Brownback - Turncoat
I am not a politician, I am a priest. So I would like to give my priestly perspective about the recent endorsement of Senator Sam Brownback for the candidacy of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services: Senator Brownback's cowardly betrayal of his Catholic faith is even more damaging than his political permission for this renegade to take office.The situation is atrocious. An extremist abortion hack (called the most pro-abortion governor in the nation by many), who falsely calls herself "Catholic," is given the opportunity to preside over the nation's healthcare system and normalize abortion even further; this radical is then endorsed by a US senator who also calls himself "Catholic" and who, many believe, wants her job back home when she becomes the abortion queen in DC.
With pro-lifers like Senator Sam Brownback, who needs pro-aborts?
Moral theologians can work out what level of cooperation in evil the Senator's endorsement represents - he is, after all, an influential senator whose opposition, if he had given it, may very well have stopped her nomination. Yet, those of us who do not breathe the rarified air of Washington DC and who have dedicated our lives to defending the sanctity of human life understand one thing: any covenant with the abortion industry or its promoters is consent to the killing. As a convert to the Catholic Faith, Senator Brownback seems not to understand the Church's profoundly wounded heart with regard the slaughter of the innocents. The Church tells us never to participate in that slaughter, no matter what the cost; we do not give aid and comfort to the enemies of human life, we do not stand by while the innocent are being dragged off to a violent murder, and under no circumstances do we endorse the political aspirations of their executioners. Politicians who sell the lives of babies for political gains are the worst kind of turncoats.
Yet, this Catholic Senator's decision constitutes, I think, a watershed moment for all of us who want to see an end to the immoral industry of baby-killing in our country. We will never be served by the compromise of our principles in any form. Catholicism is the solution to this culture of death. If only Catholics ourselves would fully live up to our doctrine and put it into practice, there would be no "Tiller the Killer"s in Kansas, no partial birth abortions, no immoral sex education in the schools or Planned Parenthoods dominating our public life. Self-described "Catholics" like Brownback (in politics), Doug Kmiec (in academia), Hannity, Matthews and O'Reilly (in media) and others are not the solution to the problem - they are enablers of the problem. Despite their high-sounding lip service to the culture of life, they are compromisers. They will never end abortion because they don't want to end abortion.
I have often said that false Catholics, whether they be Cardinals, politicians or janitors, are the ones who have the most to account for on the Day of Judgment when they will have to account for ignoring Christ in His "least brethren," the unborn. Whether through advocacy of the evil (like Sebelius) or negligence in stopping it (like Brownback), they have blood on their hands. They've been given everything the Church has to offer: the teaching, the sacraments, the example of the saints and the grace to stand against Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. In other words, they know better, and the Biblical warning applies to them: "To whom much has been given, much will be required." Cowards and turncoats beware.
Sincerely,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion
The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life. It is the sacrament of salvation, the Body and Blood of Christ offered for us on Calvary and received by us, the People of God. Regarding the Holy Eucharist, St. Paul says, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27).
The law of the Church requires each Catholic, before receiving Holy Communion, to make a careful examination of conscience, using the teachings of the Church as the examining criteria. After this private examination, each Catholic is able to determine whether he or she is prepared to receive the sacrament. Canon 916 of the Code of Canon Law states:
A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.
The above mentioned preparation is private, as the state of each Catholic’s soul is known to him or her alone. However, there are instances when a Catholic’s unworthiness to receive Holy Communion will be determined by the Church because of a person’s public conduct. This determination does not depend upon the private examination of conscience but results rather from a Catholic’s public and persistent actions in opposition to the moral law as taught by the Church. In these cases, the Church forbids members to receive the sacrament. Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law states:
Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
In recent years, the Holy See has declared that those who are unworthy to receive Holy Communion if they are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin” include persons directly involved in lawmaking bodies. These have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life.[1] Pope John Paul II also addressed this matter when he wrote, “The judgment of one’s state of grace obviously belongs only to the person involved, since it is a question of examining one’s conscience. However, in case of outward conduct which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm, the Church, in her pastoral concern for the good order of the community and out of respect for the sacrament, cannot fail to feel directly involved. The Code of Canon Law refers to this situation of a manifest lack of proper moral disposition when it states that those who ‘obstinately persist in manifest grave sin’ are not to be admitted to Eucharistic communion.”[2]
In 2004, the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) instructed the Bishops of the United States as follows:
Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.
