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Sacramento
Bishop Weigand to Governor Gray Davis:
Oppose abortion or "abstain
from Holy Communion" |
Source: Sacramento Bee;
January 23, 2003
Sacramento, CA -- Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand, leader of
500,000 Catholics in Northern California, called on Gov. Gray Davis on
Wednesday to renounce his support of abortion or stop taking Holy
Communion.
Speaking at a morning Mass on the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S.
Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, Weigand told congregants
at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament that Davis should refrain from
taking communion while he continues to support abortion.
"As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone -- politician or
otherwise -- who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be
pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and
is not in good standing with the church," Weigand said. "Such
a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his
own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a
change of heart."
Receiving Holy Communion is one of the most sacred rites in the Catholic
faith. Weigand said afterward that "in general, we do not refuse
communion to anyone; we try to instruct people as to when it would not
be appropriate."
Russ Lopez, a spokesman for Davis, said the bishop was "trying to
make an example and that's sad. But Governor Davis has said repeatedly
that he is proud of the legislation he has signed giving women the right
to choose. He will not back down."
Lopez criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how to
practice their faith."
Lopez said that Weigand's comments could alienate members of the
Catholic Church who support abortion. "There are a lot of Catholics
who are pro-choice. Does the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving
Holy Communion?" asked Lopez. "Who's going to be left in
church?"
Weigand said Wednesday evening that he did not contact the Vatican
before deciding to publicly chastise the governor. He acknowledged that
he was motivated by Davis' response to a challenge by a Sacramento
parish priest before Christmas, and by a doctrine by Pope John Paul II
criticizing politicians who say they are good Catholics but support
abortion.
Weigand's homily quoted from the papal doctrine released in advance of
the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. "Those who are directly
involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose
any law that attacks human life," he said.
At the Mass, Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, who last month
told Davis' staff that the governor was not welcome to deliver gifts to
St. Patrick's Orphanage. (The children received their gifts from Davis
at the Capitol.) Kavanagh asked Davis to renounce his pro-abortion views
before visiting.
The governor's response to Kavanagh was blunt: "I'm unapologetically
pro-choice and I'm not changing my position."
Weigand said Wednesday evening that the confrontation forced him to
confront Davis.
"Ever since the little incident last month, people have been asking
questions. They asked 'how can a Catholic be in good standing and still
hold that point of view?' I'm saying you can't be a Catholic in good
standing and hold that point of view. The governor's position is very
public and contrary. ... You can't have it both ways."
In a press release Wednesday marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the
Davis administration claimed credit for California being "the most
pro-choice state in America."
The governor is an active Catholic. He and his wife, Sharon, attend Mass
in Southern California. The Davises, who were married originally in a
civil ceremony presided over by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice
Rose Bird, were married again in the late 1990s in the Catholic Church
for their 15th wedding anniversary. The ceremony recognized the marriage
in the church's eyes and allowed Davis to resume taking communion.
"He goes to church and he says his prayers and that's good,"
said Weigand. "But he's been aggressive on this issue, even
boastful. I'm just trying to clarify that he is not in line with the
Catholic Church on an issue that the Pope has said is the most important
issue of our day."
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Sent from The Pro-Life Infonet http://www.prolifeinfo.org
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