Those who voted YES ‘are not entitled’ to partake in the Sacraments of the Church
Dear Sir,
PLEASE allow me to comment on the call by Bishop Dolan for those who would call themselves Catholics and voted Yes to allow for Direct Abortion to partake in the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation.
There are those Catholics who will claim they were guided by their consciences when they voted Yes for Abortion. It is expected that Catholics be guided, in all matters, by their Informed Conscience. They are expected to be guided by the rules of their Church as stated in The Catechism of the Catholic Church and The Code of Canon Law I would also suggest they should be aware of the Principle of Double Effect which allows for the treatment of pregnant women. They should be aware of the Moral Law which at its most basic calls upon us to do not harm others and protect the weak and helpless.
The reality is people voted to allow Abortion. Those who voted Yes knew, in advance, that by repealing the 8th Amendment they were allowing the Government pass Legislation to facilitate direct Abortion, the killing of the Unborn. Future Governments may well vote to allow Abortion on Demand, Walk-in Abortions for any reason. That is the reality, you voted Yes, you voted FOR Abortion. THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
Laws are there to protect the weak and society in general. Good laws are a mark of a civilized people.
Catholics should be guided by Church Laws With regard to abortion “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the new born to perish” CCC2270. “Formal co-operation in an abortion constitutes a grave offence” CCC2272. The act is a grave sin therefore those Catholics who voted Yes to allow Abortion are not entitled to partake in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. They are in a state of Latae Sententiae Excommunication. They have by their actions separated themselves from the Catholic Church.
The Church is not heartless and as Bishop Doran has suggested perhaps they should consider attending the Sacrament of Confession, I would go further and suggest the Catholic Church organise a Ceremony of Reconciliation to allow a period of reflection and heal the wounds caused by this Referendum and the hurtful dare I say intemperate, certainly thoughtless remarks made by leading Irish and not so leading politicians. By praising those who voted Yes to Abortion as ‘ Compassionate’ implies that those No to Abortion as lacking in compassion and empathy. We are not. Naturally there will be those who will not want to be reconciled with the Church and the community of the Church. That is their choice.
I am ‘Not casting the first stone’ and I know that most of the hierarchy would prefer these things were not said. They may point to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he asked forgiveness and it was granted. Forgiveness must recognise error.
In the meantime I must try to reconcile myself to voting for those local politicians who by their silence and actions support Abortion and the destruction of the unborn.