gain attention. In the case of Gov. Cuomo and the plethora of other liberal Catholic politicians, it is to push the envelope. It is like a child who tests the boundaries of the parent’s edict in order to define them. However, I have yet to see where the child actually wanted the boundaries changed. They are looking for the permanence of the boundary.
While I understand the unique situation of the homosexual individual, who may actually have physiological reasons for being the way they are (enlarged hypothalumus, high exposure to androgens or estrogens in utero), allowing marriage for the homosexual is akin to allowing the schizophrenic to light their house on fire. Finding a solution (which I believe the Church already offers through the gift of religious life) rather than alter all of society makes more sense.
But for the Governor and the politicians of New York to act in a socially deviant manner to accommodate a few who feel they are being deprived only hurts the group they seek to help. Having been married for 12 years, I can say with great sincerity that marriage is not a panacea. It is a calling. It is a challenge. My own brother went to Hawaii to marry his gay partner, only to end in “divorce” six years later. Marriage is not a guarantee of relationship survival. In fact, I would venture to say it is a challenge to both which can only be met through the sacramental union with God.
As Dr. Scott Hahn says, “Marriage isn’t hard. It is humanly impossible apart from the Divine power of the sacraments!” When we move away from the Will of God, we simply can’t make it work, no matter how much we try. Governor Cuomo needs to recognize his limitations when he steps away from God. He is offering a false hope, a lie, by offering marriage to gay couples. The only true happiness that gay couples can find together is when they are in union with God. As Jesus said, “Some are born this way, some are made this way by others.” (Matt 3:12) For whatever reason God created men to be gay, and I do believe there is a very good reason, it was NOT to go against His Divine Plan. Gov. Cuomo is in error and the bishops should correct him, lest he begin to think HE IS a god who can establish his own divine plan. If this were to happen, his sorrow would be great upon learning the reality of his human flaws.
I would love to see a religious order established to support the understanding of this. Men can love one another with a great love when sexuality is removed as a mandate. Imagine the compassion and example our world could benefit from such an example of young men and women who choose to renounce carnal pleasure in a pursuit of the Kingdom. Jesus did this. Mary did too. Gay men and women can follow their example and bring Christ to the world. I pray for this to be.
.
My thoughts? AMEN!!
As a special minister of the Eucharist, I know something about this issue. There are many problems with humiliating people at the Communion rail, the biggest of which, is that this is NOT the place to do this. We have no way of knowing whether that person has gone to confession (or whether they have observed the Communion fast either for that matter). Also culpability for a mortal sin requires several things to be true. Bottom line, we just do not have enough information, and must trust a person that they are in a spiritual disposition to receive Communion when they appear at the Communion rail. About all the Bishops can do, is ask people to not receive under certain conditions like when they are pro abortion politicians. Their only other recourse is to publically excommunicate people and that has its own set of issues also. I think it’s good to remember two things (1) that the Bishops are pedaling as fast as they can and (2) They are, like us, human… i.e. church is not a haven for the perfect but a M.A.S.H. for sinners. (Would a perfect church have a place for you and me in it?)
Jesus did not address this issue in the Bible but he spoke long and emphatically about things like “before you take the speck out of your brother’s eye, take the beam out of yours” etc. Sometimes I think some of the folks in our church lose sight of the forest because of the trees. None of us approach the Communion rail, pure and sinless, none of us are entitled to Communion however, that’s just what the mercy of God is all about. “Has no one condemned you?” asked Jesus of the woman to be stoned about whom he told the crowd to allow “he who is without sin to cast the first stone”. Then, noticing He and the woman were alone now as the others had walked away, He continued, “Then, I will not condemn you either – go and sin no more!”
Sue, I see your point. I do however see another path here. Wen a politician like a Ted Kennedy or an Andrew Cuomo goes to confession, there is a public penance that needs to be attached to so great a crime. They need to make a public recanting of their position on abortion, gay marriage, etc,,, and then work toward restorative justice. Public scandal remains the indication of their current disposition until such time as they publicly renounce their scandalous behavior. In their steadfast silence, or worse, their continued advocacy of evil, one has all the indication one needs of incomplete contrition at best.
Exactly, Dr. Nadal. A public scandal requires a public response, and a public restoration.
[...] moderator Gerard Nadal, Coming Home, June 27 AKPC_IDS += "33844,"; Share Jun.28, 2011 10:54 pm | Uncategorized | [...]
Sue, I disagree with you so very very much.
For a vehement and vociferous proabort such as Kennedy, to be told something he should already know – that he cannot receive Holy Communion and then to have been refused this most holy sacrament would have also demonstrated to Catholics in America that supporting abortion rights is morally wrong and not just “a matter of conscience”. It would have also shown Catholics that these moral teachings are not open for discussion. They are truths.
Because the bishops have refused to be proactive about this we have seen countless souls come to the conclusion that one can believe in and actively support abortion rights while still approaching the communion rail and considering themselves “good” Catholics.
It is one thing to privately believe something and quite another to actively and publicly work towards implementing a great moral evil.
It’s quite obvious that the approach of the Catholic church- which is basically to do NOTHING has not worked. It has failed miserably. It is a sin of omission IMO.
The pastor of my parish refused our member of parliament Holy Communion for two reasons; he was publicly cohabitating and he voted numerous times for policies that were antilife including a vote to lower the age of consent to 14!
This action was done after numerous discussions with him and the realization by our parish priest that this man is an obstinate sinner. In good conscience our priest felt he could not give Holy Communion to a man he knew to be in mortal sin.
To do nothing would have been a profound lack of charity towards this man’s soul.
“I think it’s good to remember two things (1) that the Bishops are pedaling as fast as they can”
I would also suggest that most of the bishops aren’t even ON the bike, never mind trying to pedal. They got off 40 years ago when Humane Vitae was issued.