Is it finally time to excommunicate them all?

The latest brush-up between a Roman Catholic bishop and a "Catholic" politician who believes that he knows more about church teaching than the Church herself, raises once again the question often discussed among Catholics on the street but never mentioned in the public debate.

Excommunication.

The word itself seems to beg the question. Isn't it some archaic action of the "Pre-Vatican II" Church? Aren't we past all this now that Catholics have been mainstreamed into modern society? And what's the big deal, anyhow? Its only about abortion. And the Church leaders just buried Senator Edward Kennedy with all the pomp and circumstance of a hero's funeral? So what is the big deal about his son Patrick attacking the Church for not quietly taking her seat in the back of the bus and accepting the health care plan proposed by the Democrat party?

Thomas J. Tobin, the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence responded to the criticism with a blistery comment of his own.

“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals."

Bishop Tobin pointed out that

"Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the State of Rhode Island. I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state.”

The increased aggressive behavior by Catholic politicians to not only publicly oppose basic church teachings on human rights has escalated over the last year and a half since the publication of the pre-election pamphlet by the USCCB on the responsibility of Catholics in the voting and exercising their civil rights. We all recall Biden and Pelosi attempting to instruct their bishops on Catholic moral teaching. While they showed themselves the fools they are, the media gave them cover and many bishops unfortunately ran for the tall grass. Their collective failure to uniformly use these "teaching moments" would come to haunt them in a big way.

Obama and his dissident Catholic allies made strategic use of their high profile Catholic supporters in getting more of the Catholic vote and neutralizing the previously effective grassroots get out the vote campaigns by pro-lifers in the past two elections. Now with the debate over health care raising the omen of taxpayer abortions, subsidized abortion care by government fiat, and the conflict such laws will create for Catholic doctors and hospitals, the failed efforts of the USCCB to call these politicians and pro-abortion Catholics to account become even more significant.

And do not forget the debacle at Notre Dame this past May.

So what about the state of Patrick Kennedy's soul given his unbridled support for killing unborn children?

And what about the state of the souls of the many Catholic senators, congressmen, governors, state legislators, and cabinet secretaries who have consistently supported and voted in favor of abortion funding, pro-abortion measures, and against even the most pitiful efforts to limit or reduce the need for abortion?

There are currently 161 Catholics presently serving in the Congress. Only 26 have 100 percent pro-life voting records, while 28 have a zero percent rating. Sixty-five have less than a 20 percent pro-life rating and 75 have accepted donations from pro-abortion lobbying groups. One can check for a particular member of congress here.

Then there are the various incidents over the past two years wherein prominent "Catholic" politicians acted contrary to the law that requires we protect the dignity of innocent human life. Thee events range from simply endorsing legislation to pushing through funding. One could recite a litany of actions by these politicians, all of which scandalize the Faithful and are acts that directly cooperate with objective evil.

So I raise the question once again. Is it not time to directly address the scandal?
U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops in “Living the Gospel of Life” states clearly:

No one, least of all someone who exercises leadership in society, can rightfully claim to share fully and practically the Catholic faith and yet act publicly in a way contrary to that faith.

If we believe in the teachings of the Church, and these teachings are nothing more than the exposition of the natural law, then those who scandalize the Faith must be called account for the sake of their immortal souls. For our concern is not simply with the protection of the innocent, it is also that none may perish in sin. If we really care about these politicians, then we do not want them to suffer the loss of their eternal souls.

So what are the bishops waiting for?

It has been 36 plus years since Roe v. Wade. We all know the travesty of that decision. 50,000,000 dead babies so far. Perhaps it is time to put aside the private conversations and the hopeful polite dialogue, Perhaps the bishops should realize that many of them have been played for chumps. This Congress is poised to destroy the Catholic hospital network. It is angling to force the Church underground. Now is not the time to be reserved. It is the time for action.

The bishop of a diocese is the shepherd responsible for the souls of the faithful, whether they be the saints of the sinners. Sinners generally need more attention and their return to the flock is met with great rejoicing. It is up to the bishops to tell the Bidens, Peolis, Pastors, Grijalvas, and their cohorts that the gates of Heaven are closed to them unless they repent of the grave sins against life.

If they do not care, then we have done all we can do. Otherwise, we may act to bring about some real conversion.

Pope John Paul II's 'Gospel of Life' teaches that abortion is the greatest evil attack on innocent, defenseless life. It is an attack on humanity, on goodness truth and beauty. Only if we respond to the attack on innocent human life with prayer, sacrifice and action, can we end it in our nation. The Bishops need to realize that now is the time.

We may not get another chance.