This denial, the Cardinal noted in the same instruction, “is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy of Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin.”[3]
Therefore, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, Bishop of Scranton, reminds all ministers of Holy Communion, ordinary and extraordinary, that:
- To administer the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord is a serious duty which they have received from the Church, and no one having accepted this responsibility has the right to ignore the Church’s law in this regard;
- Those whose unworthiness to receive Holy Communion is known publicly to the Church must be refused Holy Communion in order to prevent sacrilege and to prevent the Catholic in question from committing further grave sin through unworthy reception.
James B. Earley
Bishop Kevin Rhoades
PRO-LIFE MASS DURING FORTY DAYS FOR LIFE
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Harrisburg
October 25, 2008
I wish to begin this homily with a word of sincere gratitude to those who have organized the 40 Days for Life here in our diocese. I thank also all those who have participated in these 40 days with your prayers and sacrifices and all of you who are here today to pray and bear witness to theGospel of life.
In his encyclical, The Gospel of Life, the great Pope John Paul II wrote that “a great prayer for life in urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world.” He wrote that great encyclical 13 years ago. It is as relevant now as it was then. And still, a great prayer for life is urgently needed. That is what these forty days have been about. But our prayer for life must continue when these forty days end, daily prayer so that “the power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit” of theculture of death. A civilization of life and love will only become a reality by the grace of God, as a fruit of prayer. “Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil.” Those promoting the culture of death have some powerful resources – just think of the financial strength of Planned Parenthood. But we have a more powerful force: the help of God, for whom nothing is impossible. We must not lose hope or become discouraged by the power of those who engage in evil practices or who promote and support laws which are hostile to life. We must pray and work for their conversion.that the Church has always affirmed the moral evil of abortion. The teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. We have heard other Catholic politicians say “OK, I believe what the Catholic Church teaches, that human life begins at the moment of conception, but this is a personal and private matter of my faith, and I cannot impose my religious faith on others. I’m sorry, but this is not just a matter of religious faith. It isfirst a biological question and the scientific truth is that a new human being, distinct from the mother and father, comes into existence at the moment of conception. This is an objective fact! This is also a moral issue, an issue of human rights. It is part of the natural law, not just a Catholic teaching.unambiguously: Human life is sacred. Abortion is the killing of an innocentchild in the womb. The unborn child needs and deserves our respect and protection. The scourge of abortion in our land has diminished our nation’s moral integrity.death, including abortionists, and pray for their conversion. Such prayer is a spiritual work of mercy.
In the wonderful reading today from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the holy apostle writes about how we are to live the truth in love. In so doing, we grow into him who is the head of the Body, Christ Jesus. In so doing, we are not “tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery.”
Sadly, in our nation today, many are tossed by the waves of false teaching and deceptive propaganda against life. We have heard Catholic politicians who misrepresent the Church’s teaching on abortion. Some even preposterously claim that the Church through the centuries has not been in agreement on the sanctity of life from the moment of conception.
We must proclaim the truth in charity, as Saint Paul said. And the truth is
Those who signed the Declaration of Independence knew this when they proclaimed the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We are to speak the truth in charity, Saint Paul says. The truth is clear. Abortion is an unspeakable crime because it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. The protection of the unborn child is a demand of justice! Pro-choice propagandists try to hide the true nature of abortion, using ambiguous language, calling abortion “an interruption or termination of pregnancy.” We, instead, must teach the truth clearly and
Saint Paul urged the Ephesians to speak and live the truth in love, in charity. Truthfulness and charity!! I have spoken of the truth, something we are challenged to defend in the midst of a culture of relativism. Now, the other half of Paul’s counsel: charity. In the face of error, we mustconfront and correct, but always with charity, with love for the other, even when they are perpetrating error. We must present the truth in a way that shines with the love of Christ. The conversion of others is more likely to occur when they encounter in us the power of Christ’s love and His mercy.
