Abortion rights now confessional issue
By Cheryl Wittenauer
Associated Press
The archbishop of St. Louis, who has said he would deny Holy Communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, now says Roman Catholic voters who support abortion rights should go to confession before taking the sacrament.
Archbishop Raymond Burke said Thursday that Catholics cannot vote for candidates or policies in support of abortion and be worthy to receive Communion.
"We always have to remember that it's objectively wrong to vote for a pro-choice politician," Burke told KMOX Radio. "People could be in ignorance of how serious this is. But once they understand and know this and then willingly do it, vote for a pro-choice candidate, then they need to confess that."
His remarks came a week after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a statement warning lawmakers at odds with church teaching that they were "cooperating in evil." The statement left it up to each bishop to decide whether to deny Communion. Under church law, bishops adapt Catholic teaching in their own dioceses.
Burke could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In January, Burke drew national attention by saying he would deny Communion to Kerry, a Catholic who supports abortion rights.
The issue has polarized Catholics, putting politicians on the defensive and fueling a larger national debate on the proper role of religious leaders in politics.
Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, Colo., has said that Catholics who vote for abortion-rights supporters should refrain from taking Communion.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison said he has no plans to deny Communion to local Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, considering it "a last resort."
"When we bring up this issue, the last thing I'm thinking about is who wins the election, Bush or Kerry," Morlino said. "I'm thinking about facing Jesus someday and giving an account for my people, and whether I did my best so they could be saved."
The Rev. James Halstead, a theologian and head of religious studies at DePaul University, called Burke's position "poor pastoring, counterproductive and questionable theology."
Burke said he was not trying to influence the election in Missouri, rather he was just "teaching the faith."
A task force of U.S. bishops is examining the issue as they adapt for the American church a 2002 Vatican doctrinal document called "Participation of Catholics in Political Life."
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