Wherein the Bishop of Black Duck Gives Pastoral Care to a Pro-Abortion 'c'atholic Politician

Fr Zed has some thoughts on the CDF letter, Pelosi's statement, and the letter Abp Cordileone SHOULD have written!

From Fr Z's Blog

On 7 May 2021, the Prefect of the CDF, Card. Ladaria, sent a Letter to Archbp. Gomez, currently President of the USCCB.  The letter addresses the issue of the formation of a national policy about Communion for public figures who support and promote moral evils.

Ladaria’s letter is not all that it could be (as Fr. Murray pointed out).  It isn’t really all that much, as a matter of fact.  It repeats – and this is not bad – what has been said before.  That said, constant repetition without subsequent action demonstrates weakness or … worse.    Incessant reference to dialogue, when for decades with the same people dialogue has been entirely fruitless, is tantamount to Samuel Beckett’s oft quoted phrase:

All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

When it comes to bringing these public figures around by dialogue, the US bishops are getting better and better at failing.

The other day pro-abortion Nancy Pelosi told a reporter who asked about her Archbishop’s (Cordileone) letter concerning Communion and support of abortion:

“I think I can use my own judgment on that but I’m pleased with what the Vatican put out on that subject. Did you read that?”

Dialogue isn’t going to cut it with the likes of Pelosi and Biden.  Not by itself.

Archbp. Cordileone responded to Pelosi’s remark with a statement.  He repeated what Pelosi already knows, the number of the unborn who did not come to light because of abortion.  Just before the end of his statement he also repeated what Card. Ratzinger wrote in 2004 to US Bishops (which McCarrick lied about):

[Ratzinger] goes on to say in that letter that, if these dialogues

prove to be fruitless, then, out of respect for the Catholic belief of what it means to receive Holy Communion, the bishop must declare that the individual is not be admitted to Communion.

However, Cordileone concludes:

Speaker Pelosi’s positive reaction to Cardinal Ladaria’s letter, then, raises hope that progress can be made in this most serious matter.

With due respect to His Excellency, if Nancy Pelosi is pleased with what Ladaria wrote to Archbp. Gomez, that must give us pause.   If Fishwrap’s Madame Defarge is pleased with Ladaria’s letter, we should hope for a better letter in the near future.

We will agree that dialogue has to continue.   At the same time other means should be applied.  Maybe… maybe… Cordileone is establishing the groundwork.

Here’s is another way of approaching pro-abortion catholic pols beyond “sola sermocinatio“.

The esteemed Bishop of Black Duck, Most Rev. Jude Noble, would surely write the following to the notorious pro-abortion Mayor of his See’s city.

The Honorable
Nanette Harry
Mayor of Black Duck

Your Honor,

You recently made a statement reported by the press in which you said that you would “make up your own mind” about receiving Holy Communion even after having been instructed multiple times about supporting the evil of abortion.

Your recent statement has brought me to make up my mind.

Given your unswerving support of and promotion of abortion, and given your apparent unwillingness to change your position and make public reparation for the scandal you have caused, in my role as your bishop and in accordance with Can. 915 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, I herewith admonish you, Mayor Harry, not to present yourself for Holy Communion within the Diocese of Black Duck.

I have also made a public statement about the same.

Moreover, I have issued a directive, also made public, to all the priests serving in the diocese that they are not to admit you to Holy Communion until after such a time as you make a public statement that you regret all your efforts to promote the grave evil of abortion and that you shall endeavor to make some kind of reparation for the damage that you have done.

As your bishop, I also admonish you not to receive Holy Communion anywhere outside this diocese.

I ask my brother bishops everywhere to respect my decision on this matter.

Because you, as Mayor of Black Duck, are a national figure, I invite all my brother bishops of this nation to help me in my pastoral concern on your behalf.   I ask them to defend the Church’s teaching, uphold the Canon Law, and correct among the faithful any false notions your history of support for abortion may have fostered.

I am available to speak with you in private about this matter, to explain in detail why I am doing this and what it means.  Do not hesitate to contact me if you would like counsel about how to make reparation for your past public action in support of such a great moral evil.   I will also continue to speak in public about this matter.

Mayor Harry, for years I have faithfully urged you, with hope encouraged, and in charity pled that you to alter your stance on procured abortion.  Dialogue alone is no longer sufficient in itself.  My duty before the Savior, before the flock entrusted to me by the Church, and before your own soul, requires both the above and what follows.

I will pray for you every day and take on a penance for your intention.  I have invited all the priests of the diocese to do the same, in their own way.

Assuring you of my good will and prayerful best wishes, I am your devoted shepherd in Christ,

+ Jude Noble
Bishop of Black Duck