[Apologetics] The Archbishop and the Governor

Sun May 11 13:36:45 EDT 2008

I'm glad we have one bishop with some backbone.  Now having said what he
said to her, wouldn't any priest under his diocese be obligated not to giver
her the Eucharist if he saw her in line?

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From: apologetics-admin at gathman.org [mailto:apologetics-admin at gathman.org]
On Behalf Of Dianne Dawson
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Apologetics Group; David Mullaney; Mitch Michaelis; Nettie Taylor;
Gloria Light; Holly Gatling
Subject: [Apologetics] The Archbishop and the Governor

The article below comes from one of my favorites blogs. - Dianne

http://amywelborn.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-archbishop-and-the-governor/

The Archbishop and the Governor

May 9, 2008 by Amy <http://amywelborn.wordpress.com/author/amywelborn/>  

Archbishop <http://www.theleaven.com/V29N37ColumnistNaumann.htm>  Naumann of
Kansas City, Kansas, to Governor Sebelius, a Catholic:

Since becoming archbishop, I have met with Governor Sebelius several times
over many months to discuss with her the grave spiritual and moral
consequences of her public actions by which she has cooperated in the
procurement of abortions performed in Kansas. My concern has been, as a
pastor, both for the spiritual well-being of the governor but also for those
who have been misled (scandalized) by her very public support for legalized
abortion.
It has been my hope that through this dialogue the governor would come to
understand her obligation: 1) to take the difficult political step, but
necessary moral step, of repudiating her past actions in support of
legalized abortion; and 2) in the future would use her exceptional
leadership abilities to develop public policies extending the maximum legal
protection possible to the unborn children of Kansas.
Having made every effort to inform and to persuade Governor Sebelius and
after consultation with Bishop Ron Gilmore (Dodge City), Bishop Paul Coakley
(Salina) and Bishop Michael Jackels (Wichita), I wrote the governor last
August requesting that she refrain from presenting herself for reception of
the Eucharist until she had acknowledged the error of her past positions,
made a worthy sacramental confession and taken the necessary steps for
amendment of her life which would include a public repudiation of her
previous efforts and actions in support of laws and policies sanctioning
abortion.
Recently, it came to my attention that the governor had received holy
Communion at one of our parishes. I have written to her again, asking her to
respect my previous request and not require from me any additional pastoral
actions.
The governor has spoken to me on more than one occasion about her obligation
to uphold state and federal laws and court decisions. I have asked her to
show a similar sense of obligation to honor divine law and the laws,
teaching and legitimate authority within the church.
I have not made lightly this request of Governor Sebelius, but only after
much prayer and reflection. The spiritually lethal message, communicated by
our governor, as well as many other high profile Catholics in public life,
has been in effect: "The church's teaching on abortion is optional!" \
I reissue my request of the faithful of the archdiocese to pray for Governor
Sebelius. I hope that my request of the governor, not to present herself for
holy Communion, will provoke her to reconsider the serious spiritual and
moral consequences of her past and present actions. At the same time, I pray
this pastoral action on my part will help alert other Catholics to the moral
gravity of participating in and/or cooperating with the performance of
abortions.

By the way.Archbishop Naumann was scheduled to be praying the rosary this
<http://kansascitycatholic.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/lifefront-rosary-with-ar
chbishop-naumann-at-planned-parenthood-may-10/>  morning with a group in
front of a Planned Parenthood in Overland Park. I'm sure there will be
reports of how that went later today.

 <http://www.canonlaw.info/2008/05/staunching-wound-of-bleeding-kansas.html>
Canonist Ed Peters comments.

Kansas City (KS) Abp. Joseph Naumann
<http://65.39.207.99/%7Earchkck/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12
&Itemid=27>  has met with Gov. Sebelius many times to dissuade her from
machinating against the preborn; failing to move her, and after consulting
his suffragans, he wrote to her in August 2007 "requesting that she refrain
from presenting herself for reception of the Eucharist until she had
acknowledged the error of her past positions, made a worthy sacramental
confession and taken the necessary steps for amendment of her life which
would include a public repudiation of her previous efforts and actions in
support of laws and policies sanctioning abortion."

Abp. Naumann's statement is model of pastoral sollicitude and political
savoir faire. I think it required reading for any one who wishes to discuss
this topic seriously, along with, say, Abp. Raymond Burke
<http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/denial.htm> 's "Canon 915:
The discipline regarding denial of holy Communion to those obstinately
perservering in manifest grave sin", Periodica 96 (2007) 3-58, and my own
"Denial <http://www.canonlaw.info/a_denialofeucharist.htm>  of the Eucharist
to pro-abortion Catholic politicans: a canonical case study", Homiletic &
Pastoral Review (Oct. 1990) 28-32, 48-49.

Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.

Ps 42:1

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