Darkening of conscience
Bishop Serratelli on pro-abortion Catholics and the statement by 18 Catholic Democrats.
...The Church teaches that the right to life is fundamental. Without life, there are no other rights. To support abortion is a grave moral evil. Why would a Catholic be surprised when the Pope says that anyone who freely and knowingly commits a serious wrong, that is, a mortal sin, should not approach the Eucharist until going to Confession? The Eucharist is the summit and source of the Church’s life. The Church guides the faithful in the correct formation of their conscience. She offers both the objective norms of morality and the norms for worthy reception of the Eucharist.
In his response to the reporter’s question, the Pope was not placing religious sanctions in the political arena, as these politicians stated. He was teaching religious doctrine in a religious context, that is, the worthiness to receive the Eucharist, the Body of Christ, who is the Lord of life. He is right when he insists that supporting abortion is incompatible with the reception of Holy Communion.
In recent guidelines provided by the bishops of the United States to help Catholics to prepare for the worthy reception of Holy Communion, the bishops said, “If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definitive teaching on moral issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her Communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain” (Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper, 4). By steadfastly choosing to be pro-choice, a Catholic -- politician or not -- excludes himself or herself from communion.
Today not only is the taking of so many innocent lives alarming, but no less unsettling is the darkening of conscience among so many who find “it increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and evil in what concerns the basic value of human life” (Evangelium Vitae, 4).
Why should the Church not have a right to voice her teaching on this important issue in the public square? She must speak and speak often. Abortion may be for some just a political issue. But, for the innocent child, it is a matter of life or death.
Ultimately, the statement of the 18 politicians who publicly blasted the Holy Father is simply a refusal to allow the Pope freedom of speech and the Church freedom of religion. Now how American is that?
Known as 
That this is now going on for several decades beginning with Cuomo (speech of 1984) and Geraldine Ferraro's similar position at that time ...is showing the paralysis of Rome on actually doing something rather than talking forever. If canon law does not suffice, amend it. On the blogosphere, you have long drawn out explanations of why this canon doesn't work but maybe this one could and now we look like a paralysed system that can't amend our canons to sanction in any way Catholic politicians for supporting abortion.
What lesson is this slowness teaching young girls...like Kerry's daughters who marched in a pro choice parade at their father's and mother's behest several years ago while actual girls who follow the message of Catholic pols are excommunicated but probably never know it since few are familiar with the literate side of Catholicism. Rome is not responsible for this??...Rome is not responsible for any of the sex abuse farce of 4 decades plus? Why are they in executive positions? I don't get it. And please skip the subsidiarity excuse. The buck stops in Rome. They have the glory...then they have the responsibility to fix the canons and do something beyond theological speeches when lives are the consequence...or don't we believe that.
Are you done?
Bishop Arthur Serratelli is my Bishop here in the Paterson, NJ diocese. He is a good Bishop. I do hope he continues to speak up about life. I hope he starts to stress NFP. We need it. I teach it and we need more Catholics to understand how good NFP actually is for marriage and love.
Sky
How about using your work and your brain to delineate where you differ instead of posting the omnipresent clever internet soundbite...or are youi at work where you should not be involved in this at such a time.