Supporting abortion = automatic ex communication

[PetertheRock]

http://www.catholicplanet.com/articles/article78.htm

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral, commits the sin of heresy and incurs an automatic sentence of excommunication.

Canon Law and Church Teaching

Canon 1398: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

Canon 751: “Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”

Canon 1364 §1: “an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

Believing in Abortion

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral commits the sin of heresy. The sin of heresy also incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

Unfortunately, some Catholics obstinately deny that abortion is always immoral, and some Catholics claim that abortion can, at times, be a morally-acceptable choice, and some Catholics claim that a person can, in good conscience, choose abortion. Under the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, canons 751 and 1364, all such Catholics are automatically excommunicated for the sin of heresy.

This sentence of latae sententiae excommunication applies to any Catholic who denies that abortion is gravely immoral, regardless of whether they keep this denial hidden or publicly reveal it.

Promoting Abortion

Those Catholics who publicly announce their denial that abortion is always gravely immoral, or who publicly promote abortion, or who publicly argue in favor of legalized abortion, also commit a mortal sin and also incur a sentence of automatic excommunication.

This sentence of excommunication applies to Catholics who are politicians, as well as to those Catholics who are political commentators, or public speakers, or who write or otherwise publicly communicate their erroneous view that abortion can be morally-acceptable or that abortion should be legal. This sentence of excommunication also certainly applies to those Catholics who claim to be theologians or Biblical scholars, but who believe or teach that abortion is not always gravely immoral.

Those Catholics who promote abortion are automatically excommunicated for two reasons. First, they have fallen into the sin of heresy by believing that abortion is not always gravely immoral (canons 751 and 1364). Second, these Catholics are providing substantial assistance for women to obtain abortions by influencing public policy to make abortions legal, and to keep abortions legal, and to broaden access to abortion. Those who provide such substantial assistance commit a mortal sin and incur a sentence of automatic excommunication (canon 1398).

Voting for Abortion

Any Catholic politician who casts a vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion, commits a mortal sin.

When such a vote indicates that the Catholic politician believes that abortion is not always gravely immoral, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canons 751 and 1364, because of heresy.

When such a vote is intended to have the effect of making abortion legal, or more easily obtainable, or more widely available, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canon 1398, as someone who is attempting to provide substantial or essential means for women to obtain abortions. Catholic politicians who pass laws which legalize, protect, or widen access to abortion, are providing essential assistance to women who want to obtain abortions.

It is not sufficient for Catholic politicians to claim that they are “personally opposed” to abortion. If any Catholic politician favors legalized abortion, despite a claim of personal opposition, such a politician commits a mortal sin by promoting abortion and by voting in favor of abortion.

The same is true for any Catholic who casts any vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion. Such a voter commits a mortal sin and incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication for two reasons. First, they are committing the sin of heresy by believing that abortion should be legal and available. Second, they are committing the grievous sin of providing women with substantial or essential assistance in obtaining abortions, by attempting to legalize or broaden access to abortion.

However, if, for a period of time, Catholic politicians and voters are unable to enact a law prohibiting all abortion, then Catholic politicians and voters may in good conscience vote for whichever law offers the greatest restrictions and limits on abortion. Subsequently, Catholic politicians and voters are required by the moral law to continue to enact further restrictions and limits on abortion, to the greatest extent possible, and, at every possible opportunity, to vote for laws which completely outlaw abortion.

Voting for Politicians

In general, the moral law requires Catholic voters to vote for those candidates who oppose abortion over those who favor abortion. However, there are exceptions to this general principle. For example, if a political candidate favors abortion, but is a member of a party which generally opposes abortion, a Catholic voter may, in good conscience, vote for that candidate, with the intention of giving more political power to the party which opposes abortion.

In another case, a Catholic voter might, in good conscience, vote for a pro-abortion candidate, if the political office would offer no opportunity for the elected candidate to vote for or against abortion. Even so, every Catholic voter should consider that anyone who supports abortion, as if it were a woman’s right, or as if it could ever be a moral choice, must necessarily be someone who has a seriously limited understanding of morality and justice. Such a person would not often be the better candidate for any office in place of one who understands that abortion is gravely immoral.

