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News Briefs

Bishop bars pro-abortion politicians from Communion

Catholic politicians who vote to support abortion or euthanasia may no longer receive Communion in the La Crosse Diocese until they publicly renounce their positions on those issues, says Bishop Raymond Burke.

"I hereby call upon Catholic legislators, who are members of the faithful in the Diocese of La Crosse, to uphold the natural and divine law regarding the inviolable dignity of all human life.  To fail to do so is a grave public sin and gives scandal to all the faithful," Bishop Burke wrote in a decree published January 8.

"Therefore, in accord with the norm of can. 915, Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion," he stated.

The decree said they may not receive Communion until they publicly renounce their support of these practices.

Bishop Burke posted the decree on the diocese's Web site after previously sending private letters to three Catholic legislators, urging them to vote more in line with their Catholic faith.

The bishop noted that it was his duty to take a stand in this matter, quoting from the Code of Canon Law, No. 383. 

He also referred to the U.S. bishops' document, Living the Gospel of Life:  A Challenge to American Catholics, to further explain the need for his actions.

The bishop implored the faithful to pray that the three local legislators have a change of heart about their public stance on life issues.

Bishop Burke was installed as archbishop of St. Louis in late January.

- Zenit News Agency

Gallup Survey shows teens are pro-life

According to a recent Gallup Youth Survey, most teens (aged 13 to 17) do not consider abortion to be a morally acceptable choice and oppose the use of abortion in most circumstances.

Some 72 percent of American teenagers agree that abortion is morally wrong, while only 26 percent find abortion morally acceptable.

When asked, 32 percent of teens said abortions should be illegal in all circumstances, and 47 percent said abortions should only be legal under certain circumstances.  Less than one in five (19 percent) say abortion should always be legal.

Almost twice as many teens thought abortions should never be legal, compared to adults, only 17 percent of whom say that should be the case.

About 55 percent of adults say abortion ought to be legal under certain circumstances, while some 26 percent of adults in the U.S. say abortion should always be legal.

As is the case with adults, churchgoing teens are more likely to agree that abortion ought to be illegal or only legal in rare circumstances.

Teens who do not attend church are more likely to find abortion morally acceptable.  Only 12 percent of churchgoing teens say abortion is morally acceptable, compared with 38 percent who do not attend church.

Churchgoing teenagers are much more likely (40 percent to 26 percent) to believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

The findings mirror other research of recent years showing that teens are more pro-life than adults.

The Gallup Survey was conducted in August, 2003, surveying 517 teens.

- LifeNews.com