Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., spoke this week to the Register about New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to make abortion on demand, all the way up to birth, a “fundamental right” in New York state law.
Cuomo has tied his abortion expansion to a women’s-equality bill, but Bishop Murphy, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the other bishops in the New York State Catholic Conference warn that Cuomo’s plan could not only make New York the abortion capital of the world, but potentially might even force Catholic hospitals, institutions and licensed health-care providers to close their doors.
Bishop Murphy, please share with our readers your thoughts about Gov. Cuomo’s plans to expand legal abortion and the stakes for life, religious freedom and the Catholic Church in New York.
First, though, may I make a more philosophical observation? At the State of the State address, the governor introduced this as part of his “progressive agenda.” When he addressed these plans, he became very outspoken. Three times he shouted to the crowd, “Because it’s her body; it’s her choice!” to thunderous applause. This is very disturbing. Thinking through what he is saying, whether he meant it or not, I am convinced that the governor is espousing a position that excludes God.
Second, it is a radical position that is a formula for the destruction of social relationships. Are we so sovereign over our individual bodies that God the Creator has nothing to do with how we use our bodies? How we respect them? How we care for them?
And in a society where everyone’s dominion over his or her body is so absolute, can we ever recognize that there are social relationships without which we cannot achieve a fully human flourishing? We become monads with no intrinsic mutual responsibility to help protect and build up human dignity.
This may seem abstract, but it illustrates what is happening: A false premise, absolute control over my body with no reference to God or neighbor, leaves us each isolated from one another and thus at risk in society. Thus the governor — and any governor or president or political leader — has to step in and arbitrarily define the legal expansion or limits of human actions and human activities.
What challenges do we Catholics face if Cuomo’s abortion agenda becomes law?
This bill is, of course, very important to all faithful Catholics. But I think we need to see it as a challenge not alone to Catholics, but a real threat to the good of society as a whole.
The acceptance of abortion in our society is one of the major factors in the overall coarsening of our contemporary American scene. There is an interconnectedness between abortion and the many other factors in society that are anti-human life: from gun violence to exploitation of women to the trivialization of sexuality and the social upheaval that same-sex “marriage” creates, etc.
What are the threats to human life and dignity in Cuomo’s women’s-equality agenda?
Specific to this proposal of the governor, we find more extreme threats, in the sense that we become a state where late-term abortions become part of a package of “women’s rights.” This offers those who perform late-term abortions a new haven, in contrast to neighboring states, where there would remain some restrictions on their practice. Do we want that?
Do we also want a state where non-physicians may perform abortions?
We speak — and we must speak — about the protection of young people in a violent society. Does this really extend protection to the young woman who finds herself in an unplanned pregnancy and is being offered only abortion by an RN or an LPN? This is what I fear.
What happens is that these kinds of extreme positions create a society where the false premise of permitting the taking of human life demands more and more extreme legislation that has to cover more and more bizarre and tragic situations that flow from the fundamentally false premise that the taking of human life is now a “right.”
How will Cuomo’s bill challenge the religious freedom of the Church and Catholic institutions?
This is, of course, a further blow at the freedom of religious practice and a further undermining of the principle of subsidiarity, which is under tremendous attack today. The role of regulatory agencies in place of the legislature is a great practical challenge on the state and federal level.
Practically, it could mean the [state’s] ability to revoke operating certificates or withhold Medicaid dollars from our hospitals, of which this diocese has six on Long Island. There is the risk that the government could extend its control by finding any of our ministries, schools, charities, etc. discriminatory because we cannot support or make references to people to exercise this new “right.”
Programs that promote birth over abortion could be at risk. And, in keeping with my overall concern, it is another blow against a pro-life position, making that position officially “unacceptable” or “bigoted” or “intolerant,” a very strange fruit in our society, where the majority of Americans, however they define it, call themselves pro-life.
What should Catholics be doing now to defeat Gov. Cuomo’s abortion expansion in New York?
