Good Job, Your Excellency... Now What?

Catholic Online ran a great article regarding the appointment of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sibelius to the cabinet spot of Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. The article included a statement from Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas which expresses both his objective criticism of the Governor and her accomplishments while in office. Moreover, he expresses deep pastoral concern for her soul and the affect her stance on abortion, coupled with her public office, has had and continues to have on the Church and Catholic teaching.

She is a Catholic, yet strives for the legalization of abortion. The Archbishop in very clear terms illustrates the obvious contradiction of Sibelius’ principles. He even publicly denounced her pro-abortion agenda back in May of last year and asked her to not present herself for Holy Communion. He lamented that so many Catholics—VP Joe Biden, House Speaker Pelosi, and a number of congressmen—who hold positions high up in the government have similar agendas.

I must commend the Archbishop’s open and bold statements in defense of the moral and natural laws and of the many children and mothers who are threatened by abortion. Yet I cannot help wonder when the next step will be taken. When will he and the other Catholic bishops step forward and publicly impose censures upon these public figures? These “Catholic” political leaders say they are Catholic; but in very grave aspects of their lives and public persona they are in no way Catholic. In fact, these figures are not Catholic, but Protestant. They interpret law and Scripture the way they want to see it and no authority has a “right” to tell them different.

If a Catholic—any Catholic but especially one in a high position of authority—not only permits but promotes ideas which are contrary to the laws and teachings of the Church—and in this case also the natural law—how can we call them Catholic? How can they be allowed to receive Communion and the other Sacraments? Certainly, if they amend their lives and wish to be brought back into “the Fold”, the Church is waiting with outstretched arms.

It is a scandal that they are not publicly punished for their implicitly anti-Catholic agendas. Not only scandal, but it seems to me that this fear of making legitimate sanctions against these people is a form of murder, a murder of the truth.

The public sees these imposters, claiming Catholic affiliation, heedless of the reprimands of their religious leaders—that is, the few leaders that actually do perform their duty as pastors of the Church—and are given the impression that Catholic law is of no consequence to its members. Each Catholic can believe what they want regardless of the Church’s teachings, unhindered and without consequence. Why be a Catholic if not to bind oneself to the laws and disciplines of the Catholic Church, the Church founded by Christ?

May God have mercy on our Catholic hierarchy and may we all pray that they perform their duty before God dutifully and with the courage and love of true Charity.

AB