(Bishop) Wuerl's(DC) stand on lawmakers who back abortion angers some conservative Catholics

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07022/755820-84.stm

In the political hot seat of Washington, D.C., Archbishop Donald Wuerl has stuck to the stand he took as bishop of Pittsburgh, refusing to withhold communion from Catholic legislators who support legal abortion.

Asked if he planned to refuse communion to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, he responded: "You're talking about a whole different style of pastoral ministry. No."

A response he made recently to questions about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have infuriated the far-right edge of the Catholic blogosphere, and drawn ire from some of the most conservative Catholic leaders of the anti-abortion movement.

<snip>

"Do you intend to discipline her(Pelosi) at all for being persistent and obstinate about her support for abortion and same-sex marriage?" asked Allyson Smith of the Web site California Catholic Daily.

"I will not be using the faculty in the manner you have described," he replied, referring to his authority.

[jamesinca]

1. Good for him

Separation of Church and State and he applies his religion to it. They tried something similar in '04 to Kerry and the nut job in CO who wanted it was batted down from higher up in the church hierarchy.

[saigon68]

16. Catholic Nut Jobs no better than the Taliban

[pnwmom]

2. I am impressed.

I wasn't happy with him when they brought him to Seattle to replace Archbishop Hunthausen . . . but I am glad to see him stand up for a pastoral (rather than punitive) ministry.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Wow - you got a long memory - that was in the 80's

I had to google just to find out when he was bishop in Seattle. Compliments to your memory!

[pnwmom]

12. It was soon after we moved here -- so, easy to remember.

I fell in love with Hunthausen -- he was a living saint, IMO. I had never seen a bishop like him. Did your google search mention anything about his protesting the Trident submarine base? And he allowed Dignity to be active in the churches, and generally acted like a liberal, which got him in a lot of trouble.

Wuerl was his replacement, for a while, but he had a tough time because people were resentful about what happened to Hunthausen. I'm glad to see that Wuerl is one of the better ones, now.

[rodeodance]

3. Good for him.

[Ian David]

4. Some crazy right-wing shill was asking Tony Snow about this today

Everyone in the press pool laughed at him.

[gratuitous]

5. My word!

I'd say that Allyson Smith of California Catholic Daily had better get herself over to Confession tout de suite, challenging an Archbishop, God's intercessor on Earth, like that. Confess, repent, and pray earnestly for the restoration of your immortal soul, sister Allyson. Such defiance of authority! Tut, tut.

[pnwmom]

13. Hah! Awfully convenient, isn't it,

how certain people decide when and when not to submit to authority!

[Pharlo]

7. Catholicism a la carte....

Only withhold communion from lawmakers who support abortion.
Forget about any lawmaker who votes for any other action that
the Catholic Church deems 'wrong'. (Ie. If I recall correctly, they
were also against the invasion of Iraq. Should they not then
withhold communion from any Catholic lawmaker who voted for the
Iraqi War Resolution?)

I'm Catholic, but the moment they start doing that, the Catholic Church
should get their tax exemption status taken away.

Not to mention extortion charges filed against the perpetrators (aka Bishops).
Cause, that is what it is - Extortion.

Nothing quite like the Christian values in some American 'Christian' hearts
today.

I'm glad to see this Bishop has a clue, because apparently, some don't.

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Far right Catholics ignore anything but Abortion and gay marriage

It is just a tweaked "born again" movement. The "Catholic Identity" movement thrives on a narrow interpretation and love to follow the rules. Good for this bishop to show some moderation as the trend is to be more hard core.

[PATRICK]

9. The hierarchy loves

to be conservative but has suffered the most from far right schimsatics in open rebellion. They are the rebuked, the griping brother of the prodigal son, left sulking even if it is true that bishops love them more and give them more. The hierarchy has made this problem by not drawing lines for the political abotrtion movement AS a sanctioned movement involving clergy and "ecumenical" in allying to otherwise anti-Catholic "punisher" loons. All in all the positive stance of the Church on this issue is very good and clear and Birthright looks to help mother and child. The far right brought in their usual arrogance and invective more absolute than papal infallibility and more relentless than hell and dangerously devoid of common mercy. Real Christian.

[mopinko]

10. she has five kids, ferchrissake.

doesn't that make her right with the catholic church? kinda joking.
good on this bishop.

[slj0101]

11. Wuerl is a good man. I applaud his stance.

Communion is not to be taken lightly, or used as a political device.

[Megahurtz]

14. Right On, Dude! n/t

[Doctor_J]

15. Is he going to refuse communion to pro-war Catholic reps?

or does Allyson Smith care about THAT kind of murder?