First, we must educate our own people. The proponents, including the Nassau County district attorney, claim this simply “codifies” Roe v. Wade or existing state law. That is not true. It goes much further, both conceptually and concretely.
It moves us away from those kinds of commonsense restrictions that the majority (of people) who identify as pro-life indicate they prefer: parental notification, informed consent, waiting periods, limitations on late-term abortions and licensing of clinics.
“Pro-choice” politicians used to state they wanted abortion to be “safe, legal and rare.” Even that slogan is outdated, with an obsession to ensure that abortion of every stripe, and at any moment, will be legal. I don’t think the majority of our political leaders want that. We Catholic bishops will do our best to inform our people and rally Catholics and non-Catholics alike to express a preference for laws that safeguard women and children, as well as the common good of society at large. A society can flourish only when it keeps before its eyes that God who creates and sustains it.
As a final comment, what would you hope happens in New York?
I want the best for our state and our people. The governor is a man of many gifts and talents. I pray he uses his considerable capacities in collaboration with the State Senate and Assembly to support the true good of our brothers and sisters, all of whom deserve to have their dignity respected, their rights upheld and their lives free from undue governmental interference.
I pray we might move in the opposite direction — toward a day when we all realize that abortion is the wrong choice for a woman, for her child, for our society and our world.
Peter Jesserer Smith writes from Rochester, New York.
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The Catholic Church is lucky to have such well spoken Cardinals and Bishops who are courageous enough to fight this cause. The trend of the Legislature being sidelined by regulatory agencies means that the public doesn’t get to vote on these issues.
“I pray he uses his considerable capacities in collaboration with the State Senate and Assembly to support the true good of our brothers and sisters, all of whom deserve to have their dignity respected, their rights upheld and their lives free from undue governmental interference.”
I appreciate prayer. I appreciate praying for people, sinners and saints alike. Prayer has enlightened people, turns lives around, saved them and souls as well.
But at some point, you have to stop praying and realize that God gave you hands for ADDITIONAL reasons other than to fold them in prayer.
The Catholic bishops and cardinals in New York so far have only spoken out against gay marriage and abortion. When they actually start publicly banning these people from Communion I’ll start believing they are courageous and committed to their responsibilities. Talk is easy….action is more difficult. I would apply the same criteria to the bishops and cardinals in the Washington, DC area who have an even greater opportunity for setting an example.
RECALL CUOMO!
A public figure, living in sin, pro abortion, pro gay marriage should be, at the very least, prohibited from Communion.
QUOTE:
“VATICAN PAPER PROCLAIMS RIGHT OF CHURCH TO ROLE IN POLITICS. The official
Vatican newspaper had declared in an editorial that ‘the Roman Catholic hierarchy
Had the right and the duty to intervene in the political field to guide its flock’.
It rejected what it termed ‘the absurd split of conscience between the believer
And the citizen’……The Roman Catholic Church is a force that commits and guides
The entire existence of man.”
The Catholic, it went on, may never disregard the teaching and directions of the
church but must inspire his private and public conduct in every sphere of his activity
by the laws, instructions and teachings of the hierarchy.”
As quoted from L’Osservatore Romano, MAY 1960, by David Nasaw.
Excommunicate the bum.
All NY Bishops need to gather their flock to denounce this evil mandate Cuomo is trying to shove down our throats. He and Obama are like two peas in a rotten pod. Prayer can change everything. The unborn child in the womb of the mother is not her body. We all know this as God has given us the technology to see the child at its earliest stage at conception. Pray, fast, speak up for our brothers and sisters in the womb and care for the women in difficult pregnancies. We must be the hands, the feet, the voice for God. Women are not empowered by being able to abort their child. Abortion harms women, kills their child and leaves nothing but a life of regret.We must learn to love them both - the mother and the child. We need to lift these women up to be good mothers, not participators in their child’s death. Abortion - unthinkable!
And so when does the hierarchy take a stand and disinvite Andrew Cuomo from being part of the flock? Either a baby is being killed or it isn’t. Either Cuomo’s right or he is wrong. He is wrong, unrepentant, and proud of it.
