ON THE INAUGURATION OF A CATHOLIC PRESIDENT

Included in today’s bulletin is the statement by Archbishop José Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles which was released last Wednesday. Speaking as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), he expresses the desire of the bishops to work with the new administration on issues of justice and peace. He signals areas of mutual agreement and of disagreement but focuses especially on the issue of abortion, since that is officially the “preeminent priority” of the U.S. bishops. Other issues of social justice are important and pressing, and the bishops of the U.S. criticized President Trump on some of them. But nothing can take precedence over the safeguarding of innocent human life, for without the right to life no other right exists.

Two American cardinals objected to the statement because of its timing, while other bishops expressed strong support. My initial reaction was surprise that it would be issued on inauguration day, but after reading it I thought it was gracious, balanced, and forthright. An obvious concern of the bishops is that President Biden presents himself as a devout Catholic while at the same time promising to implement policies that are intrinsically evil. The Archbishop does not state this, but Biden’s advocacy of abortion on demand, as well as of same-sex marriage, is a scandal that could encourage other Catholics to adopt the same illicit approach to faith. Perhaps this statement is an attempt to mitigate the scandal.

Support for abortion is an issue of salvation. This is reflected in Canon 1398 of the Code of Canon Law, which decrees that “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.” This includes not only the mother but also anyone who was directly involved in making it happen, such as the boyfriend who encouraged it and the parents who paid for it, as well as those who performed it. A latae sententiae excommunication means that it is automatic and does not require a formal declaration by a bishop. Its purpose is to signal the gravity of the crime and to convince the sinner to repent and return to communion with the Church. It applies to those who were aware of the penalty and nevertheless freely chose to commit the crime. It may be remitted by a sacramental confession.

Canon 1398 does not apply to legislators who pass pro-abortion laws. Nevertheless, they are accountable to a higher law: “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” It is a serious sin to promote legalized abortion since it permits and even encourages others to directly attack innocent human life. A Catholic who promotes abortion needs to seek absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion. For this reason, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ruled in a memorandum for the U.S. bishops in 2004 that politicians who promote legal abortion, after having been warned by their bishop, should refrain from Holy Communion and be denied it if they obstinately approach to receive.

Most of us probably pay little attention to statements from the USCCB. I wanted to make this statement easily available to everyone because in two pages I believe that it provides a good orientation for a faith-based approach to important matters of social justice in our country. I also feel a responsibility for mitigating the effects on the moral conscience of Catholics of bad example in public office. I hope you take the opportunity to read Archbishop Gomez’s statement.

FATHER SCOTT