How do we love our pro-choice opponents, our enemies, and those who attack or malign us? How do we love those who advance the killing of the innocent? It is only with the help of God’s grace, which is why we need prayer and the strength of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus commanded us:
“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Do not return evil for evil.” In another place, Saint Paul says: “overcome evil with good.” In our prayer, we should always remember those who promote the culture of
Our service of the Gospel of life also and always includes help for women who are facing crisis pregnancies. And it always includes outreach with love and mercy to women who have had abortions. We pray that they will repent and experience the wondrous mercy of God our Father. Society tends to ignore or dismiss the suffering experienced by so many women who have had abortions. We cannot and will not do so. The Church reaches out with the love and mercy of our Savior to women who havebeen harmed by the sin of abortion.
My brothers and sisters, these are challenging times. Let us heed thewords of the apostle Paul and proclaim the truth in love! May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who accepted Life in the name of us all and for the sake of us all, assist us with her prayers. As we continue in these forty days for life, let us intensify our prayers. And let us ask our Blessed Mother to look down upon us and upon our nation. To her we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. She is our most gracious advocate. May she turn her eyes of mercy toward us!
‘40 Days for Life’ Campaign Begins Sept. 24
Fast to End Abortion
By Jen Reed
The Catholic Witness
Beginning this month, the Diocese of Harrisburg will join more than 170 cities in 45 states, two Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico in the "40 Days for Life" campaign that aims to bring an end to abortion.
And members of the diocese are encouraged to participate in this pro-life cause through prayer, vigils, fasting and almsgiving.
In the Diocese of Harrisburg, the peaceful and prayerful campaign – which takes place from Sept. 24-Nov. 2 – will include quiet prayer vigils outside an abortion clinic and several pro-life Masses, among other components.
"It’s a focus on unity for the sanctity of life," said Sandra Paveglio, who co-chairs "40 Days for Life" in Harrisburg with Nancy Ann Faller.
The ecumenical campaign calls forth all people to stand together in this pro-life effort. The first local campaign took place in College Station, Texas, in 2004, and grew to efforts in 89 cities in 33 states last year.
Ms. Faller said the ultimate goal of the campaign is to end abortion, and noted that the campaign’s most visible component is the 40-day prayer vigil outside of the Hillcrest Women’s Medical Center in Harrisburg, which is located at 2709 North Front Street. This round-the-clock vigil will begin at noon on Sept. 24 and will serve as a prayerful witness to the sanctity of human life.
Ms. Faller encouraged those interested in participating in the vigil to log on to www.40daysforlife.com/harrisburg to schedule a time slot. Parishioners, organizations, school groups, clergy, religious and seminarians are called upon to be "vigil voices" at Hillcrest. Prayerful witness at other abortion clinics is also encouraged.
"We’re asking people, even if they can’t come in front of the clinic, to please pray throughout the 40 days," Mrs. Paveglio said. "Attend Holy Hours, pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the adoration chapels, offer up a Mass."
Six pro-life Masses will be celebrated throughout the campaign, including one to be celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades on Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Harrisburg. (See the accompanying box for a complete list of all Masses.)
Ms. Faller also urged the faithful to fast and give alms during the 40 days.
The diocese’s "40 Days for Life" campaign will wrap up with a breakfast at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament following the Mass there on Nov. 1.
"40 Days for Life offers a way for everyone to participate – through the vigil or prayer – in the pro-life movement," said Grace Targonski, Director of the Diocesan Respect Life Office. "People are encouraged to participate in whatever way they can to witness to the sanctity of human life."
For more information on the "40 Days for Life"
campaign in Harrisburg and all of its components, and to sign up to participate in the vigil, visit www.40daysforlife.com/harrisburg.