Putting it another way, you can pray for potatoes but you have to pick up a hoe.
Isn’t Gov Cuomo Catholic? Why isn’t he formally excommunicated by his bishop? Sad to say but bishops of this generation seem more like mothers than fathers. Communication, dialogue and prayer is not enough. The flock needs discipline as well. Better to be corrected in this life than lose everyhting in the next.
Having been in the pro-life movement since its start I can only make this comment, the church reeps what it sows just like we all do. Cuomo and other supposed Catholics should be publicly excomunicated. Pray yes but as the gospel says, prayer without action? And the church needs to practice what it preaches. Let a miracle happen and see some bishops, priests and others defy the abortion laws and go to jail. Speak truth from the pulpits. Let the government tax the churches. Stand up for the Jesus. Forty years. Wake up. I’m ready to give all I have and spend the rest of my days in jail.
God help us! We are being inundated by “CINO`s”. Those that do not think beyond the shallow,actually believe that it`s OK with the Catholic Church that our innocents be murdered. Why? Because mand that call themselves Catholic,espouse dogma that is NOT CATHOLIC!
Gene Henley
Roman Catholic Judeo Christian
All Catholics need to become very aggressive in fighting this abortion agenda! I am ready to fight against this abortion agenda in any way our Lord asks of me. All Bishops, clergy and layman need to STOP being polite to these evil minded politicians!!! This fight needs to be the center of our faith right now!!! The Church needs to perform immediate, endless, aggressive action NOW!!!
I think this was a very weak, and sad response from the Bishop. Even worse, he says “I think the governor is a man of many gifts and talents” when what he should be saying is “The governor is supporting and spreading an intrinsic evil. They talk about this stuff on the Vericast podcast show how Catholics are too afraid to speak the truth and too interested in being pleasant.
by the way, nice job by NC Register for reporting on this! Thank you for what you guys do.
What are those “additional reasons” that you speak of, DJ?
Jan. 18th, I cannot even begin to explain how all this really frightens me. And the thing is, the most aggressive promoters of abortion, of the killing of the unborn, are Catholics in good standing with the Church…doing the work of satan and receiving Holy Communion. Cardinal Dolan said he will never refuse the Eucharist to anyone because that would be to politicize the Eucharist. Would he not refuse the Eucharist to one who promotes pedophilia? Would he not refuse the Eucharist to a mass murderer? Those who publicly and aggressively promote the killing of human babies in the womb are involved deeply in mass murder…and yet, they are affirmed in this grave evil by receiving no consequences and are also deprived the catalyst for conversion…this is all so unbelievable!!! I just don’t understand how it can continue…honestly!! It breaks my heart…
To slow the relativism amongst Church members and stop confusion, it would be very helpful for Cardinals and Bishops to publically excommunicate (ab homine) those politicians and others who call themselves ‘Catholic’ yet publically support the TORTURE and MURDER of innocent unborn babies.
Public excommunication would stress the seriousness of this crime against humanity.
By 8 weeks and 2 days: “Touching the embryo elicits squinting, jaw movement, grasping motions, and toe pointing.”
By 9 weeks and 3 days: “The fetus can also grasp an object, move the head forward and back, open and close the jaw, move the tongue, sigh, and stretch.
Nerve receptors in the face, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet can sense light touch.
In response to a light touch on the sole of the foot, the fetus will bend the hip and knee and may curl the toes.”
See “Endowment for Human Development” on the internet.
Burning with saline solution or dismemberment is TORTURE.
If our tax dollars are used to fund abortion, withhold $1 from your NY tax return. Do it openly and with no apologies. Get others to do it.
WHY doesn’t the Bishop and the Cardinal come right out and excommunicate these darn so called Catholic politicians . I cannot stand the Church’s silence to thses guys. why why why? what are they afraid of losing?
we are to condemn the sin and love the sinner BUT we must correct the sinner. someone explain to me why the Church does not speak out directly to the “Catholic” men and women who promote this.