In every case, a Catholic should vote in such a way as to obtain as many restrictions on abortion as possible, and so as to obtain the end to legalized abortion as soon as possible.

 

[SaintGeorge]

Look, a lot of people believe in abortion, it's unfortunate, and what you say is absolutely true. However, it's not our place to excommunicate people. God and the Church can take care of themselves just fine.

Objective truth: Abortion is murder and supporting it is equivalent to assisting in homocide or premeditated assasination.

Objective truth: It's not our job to tell people if they're excommunicated, and this thread is in retaliation for comments made in your recent Muslim thread. My friend, silence is sometimes the best offense. More hearts have been changed by silence than polemic.

God bless you. Redirect your zeal, or it could lead you to bitterness and sin as it did me.

 

[SaintGeorge]

Oh, those are indeed official Church documents...ouch...poor souls who are excommunicated.

We should pray for them, love them, and respectfully reveal the Truth with time and patience. Polemics and document slinging will prove futile. Your audience probably does not respect or revere the documents as they should. First, strengthen their faith in the Church using a positive, not negative, approach.

Never attack a man, no, build him up and show him the direction to go, then he will be able to attack himself.

 

[français]

sojust because i support abortion, i can get ex communicated? whoa, i better keep my politics on the DL at church.

 

[SaintGeorge]

sojust because i support abortion, i can get ex communicated? whoa, i better keep my politics on the DL at church.

Well...politics can never really be separated from faith, you know? But we can help you work through your disagreements and understand Church teaching. Don't feel rejected. This isn't something that can't be worked out, indeed, it must be worked out. We are here to support you in the meantime.

 

[L3g3nd]

sojust because i support abortion, i can get ex communicated? whoa, i better keep my politics on the DL at church.

Abortion is more than politics.

 

[zhilan]

I think maybe you should worry about yourself and not spend so much time excommunicating others. Remember what the bible says about removing the block from your own eye before removing the splinter from your friends.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Catholics are entitled to believe what Christ wanted...and anything contrary to the Church teachings is not keeping what Christ set down.

And for the record, Catholicism is about Church conformity.Not freedom to choose which teaching we prefer or not.

 

[SolomonVII]

I think maybe you should worry about yourself and not spend so much time excommunicating others. Remember what the bible says about removing the block from your own eye before removing the splinter from your friends.

The excommunication being referred to is not imposed on some unforutnate by Catholics on the outside. It refers to a self-imposed state of being brought about by the person's own beliefs or actions.

So, for example, if someone were to say that they were Catholic and believed in abortion as a legitimate form of birth control, Catholic doctrine would teach that this is a contradiction. All the Catholic icons and all the forums rules in the world could never change the fact that their own words have ex-communicated them from the Church.
It would be as if I were to make the claim that I was a feminist, and then went on to state that a woman's place is barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, etc., etc.
I could call myself a feminist all that I wanted, but my subsequent biases would be so totally at odds with the term so as to make the very idea of my being a feminst banal and meaningless.

http://www.cwnews.com/news/biosgloss/definition.cfm?glossID=91
"Excommunication can take two different forms. A ferendae sententiae excommunication comes after a formal canonical trial, and is often a matter of public record. A latae sententiae excommunication is incurred automatically, under the terms of the Code of Canon Law, as the punishment for certain offenses. In the case of a latae sententiae excommunication, there is no requirement for formal trial or announcement; in fact, the individual brings the punishment upon himself. "

 

[Rhamiel]

kjf512
"sojust because i support abortion, i can get ex communicated? whoa, i better keep my politics on the DL at church."
you missed the point, if you support abortion you have made the choice to leave the Church. If you support abortion you ARE excommunicated.
Even though we dissagree politicly you really seem like a nice guy and you should drop your support for the murder of the inocent and come back to Holy Mother Church, submit your self to the wisdom of the Church, even if you do not understand why abortion is bad trust that the Church knows more then you or me, that it is the Bride of Christ and will not teach error
may the peace of Christ be with you

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

Would I be right in assuming that the bits which aren't back up with Church documents are just this guy's opinion?

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

Wow.

