January 9, 2004
Just when you thought he was gone!
La Crosse Bishop Raymond Burke was recently promoted to head the St. Louis diocese. Before leaving he wrote to Congressman Dave Obey, state Senator Julie Lassa and others to inform them they must stop taking the sacraments if they vote for a woman's choice. We all breathed a sigh of relief with the news that he would be going down the Mississippi to St. Louis but, as they say, don't count your chickens.
Before leaving he has issued a document banning Catholic legislators from taking communion unless they follow church doctrine on right-to-life issues. Whoa Nelly! Bishop Burke is apparently trying to prove that non-Catholics should vote against Catholic candidates because they will be subject to church discipline if they follow their conscience.
I have a few questions for the Bishop. How about gay rights? May Catholic legislators stand with them or would a vote for gay rights fall in the same unacceptable category? What about the death penalty? The Vatican says it is wrong. Will Catholics who support state killing be deprived of communion? And, since birth control is banned by the church, should all those Catholics who practice birth control stop taking communion? (Polls suggest that about 80 percent of Catholics disagree with the Vatican on this issue.)
How about stem cell research? Would Catholics be banned from the communion rail if they vote for funds to help those with Parkinsons disease?
I recall with great pride JFK's speech to the Protestant bishops in 1960. He assured them of separation of church and state if he were elected president. Kennedy made it clear that he would follow the Constitution and not Papal Bulls.
Bishop Burke, drop us a note if you need any help with your move to St. Louis.
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