COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.

 

"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.

 

"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."

 

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Opinions?

I applaud Fr. Newman. In this day of relative beliefs, it is assuring to see someone with enough backbone and conviction to state that there are absolutes. The teachings of the Catholic Church have always been firm in the area of life. There is no compromise on the issue. If you don't agree, join some other group that better suits your "comfort level"- like, for instance, whatever "church" presently counts Obama among its membership.

 

The Catholic Church is nothing if it abandons or allows for compromising of its absolutes. I would hope, and expect, other priests to follow the lead of Fr. Newman. Sadly, too few will do so in this world of relativity. However, we should keep in mind that God is not a relativist in regard to life issues and other non-negotiable issues.

I think it is a bit ridiculous.

I think it is a bit ridiculous.

 

 

While that is your opinion, the Church's stance on abortion and other issues is quite clear.

 

This priest is standing by the principles of the Church and I don't ever recall seeing in there that he would deny communion to anyone who voted for Obama. He is urging those who did to not take without having first gone to confession ad done penance. Which, coincidentally, is what we are supposed to do before taking communion in the case of many sins anyway. He is just making a point to parishoners who may not have been fully aware of the Church's stance on things to take that into account. His delivery may be blunt and somewhat harsh, but that doesn't change the validity of his point from a religious perspective.

I think it is a bit ridiculous.

 

Then I doubt you're Catholic...

While that is your opinion, the Church's stance on abortion and other issues is quite clear.

 

This priest is standing by the principles of the Church and I don't ever recall seeing in there that he would deny communion to anyone who voted for Obama. He is urging those who did to not take without having first gone to confession ad done penance. Which, coincidentally, is what we are supposed to do before taking communion in the case of many sins anyway. He is just making a point to parishoners who may not have been fully aware of the Church's stance on things to take that into account. His delivery may be blunt and somewhat harsh, but that doesn't change the validity of his point from a religious perspective.

 

So he's saying that those who voted for Obama are sinners? Everyone is a sinner, maybe he should have said no one can take communion until they have gone to confession. I think it is wrong to try and make someone who voted for Obama feel like an outcast.

So he's saying that those who voted for Obama are sinners? Everyone is a sinner, maybe he should have said no one can take communion until they have gone to confession. I think it is wrong to try and make someone who voted for Obama feel like an outcast.

 

Not sure how much you know about Catholicism, but that is the way it is supposed to be done for anything not considered a venial sin.

So he's saying that those who voted for Obama are sinners? Everyone is a sinner, maybe he should have said no one can take communion until they have gone to confession. I think it is wrong to try and make someone who voted for Obama feel like an outcast.

 

The same is done for all those who committ mortal sins. The Church's view on abortion is crystal clear, and this priest is just enforcing it in a manner he sees fit...

As a Catholic, I would think this would go without saying. There is no gray area in the Church's stance on the taking of human life.

While that is your opinion, the Church's stance on abortion and other issues is quite clear.

 

This priest is standing by the principles of the Church and I don't ever recall seeing in there that he would deny communion to anyone who voted for Obama. He is urging those who did to not take without having first gone to confession ad done penance. Which, coincidentally, is what we are supposed to do before taking communion in the case of many sins anyway. He is just making a point to parishoners who may not have been fully aware of the Church's stance on things to take that into account. His delivery may be blunt and somewhat harsh, but that doesn't change the validity of his point from a religious perspective.

 

:thumb:That is what I was trying to say, Pep.

I voted for Obama and I will still take communion and still believe I have committed no sin for casting my vote. Some people better quit their harsh judgements or they may not like the way that Christ judge them.

I voted for Obama and I will still take communion and still believe I have committed no sin for casting my vote. Some people better quit their harsh judgements or they may not like the way that Christ judge them.

 

 

This is just one whack job of a Priest. Let them all follow his lead and see how many churches stay open.

What if the priest had said this about someone who had voted for a candidate strongly in favor of the death penalty, would you feel the same? Do you have a problem with the priest saying that anyone supporting abortion is in essence condoning a grievous sin involved in the termination of life? What if he were to say the same about the death penalty? That is traditionally a huge selling point for conservatives.

 

 

I do not understand why so many people are getting bent out of shape when a priest openly voices the Church's stance on social issues.

 

In essence much of what I am asking here is whether people are upset because the priest spoke out on the Church's teaching or rather because it was directly related to someone that many people felt passionate about when the voted for him.

What if the priest had said this about someone who had voted for a candidate strongly in favor of the death penalty, would you feel the same? Do you have a problem with the priest saying that anyone supporting abortion is in essence condoning a grievous sin involved in the termination of life? What if he were to say the same about the death penalty? That is traditionally a huge selling point for conservatives.

 

 

I do not understand why so many people are getting bent out of shape when a priest openly voices the Church's stance on social issues.

 

In essence much of what I am asking here is whether people are upset because the priest spoke out on the Church's teaching or rather because it was directly related to someone that many people felt passionate about when the voted for him.

 

I struggle seeing how voting for someone who is pro_choice is the same a committing abortion. The CC is pro-life, fine then work to reduce unwanted pregnancy and abortions, and the parishioners shouldn't choose abortion for themselves. But to tell people they have sinned by casting a vote . . . I don't know. I don't think the president performs abortions nor do I think there will be any legislation that will come before him one way or another. The only impact will be on the judges, and then it will be their conscience not his. A vote has now become a sin - wow

I struggle seeing how voting for someone who is pro_choice is the same a committing abortion. The CC is pro-life, fine then work to reduce unwanted pregnancy and abortions, and the parishioners shouldn't choose abortion for themselves. But to tell people they have sinned by casting a vote . . . I don't know. I don't think the president performs abortions nor do I think there will be any legislation that will come before him one way or another. The only impact will be on the judges, and then it will be their conscience not his. A vote has now become a sin - wow

My understanding is that if you consciously facilitate the commission of a sin, then you are committing a sin. Obama has pledged to sign the Freedom of Choice Act as soon as it hits his desk, so the impact of Obama's election may reach far beyond his selection of a couple of Supreme Court justices.

 

Did the German soldiers who followed lawful orders to load Jews onto trains bound for concentration camps and ultimately to their deaths commit sins? If so, then what is the difference? Obama's election will result in an increased number of abortions if he keeps his promises and Republicans fail to block the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act.