While many have focused on the necessary and deserved criticism of the Church hierarchy, there have been more priests and bishops who are slowly speaking up. One of them in Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, who said that any politician who claims to be Catholic but is supporting infanticide is on the way to hell:
Catholic Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann issued a strong warning to Catholic political leaders who support infanticide and abortion up to birth.
Naumann, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, said those who refuse to repent for supporting the killing of babies are putting themselves on “a path to Hell.”
“While we can object to the actions of these public officials, we are not able to judge their souls. At the same time, we know there will be a Judgment Day,” he said in a statement last week. “Conscious and unrepentant mortal sin endangers our eternal souls and places ourselves on a path to Hell.”
The archbishop did not mention any Catholic pro-abortion politicians by name, but many are well-known to pro-lifers. They include New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who recently signed and celebrated a state law that legalizes abortions for basically any reason up to birth, and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is blocking legislation to protect infants born alive after botched abortions.
Naumann said their abortion advocacy is seriously immoral. He said he felt compelled to condemn their actions so that other Catholics are not misled.
“Recent efforts to perpetuate and expand abortion in state laws have illuminated the deplorable actions of some Catholic public officials and advocates,” the archbishop said. “Their efforts to support and even celebrate such legislation will result in killing many more unborn children, as well as the spiritual and emotional wounding of their mothers and fathers.
“Advocating for intrinsically evil acts, like abortion, is a serious immoral act – one that involves grave matter, the prerequisite for the commission of a mortal sin,” Naumann said.
Naumann said he has a responsibility to condemn their actions so that other Catholics are not confused. He also indicated that these so-called Catholic politicians may be denied communion if they continue to support the killing of unborn babies.
“I also have a serious obligation to protect other members of my flock from being misled by a seeming tolerance of the scandalous behavior of some Catholics in public life,” he continued. “If even after an extended dialogue a Catholic in public life persists in scandalous actions, I have found it necessary to request that they not present themselves to receive Holy Communion, for their own spiritual welfare and for the protection of many others from moral confusion.
He urged pro-abortion politicians to repent and seek forgiveness.
“To receive our Eucharistic Lord, while in a state of mortal sin, only further jeopardizes the eternal fate of our souls,” the archbishop said. “Sincere repentance, a conversion of heart, and a genuine effort to make amends for the harm caused by our sin, are essential to be able to receive God’s mercy.”
Many have called for Cuomo to be excommunicated because of his blatant celebration of abortion on demand. However, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said it would be counterproductive because the pro-abortion politician loves the abortion issue so much.
The New York law allows unborn babies to be aborted for any reason up to 24 weeks and up to birth for “health” reasons, a broad category that includes basically anything. It redefines a “person” as “a human being who has been born and is alive,” and describes abortion as a “fundamental right.” The law also removes state protections for infants born alive in botched abortions.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, who also claims to be Catholic, is facing criticism for supporting a similar bill in her state.
The Catholic Church teaches that every human life is valuable from conception to natural death, and abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and other life-destroying practices are evil. (source, source)