Full-page ad in regional USA Today
outlines the problem and the solution
American Life League is expressing a hope for strong action by the American Catholic bishops in dealing with pro-abortion Catholic politicians. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops prepares for its conference in Los Angeles, American Life League is publishing a full-page ad in today’s West Coast regional edition of USA Today.
“This ad asks our fellow Catholics to implore all bishops to instruct priests, deacons and Eucharistic ministers to deny Holy Communion to public figures who publicly reject Church teaching and support the deadly act of abortion,” said American Life League president Judie Brown. “We pray that the bishops will tackle this enormous problem and bring an end to the scandal created by Catholics who publicly support abortion and then receive Holy Communion.”
The ad features an image of Christ suffering alongside the phrase, “The Divinity Code,” a reference to the Canon 915 of the Church’s Code of Canon Law, which states that, “Those who…obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Communion.”
“Can there be a sin more grave than sanctioning the murder of millions of innocent preborn children?” asked Brown. “Why is it that pro-abortion Catholic politicians are permitted to receive Holy Communion while they publicly condone and support abortion? While the bishops cannot change civil laws that permit abortion on demand, they can stop this sacrilege committed by those who condone the daily killing of 3,300 babies in the womb.”
According to Brown, the damage done by Catholics who publicly support abortion is mounting. More and more Catholics are concluding that they, too, can support abortion and still remain in communion with the Church. “It is up to the bishops ? the Shepherds of the Church ? to teach and defend the Catholic faith,” said Brown. “We pray they will make it clear: You can’t be Catholic and pro-abortion.”
Release issued: 14 Jun 06
