Politicians and excommunication

[Fardog]

Since the Pope said today that Catholic politicians who support
abortion are in danger of excommunication shouldn't he say that ALL
Catholics who support abortion are also in danger, since obviously the
politicians are put there by voters.

[Gio]

ahh St.Paul writes that Authority on Earth comes from GOD and if you
disobey a priest,bishop etc you are disobeying GOD!. St.Pio felt this
when he didn't write to his superior about his situation then Christ
had to reprimand him.

[Father Joe]

Obedience to Christ's shepherds is important but not absolute.

Clergy may not always be good and holy; no one can force another to
sin as an expression of holy obedience.

Take care,
Father Joe

[Fardog]

Hate to be dense, but I don't see where Gio or you have addressed my
question. Maybe I missed it. Fardog

[Gio]

Disobeying the Church on matters like this is disobeying GOD.

GOD gave us a warning with Fatima.. The Angel said Penance! Penance!
Penance!..

[Father Joe]

You wrote: "Since the Pope said today that Catholic politicians who

support abortion are in danger of excommunication shouldn't he say
that ALL Catholics who support abortion are also in danger, since
obviously the politicians are put there by voters."

There is no question mark [?] so I thought you were merely making a
rhetorical statement. Sorry about the mix up.

I certainly could not vote in good conscience for people who I knew
would extend the culture of death and the war against the child. I
would hope all true Christians would have similar difficulties with
this. What compounds the problem is that sometimes our choices are
seriously limited and that politicians themselves can be somewhat less
than forthcoming.

Like most human activity, voting implies responsibility and moral
culpability. It should never be taken lightly. Excommunication would
be a more difficult proposition in regard to the voter since the
ballot box is rightfully secret. Direct participation in an abortion
results in an automatic excommunication, even if done in a clandestine
fashion. Politicians could incur an imposed censure by taking public
positions in favor of abortion. The same could be said of Catholics
who are members of certain anti-life organizations or celebrities who
publicly lobby and support the destruction of children in the womb.
This would require the cooperation of bishops willing to impose such
discipline upon dissenters. Many critics would contend that
politicians would normally be too removed from the abortive acts to
merit an automatic censure. Certainly, voters would be too remote as
agents to receive excommunication.