U.S. Bishops Address Catholic Politicians and Voters
 

2. Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. - How to Tell a Duck From a Fox
In his weekly column (14 April 2004) for the Denver Catholic Register, Archbishop Chaput warns Catholic voters that not all politicians claiming to be Catholic, act like Catholics in office, particularly in legislating against human life.

3. Bishop Samuel J. Aquila - 3rd Sunday of Easter, April 25, 2004
In view of Catholic politicians claiming to believe one thing while publicly supporting another, Bishop Aquila, of Fargo, North Dakota, presents the Church's teaching on the proper relationship between our faith and professional life.

4. Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan - On the Duties of Catholic Politicians and Voters
In a Pastoral Letter to his Diocese (1 May 2004), Bishop Sheridan of Colorado Springs clearly states that not only Catholic politicians who advocate abortion, illicit stem cell research, euthanasia, and/or homosexual marriage, but those who vote for them, "jeopardize their salvation" and may not receive Holy Communion until they have repented of their sin and confessed it in the Sacrament of Penance.

5. Bishop Thomas Wenski - Politicians and Communion
Bishop Wenski, the coadjutor bishop of Orlando Florida, has published a pastoral statement (3 May 2004) in which he compares the position of some Catholic politicians, (personally opposed to abortion, but don't want to impose their views on others,) to the stance of Pontius Pilate, who was personally opposed to Christ's crucifixion.

6. The Most Reverend John J. Myers - A Time for Honesty
In a Pastoral Statement, printed in The Catholic Advocate (5 May 2004), the archdiocesan newspaper, Archbishop John Myers of Newark, wrote, "That some Catholics, who claim to believe what the Church believes, are willing to allow others to continue directly to kill the innocent is a grave scandal." Covered in his Statement were the personal and communal aspects of faith, the correct development of conscience and the nature of dissent, the meaning and purpose of the Eucharist, the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, and the grave injustice of abortion.

7. Most Reverend John Vlasny - Public Dissenters Should Themselves Refrain From Communion
In the 6 May 2004 issue of the Catholic Sentinel, Archbishop Vlasny, of the Portland, Oregon, addressed the problem of "reception of Holy Communion by those who stand in public opposition to church teaching" on abortion and other moral issues. They should themselves refrain from receiving Communion, rather than approaching the altar, since they are not living in communion with the Church.

8. Most Reverend Elden F. Curtiss - The Candidacy of John Kerry: A Dilemma for Catholics
In a pastoral letter of 7 May 2004, Archbishop Curtiss refuted the specious argument that a Catholic politician may have personal moral beliefs based on Church teaching, and yet support legislation directly to the contrary, as if that were required by the "separation of Church and State."

9. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick - If the World Loves You
In a statement dated 13 May 2004, Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington DC, demonstrates the impropriety of "pro-choice" Catholic politicians receiving Holy Communion, while placing the responsibility on them not to approach the Sacrament.

10. Cardinal Dulles on Communion and Pro-Abortion Politicians
Cardinal Dulles, Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, shared with ZENIT what important steps need to be taken to defend human life, protect the sacraments, uphold the teachings of the Church and respond to pro-abortion politicians.

11. Most Reverends John F. Donoghue, Robert J. Baker, and Peter J. Jugis - Worthy to Receive the Lamb: Catholics in Political Life and the Reception of Holy Communion
On 4 August 2004, the Archbishop of Atlanta and the Bishops of Charleston and Charlotte declared that "Catholics serving in public life espousing positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, especially those running for or elected to public office, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in any Catholic church within our jurisdictions."

12. Bishop Robert J. Carlson - The Responsibility To Have a Well Informed Faith Life
In a recent bulletin to his diocese (August 2004), the Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, declared that "opposition to abortion binds every Catholic under pain of mortal sin and admits of no exceptions." Catholics need to have their consciences formed not by popular opinion or an article in a newsmagazine, but by Scripture and the teaching of the Church.

13. Most Reverend John F. Donoghue - On Conscientious Voting
In a Letter of 16 September 2004, to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Archbishop Donoghue urged all Catholics, to vote their conscience in the General Election, and in all elections, and to form their conscience in light of the Word of God. In particular, there must be no formal cooperation with evil, by voting for a candidate who supports abortion (or other policy violating human life) precisely because he/she supports abortion.

14. Bishop Rene Henry Gracida - A Twelve Step Program for Bishops
The Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi, Texas, outlines a schema (published 4 October 2004) in which Bishops may remedy the crisis in which politicians, professing the Catholic Faith in theory while opposing it in practice, may be reconciled or disciplined by the Church.

15. Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke - On Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good
Archbishop Burke, of St. Louis, addresses the dichotomy between the faith that many profess and the practice of their daily lives, with a particular concern for Catholic politicians and voters. They risk their eternal salvation by refusing to uphold the inviolability of the human person.

16. Most Reverend John J. Myers - The Moral Choices Faced by Catholic Voters
Archbishop Myers of Newark, in an article originally published in The Wall St. Journal (17 September 2004), examined the question of what "proportionate reason" could justify Catholics in voting for pro-abortion candidates. No other issue in American civil life bears comparison with the annual death of "1.3 million yearly abortions plus the killing that would take place if public funds were made available for embryo-destructive research."

17. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap - Divided Hearts: Americans, Religion and National Policy
Archbishop Chaput of Denver shows the fallacy of arguing that Catholics are violating the separation of Church and State, when they try to impose their religious views on others. It ignores history, that religion has inspired political action in this country from the beginning, and provided the "ideals that make us a nation and a people, rather than just a mob of individuals."

18. Most Reverent Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap - Faith and Patriotism
In a column published in the New York Times, 22 October 2004, Archbishop Chaput raises the question of why people who support permissive abortion laws may impose their views on society, but those who oppose these laws may not.

19. Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, D.D. - You Will Know the Truth and the Truth Will Set You Free
In a Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, Bishop Aquila, observes that many Catholics are more influenced by popular culture than by the teachings of Jesus Christ, an anomaly reflected in their conduct as voters and public officials. They have an inadequate understanding of the Faith, which the Bishop hopes to remedy by addressing "five areas of confusion in the hearts and minds of some of the faithful."