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November
06, 2008
Now
here is an archbishop after my own heart. For too
long some in the hierarchy have been too tolerant
of dissent and even outright attacks on Catholic values
and principles. But we see that such a position has
not helped strengthen our Catholic Church. In truth,
the rot from within continues to grow.
Some
are worried about antagonizing those who go against
Church teachings, and worry about losing members.
But what is important is not just numbers, but actual
committed disciples. If needed, what should emerge
is a holy remnant. A few committed workers can change
the world, but not a bloated body that is uncommitted
or full of the enemy within. If we speak out boldly
and this results in antagonizing people, then so be
it (though we should be charitable even as we speak
the truth). Even Jesus drove out the moneychangers
from the temple.
Further,
drastic action is at times needed in order to turn
a person around. Confronting a person with his sin
might be the loving thing to do. Even Paul said, "Purge
the evil person from your midst." (1 Cor 5:13b).
Regarding the men in incest, Paul said that he "should
be expelled from your midst" (1 Cor 5:2b) and
that "you are to deliver this man to Satan for
the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may
be saved on the day of the Lord." (1 Cor 5:5).
This is excommunication. This is not an act of vindictiveness,
but of love.
God
bless.
frank
Archbishop:
Excommunication for Uruguayan Legislators who Vote
for Abortion
Denounces pro-abortion influence of northern
countries, United Nations
By
Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
MONTEVIDEO,
Uruguay, November 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The
Archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay, Nicolas Cotugno,
said yesterday that those legislators
who vote for abortion are "ipso facto (by that
very fact) excommunicated."
The
archbishop noted that "it is an excommunication,
according to canon law, that takes effect immediately"
and added that a formal excommunication (one issued
explicitly by name) "could also occur."
When asked if he would push for the formal excommunication
of those who vote for the legalization of abortion
in Uruguay, the Archbishop answered "in communion
with the Pope and all of the bishops, yes."
The
archbishop's remarks, which appeared in the Uruguayan
newspaper El Pais, were made in response to an initiative
in the Uruguayan Congress to legalize abortion, which
may be voted on today. Although the nation's president,
Tabare Vazquez, has promised to veto the legislation
should it pass, it is feared that such a vote could
weaken Latin America's almost universal resistance
to the legalization of the murderous practice.
"We
are not talking about - and I want to emphasize this
- religious issues,” said the archbishop. “We
are talking about a natural reality that forces all
of humanity to derive its conceptions, not from ideological
or cultural assumptions, but from natural assumptions
that precede the very existence of human beings."
"If we take away the common denominator from
human nature, I ask all of my brothers: what universal
reference can there be in humanity that ensures human
rights? What human right exists that is as fundamental
as the right to be born and to live? Who is the other
person to say 'you are not going to live, you don't
have the right to life, you have to die'?"
The
bishop put the blame for the pro-abortion measure
in part on powerful international forces that have
been pressuring the nation to legalize abortion. "There
are interests, all of which came from the North, from
the Cairo and Beijing meetings, the United Nations
Organization - it is powerful - which promote the
depenalization of abortion, and it is this vision
that is distinct and contrary to the family, tradition,
and humanity," he said.
Meanwhile,
Latin American pro-lifers are denouncing the vote,
which they say is based on a fraud perpetrated by
pro-abortion legislators.
According
to "Situacao da Defesa da Vida" (The Defense
of Life Situation), two representatives in Uruguay's
Chamber of Deputies (the lower legislative house)
altered the votes of pro-life representatives following
an earlier vote, and falsely reported the approval
of the legislation to the Senate. They also claim
that other serious procedural violations have occurred.
The
same group points out that support for the legalization
of abortion in Uruguay has dropped in recent years,
from 68% in 2005 to 61% in 2007, and finally to 49%
in a recent poll. The increasing opposition to abortion
in Uruguay reflects similar trends across Latin America,
including Brazil, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic,
and Argentina.
Previous
LifeSIteNews coverage:
Socialist
Legislators Fight over Abortion Legalization Bill
in Uruguay
Uruguayan
Senate Approves Bill Legalizing Abortion
Uruguayan
Senate Ties on Pro-Abortion Legislation
"For
to me life is Christ, and death is gain." (Phil
1:21) |