I'm very impressed what this guy managed to do with Canon 1398: (A person who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication. )


Take with a pinch of salt, guys...

 

[Fantine]

http://www.catholicplanet.com/articles/article78.htm

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral, commits the sin of heresy and incurs an automatic sentence of excommunication.

Canon Law and Church Teaching

Canon 1398: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

Canon 751: “Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”

Canon 1364 §1: “an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

Believing in Abortion

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral commits the sin of heresy. The sin of heresy also incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

Unfortunately, some Catholics obstinately deny that abortion is always immoral, and some Catholics claim that abortion can, at times, be a morally-acceptable choice, and some Catholics claim that a person can, in good conscience, choose abortion. Under the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, canons 751 and 1364, all such Catholics are automatically excommunicated for the sin of heresy.

This sentence of latae sententiae excommunication applies to any Catholic who denies that abortion is gravely immoral, regardless of whether they keep this denial hidden or publicly reveal it.

Promoting Abortion

Those Catholics who publicly announce their denial that abortion is always gravely immoral, or who publicly promote abortion, or who publicly argue in favor of legalized abortion, also commit a mortal sin and also incur a sentence of automatic excommunication.

This sentence of excommunication applies to Catholics who are politicians, as well as to those Catholics who are political commentators, or public speakers, or who write or otherwise publicly communicate their erroneous view that abortion can be morally-acceptable or that abortion should be legal. This sentence of excommunication also certainly applies to those Catholics who claim to be theologians or Biblical scholars, but who believe or teach that abortion is not always gravely immoral.

Those Catholics who promote abortion are automatically excommunicated for two reasons. First, they have fallen into the sin of heresy by believing that abortion is not always gravely immoral (canons 751 and 1364). Second, these Catholics are providing substantial assistance for women to obtain abortions by influencing public policy to make abortions legal, and to keep abortions legal, and to broaden access to abortion. Those who provide such substantial assistance commit a mortal sin and incur a sentence of automatic excommunication (canon 1398).

Voting for Abortion

Any Catholic politician who casts a vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion, commits a mortal sin.

When such a vote indicates that the Catholic politician believes that abortion is not always gravely immoral, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canons 751 and 1364, because of heresy.

When such a vote is intended to have the effect of making abortion legal, or more easily obtainable, or more widely available, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canon 1398, as someone who is attempting to provide substantial or essential means for women to obtain abortions. Catholic politicians who pass laws which legalize, protect, or widen access to abortion, are providing essential assistance to women who want to obtain abortions.

It is not sufficient for Catholic politicians to claim that they are “personally opposed” to abortion. If any Catholic politician favors legalized abortion, despite a claim of personal opposition, such a politician commits a mortal sin by promoting abortion and by voting in favor of abortion.

The same is true for any Catholic who casts any vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion. Such a voter commits a mortal sin and incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication for two reasons. First, they are committing the sin of heresy by believing that abortion should be legal and available. Second, they are committing the grievous sin of providing women with substantial or essential assistance in obtaining abortions, by attempting to legalize or broaden access to abortion.

However, if, for a period of time, Catholic politicians and voters are unable to enact a law prohibiting all abortion, then Catholic politicians and voters may in good conscience vote for whichever law offers the greatest restrictions and limits on abortion. Subsequently, Catholic politicians and voters are required by the moral law to continue to enact further restrictions and limits on abortion, to the greatest extent possible, and, at every possible opportunity, to vote for laws which completely outlaw abortion.

Voting for Politicians

In general, the moral law requires Catholic voters to vote for those candidates who oppose abortion over those who favor abortion. However, there are exceptions to this general principle. For example, if a political candidate favors abortion, but is a member of a party which generally opposes abortion, a Catholic voter may, in good conscience, vote for that candidate, with the intention of giving more political power to the party which opposes abortion.

In another case, a Catholic voter might, in good conscience, vote for a pro-abortion candidate, if the political office would offer no opportunity for the elected candidate to vote for or against abortion. Even so, every Catholic voter should consider that anyone who supports abortion, as if it were a woman’s right, or as if it could ever be a moral choice, must necessarily be someone who has a seriously limited understanding of morality and justice. Such a person would not often be the better candidate for any office in place of one who understands that abortion is gravely immoral.

