Archbishop’s rebuke of Sebelius

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann is demanding that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius not receive Communion (5/10, A-1, “Sebelius draws a church leader’s rebuke”). Where was the church with these demands when priests all over the country were sexually abusing children? They were enabling them to continue the abuse, and allowing them to partake in communion.

As a former Catholic I’m saddened that the church continues this kind of hypocrisy. It is this hypocrisy that drove me away from the church, but not my faith. As a woman, one can only wonder if the church would have protected the abusive priests had they been women.

Gov. Sebelius was elected to represent the people of Kansas, not the Catholic Church. I’m thankful that she can separate her faith from government. And I’m grateful that there are many faiths that value women and value the separation of church and state.

Kathy Cook
Shawnee

Archbishop Naumann is to be praised for his efforts to pastorally counsel Gov. Sebelius in regard to her unwavering support for abortion rights. He sees clearly that such actions conflict with her claimed Catholic faith.

His decision to publicly request that she abstain from Holy Communion is not a political one but a spiritual one. Gov. Sebelius is free to advocate any policy she wants as a chief executive of the Sunflower State. However, she is not also free to claim to be Catholic when such policies so pointedly contradict the fundamental teachings of Catholicism.

That some, perhaps most, bishops lack the wherewithal to act as Archbishop Naumann finally has done is no discredit to him. The inaction of other shepherds discredits them and leads others to the never-never land of faith without conviction — the same place the governor seems to reside — until now, when she is forced to choose between a timeless teaching or an expedient political path.

Michael Lehr
Holt, Mo.

As a lifelong Catholic I am sad when I see my archbishop attacking Gov. Sebelius and asking her not to take Communion until she publicly repudiates her support for pro-choice rights. I am against abortion, but I am also against the archbishop publicly attacking Catholic political leaders.

Most Catholics go to church to be close to God and not to hear a political sermon.

Dan Lykins
Topeka

Archbishop Naumann’s attack on Gov. Sebelius is scandalous. Naumann’s inability to differentiate support for safe abortions being legal, under certain conditions, from support for abortion itself is unbelievable in the context of a tradition that counted angels on the head of a pin.

Surely his political bullying disqualifies his organization from tax-exempt status.

Tom Gould
Kansas City

Comments

[T. Hanson]

"If Luther had done that, we wouldn't have this whole Protestant mess - and the Catholic Church may have instituted some of their long overdue reforms a little sooner than the Catholic Reformation." -Kevin

"Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us may do so by letter."
-Martin Luther 1517.

I know this is a day late, but I need to point out that Luther did not want to secede from the Church. He wanted to set a debate, regarding certain practices in the Church that needed to be addressed.

The 95 Thesis was nailed to the door of the Church not as an attack, but this door was used to pass information to students as a modern day kiosk is on college campuses.

The Church on the other hand took his request for a debate as a personal attack and made the big deal out of it. This and the general resentment people were having with the Church lead to the split off.

[Burton]

Catholics have the freedom to express the truth as they see it, but preaching the truth is not the same as coercing the truth.

Is it prudent for Catholic leaders and teachers to choose one issue above all others and approve without discrimination any person or law that labels itself pro and condemn any person or law that can be labeled anti?

Why not just simplify things and say Democrats are bad and Republicans are good? Catholics may not in good conscience vote for a Democrat or hold office as a Democrat!

This seems to be far from the way Benedict XVI would teach and act. Benedict presents the Truth in a way that reveals its beauty and reason and proportion; and, as a good shepherd, he invites (rather than coerces) us to follow.

Personally I am against abortion because it is killing. I am also against killing in war and in capital punishment. Catholic teaching is very clear on these issues but it is not coercive.

[KevinS]

Sure, leaving the church if you don't agree with them is one option - worked for Martin Luther and Henry VIII. Another option is to stay with the church, and work to bring yourself and the church closer together. If Luther had done that, we wouldn't have this whole Protestant mess - and the Catholic church may have instituted some of their long overdue reforms a little sooner than the Catholic Reformation. I, for one, believe that there are still changes that need to be made, and am not ready to give up on my church yet. I'm sticking with it - and letting the church bureaucracy know when they've stepped out of line.

[kcstar_is_one_sided]

theist -

The Bishop didn't tell her which way to vote about different issues. He just told her not to take communion if she was not going to follow church teaching.

If you were a business owner and told your employee that he couldn't park in spaces right in from of the store, and he did it anyway, even after continual warnings, I suspect that even you would reprimand him. Guess what, if that employee didn't follow the rules, he'd be asked to leave.

I continually find it humorous that those who know nothing about the Catholic Church, it's teachings, etc are always the first to either worry about what Church teaching is, or comment about how it functions.

[solomon]

Good evening a theist,

The gov is a member of a church that takes a higher role in her life than any vote from Kansans. She can't have it both ways and you have no right to say her church should allow her to. If you don't believe in a church doctrine your comment holds no valid stance.

Not a statement about your disbelief, which you have every right to.

[a theist]

When a religious leader attempts to influence an elected leader with the myths of his or her religion it becomes a matter for the concern of all. If she has put her salvation at risk by supporting abortion, the bishop has put his precious tax-empt status on the line by attempting to influence (extort) an elected official.

[a theist]

When a religious leader attempts to influence an elected leader with the myths of his or her religion it becomes a matter for the concern of all. If she has put her salvation at risk by supporting abortion, the bishop has put his precious tax-empt status on the line by attempting to influence (extort) an elected official.

[kcstar_is_one_sided]

KATMAN - you make no sense.

[jack]

Which teachings of "The Church"? My guess is any church that demands all their teachings being totally followed, by all, at all times, will soon be an empty building.

[Rogue]

Seems kind of simple to me, if you don't obey they rules of the club expect to be kicked out, or if you don't to obey the rules of the club, quit. Thats not to tough is it?

[solomon]

Throughout history clergy has denied people communion for various reasons deemed immoral. This is nothing new, and it is of no business of the media or non-catholics.

KATMAN,

Off thread; I hope you get a chance to watch the latest "Real Sports" on HBO. It has a story abouot horses for food.

[katman]

Throughout history, how much wrong has been done in the name of God? Both Archbishop Naumann and Reverend Wright have continually overstepped their bounds. The Church here recently instructed parishioners not to view Bodies Revealed. Years ago when I was a youngster, the Church announced movies and books not to see or read.

A separation of Church and state is vital to the future needs of the people. And, we need both.

KATMAN

[kcstar_is_one_sided]

What a bunch of garbage. If you do not like the teaching of the church, then find another church. This is exactly what the bishop is saying and he is certainly within his right to not only rebuke the governor, but also to deny her communion.

She can believe whatever she wants, however, if she wants to take part in communion in a catholic church, she has to play by the church's rules. If you don't like what the Catholic Church has to offer, fine, see ya. But you can't have it both ways. To want that is to be childish.

Thanks for what I'm sure is a fair representation of letters to the editor KC STar, as usual your bias shows.