ALL: Bishops’ task force needs to remind abortion and Catholicism are opposed

Washington D.C., Nov 18, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The U.S. bishops need to face “the real problem” that one cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion, said Judie Brown, president of American Life League.

This past week, at their national convention, “the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had an opportunity to provide strong leadership on the question of Catholic public figures who favor legal abortion,” Brown said.

Brown said the bishops’ task force  report on Catholic bishops and Catholic politicians, displayed “unwillingness to enforce Church teaching on this grave matter.” The task force is headed by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

She said the bishops’ report attempted to “shift the focus away from the bishops' responsibility to teach, preach and act in accord with Church law and Church teaching” by attacking “those groups and individuals who are exposing the scandal of pro-abortion Catholic public figures,” such as the media and partisan groups.

"Had the conference united in its commitment to enforce Canon 915, the bishops could not only have prevented this ongoing scandal but they could have taken the first steps toward providing wayward Catholic public figures with the guidance they need," she said.

Canon 915 states those who “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin” are not to be admitted to Eucharistic communion.