In every case, a Catholic should vote in such a way as to obtain as many restrictions on abortion as possible, and so as to obtain the end to legalized abortion as soon as possible.

I've never heard of this publication, and so I looked at the homepage, which bears this disclaimer:

Please note that most of my theology writings are speculative, rather than dogmatic.
Also, many of the ideas expressed on this site are a matter of pious disagreement among faithful Catholics.

Thank you for sharing the author's individual opinions with us.

 

[Ravenchica]

I do not think Peter was "excommunicating" people as many of you are saying. He is simply stating that those who support abortion are... shall we say "unofficially excommunicated". He himself is not excommunicating people he is simply stating what the Church teaches in this area.

 

[Globalnomad]

Guys, I don't think any of us think that abortion is a legitimate form of birth control. And very few of us believe even that abortion can sometimes be a morally acceptable choice.

What some of us say is that non-Catholics who genuinely believe - albeit falsely - that it is a morally acceptable choice, should not be punished by the law of the land. For the simple reason of equity (justice), which is a basic secular right. You see, when a man makes a woman pregnant, he is not legally punishable. Why force the woman, then, either to bear the heavy lifelong consequences or to be legally punished? In many (perhaps the majority) of cases, it is the man who cajoles, seduces or even forces her. Where is the justice, in secular terms, in making her alone bear the consequences?

On the moral plane this argument does not stand, of course. And keeping abortion legal has nothing to do with its remaining an extremely grave sin - for Catholics, and for others who believe as we do, that it is equal to murder.

Most of you will disagree with the opinion I expressed. Let's not get into that debate again: the only reason I made the argument is to show that to support legalized abortion is not the same as to deny that abortion is morally always wrong; therefore, it cannot be called a heresy.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

Oh, gosh - the idea that abortion should be legal because of equality? Really? Why don't we just (try) and make sure that the father is held to account rather than let the child be killed. OK it'll be very hard to do that, but it's still preferable to the other option, if you're really worried about equality so much...


And abortion is always an extremly grave sin - for everyone, it's just a mortal sin for those who believe it is a grave sin against God and the child and do it anyway.

You wouldn't say the same about theft, murder or genocide, so why make an exception for abortion?

What it comes down to is, what falls under the heading of promotion. If politicians do opt to keep abortion legal, they should at least put money into schemes to offer women a viable alternative and such...

 

[Fantine]

I do not think Peter was "excommunicating" people as many of you are saying. He is simply stating that those who support abortion are... shall we say "unofficially excommunicated". He himself is not excommunicating people he is simply stating what the Church teaches in this area.

No, he's not saying that, because that's not what the Church officially teaches.

It is the individual opinion of the author, and is labeled such by Catholic Planet's disclaimer on its website, which says:

Please note that most of my theology writings are speculative, rather than dogmatic.
Also, many of the ideas expressed on this site are a matter of pious disagreement among faithful Catholics.

It is "speculation." It is "a matter of pious disagreement."

Why it has been presented as factual truth rather than an extremist's pipedream is a matter of speculation for me!

 

[PetertheRock]

Also, Fr. Corapi has also confirmed that supporting abortion is automatic excommunication with no action required by the bishop. By supporting abortion you are going against a very important dogma of the Church. The Catholic Church isn't the boy scouts or another social club where you can just choose to believe what part of the teaching you want to believe. It's either all or nothing.

What's more important? Making sure non-Catholics have a right to murder their unborn children or saving your own souls and the souls of others. Because that is what is at stake.

 

[Miss Shelby]

No, he's not saying that, because that's not what the Church officially teaches.

What does the Church teach in regards to abortion and excommunication? Enlighten us ignoramuses. Catechism passages would be nice. Thanks.

 

[gitlance]

sojust because i support abortion, i can get ex communicated? whoa, i better keep my politics on the DL at church.

IF you do support abortion in your heart (contrary to Church teachings on the matter), then whether or not you speak it vocally, you have incurred a laetae sentiae excommunication.

I would recommend that as long as you support abortion in opposition to what the Church teaches, you consider refraining from Holy Communion.