Abortion is a reason for excommunication for Catholics as well as Politicians who approve it..what say you?

Question

he specified Mexican politicians....but it may or may not apply to others as well...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/pope_brazil;_ylt=Agd9j.AW2Qw1cAs9f.dJahu3IxIF

cj..it doesn't apply JUST to the Catholic Church in Mexico...

it applies to the Catholic Church world wide...and particularly towards the mexican politicians who are supporting abortion and are also Catholic.

Answer 1

I think there is a little misunderstanding going on here about abortion and excommunication in the Catholic Church.

When a Catholic gets an abortion, procurrs one, and (I think) is in some way an enabler of abortions, they excommunicate themselves from the Church without the Church itself having to formally issue an excommunication.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches (on abortion):

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

2322 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.

2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.

Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual. . . . It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence."

Answer 2

It understandable how the Catholic church feels and it is every bit their right to state and teach what they feel is morally right and to deal with people who dissent. BUT a politician represents ALL aspects of society and when the church starts to impose its beliefs on them and telling them how to vote then it is being a political institution and therefore society may reconsider if it should be tax exempt. To threaten a person as to how to vote is reversiom back to a time when Christianity was forced on others whether they believed or not. What they are doing is or can be extremely damaging to both the church and the folks who either or not of their faith. This also appears to portend a dangerous turn of history because now the current Pope appears to be against civil rights for homosexuals, (He advocates prenatal surgery to change them to heterosexuals which sounds like Joseph Mengale when he experimented on different people to make them supierior) , liberation theology (Which defends the poor), rolling back any social and scientific progress and reconstructing a society where people were told to obey and not to think for themselves.. Just keep in mind that democracy includes the right to vote for youre choice of issues or candidates and NO ONE should be forced as to how to vote, be it an individual or an organization.

Answer 3

Someone can be a misguided Catholic and “pro-choice.”

This is especially harmful when they are people of influence like politicians, who because of their influence may unduly direct others toward "the culture of death" instead of the "consistent ethic of life."

Politically supporting abortion is not a offense for which one can be excommunicated.

The Church law involved is Canon 915: Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement "Catholics in Political Life" says:

Therefore, like every Catholic generation before us, we must be guided by the words of St. Paul, “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).

And continues that it is up to each Bishop in their diocese and on a case by case basis to decide whether or not to deny Holy Communion to Catholic politicians because of their public support of abortion.

Here is the complete document: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

The Church teaches that abortion is murder and a mortal sin. If someone gives public approval to abortion by voting in favor of it, then s/he needs to either stop calling themselves Catholic or conform to the Church's stance on the issue. By approving something that is diametrically opposed to the Catholic faith, they are bringing dishonor to Christ and His church.

That is this Catholic's opinion.

Answer 5

I think that as the Catholic Church teaches that abortion is fundamentally and morally disordered, it has every right to cast out those who are not in keeping with its teachings, just as the Boy Scouts of America, as a private organization (though they DO receive federal funds they shouldn't...), have every right to censor their membership.

Answer 6

I think that is stupid; Catholics don't believe in it so they ex-communicate you. Ok well here is the magical part, as a Christian organization Catholics should be reaching out and trying to help these people; give them support. I don't agree with abortion as a form of birth control; if it comes to the mothers health I think abortion is an option. What kind of a loser would I be if one of my friends had an abortion and I kicked her out of the club? Besides she might know any reason not to have an abortion; why hate the ignorant.

Answer 7

I say good for him. The Church isn't going to change their stance on abortion, ever. If people don't like it, leave.

Answer 8

If that is what Mexicans want for their selves in Mexico then good for them. As far as the US I say that we should do everything in our power to keep the country secular before everyone on the planet becomes like the Muslim extremists and religious law rules all of us. I would hate for our entertainment on Friday night to turn into going to the arena to watch the government chop off the limbs of offenders.

Answer 9

With all due respect, I think the catholic church needs to not threaten government officials. If the pope starts pulling strings like that, you can pretty much say goodbye to catholics getting elected in a lot of countries ever again.

Answer 10

It applies to anybody who has an abortion or helps legalise abortion. Abortion is murder.