If the Church leaders in New York or Washington are to timid to excommunicate Cuomo, Pelosi, biden, etc all who publicly go against the teachings of the church…then JUST STOP CONTIBUTING MONEY to the new York and Washington areas. Put a note in the collection basket and just state that you will not be supporting the church with money until these politicians of Satan are throw out of the church.
I sing my Pro-life chant toGov.Cuomo “All we are asking is….Let the Child live”(waving my hands)
Posted by Greg C on Friday, Jan 18, 2013 10:47 AM (EDT):Excommunicate the bum.”
***************************************************************
Perhaps the Gov. has already accomplished that by default.
The Bishops should step up and excommunicate Cuomo as they should have done to his father years ago.
Discipline is a form of love, in that there is an attempt to set a person on the right path. Scandal causes many to fall. Please take the proper action and ask yourself what is more important the church or the country?
How is it that New York can vote into office such evil politicians? Anybody that thinks full-term abortions are a woman’s ‘Right’ is evil, there is no other way to explain or express this kind of mindset. Example: The “Partial-Birth Abortion” procedure, used and bragged about, by these so called ‘Butchers’ that are supposedly doctors; that take the Hippocratic Oath to do NO Harm. The so-called-doctor invades the woman’s womb and turns the full-term baby’s tiny feet to bring the baby into a breached position. He then proceeds to pull the baby through the birth-canal until the entire baby is out of the womb except for two inches of the head. Clearly, the baby is already born, but the butcher doctor leaves the head of the baby (2 ) Two inches in the canal, as a technical excuse, that the baby is not yet legally born. He then proceeds to take a scissors and stabs the baby’s neck and sucks the brains out with a vacuum; all the while the baby boy or girl was alive. He killed a perfectly health baby. Cuomo is evil for promoting and insisting that this ‘Horrific Procedure’ is a “Right”. The Cardinal of New York and all the Bishops in New York, for the salvation of their own Souls, must act, not just talk. They must see to it that Andrew Cuomo ( who claims to be Catholic and all the other Catholic politicians that participated in promoting and voting for such a ‘Grave Injustice’) must be Officially Excommunicated Publicly from the Roman Catholic Church. Andrew Cuomo and his elk should not be allowed to come close to the Holy Host until they ‘Renounce Publicly’ the horrific procedure of abortion and that they made a grave mistake and are very, very,sorry for even entertaining that abortion is a ‘Right’. Supporting and voting for and telling a Nation ‘Condoning Killing’ the innocent helpless neighbor and throwing away the miracle of Life; a Gift from God is a ‘Right’?? Not only is Cuomo promoting this horror but you the tax payer in New York is paying for these horrific killings.
Abortion is such a scary issue right now because if the government can convince us that it’s okay to murder an (unborn) human being, then what will they try to convince us of tomorrow? That it’s okay to murder the deaf, blind, autistic? People need to face the truth of what’s really going on here: abortion is the start of something big and dangerous. It’s the slaughtering of an undesirable. Pro-choice supporters may not like my choice of words, but it’s the truth. Abortion has nothing to do with women’s rights or empowerment. It has everything to do with the ridding of undesirables because they’re an inconvenience. The US is headed toward communism and many people - even Christians, sadly - have fallen for this great deception. That is why the president is doing all he can to rid religion - so that there will be no such thing as God’s law and judgment, only that of man. He is also trying very hard to instill socialized medicine because in doing so, the government will have control of our lives. This means forced abortions like what’s happening in China. This means loss of freedom. And many people have fallen for it. We cannot let this happen. I pray every day that people will find God.
I am sorry, but poor job by the NC Register here. The most important question was not asked: “How can the Bishops of New York allow this man to continue to call himself a Catholic without either excommunicating him or taking some other formal and public action to make it clear to the faithful that he is not in good standing with the Church?” Come on!
How is it that New York can vote into office such evil politicians? Anybody that thinks full-term abortions are a woman’s ‘Right’ is evil, there is no other way to explain or express this kind of mindset. Example: The “Partial-Birth Abortion” procedure, used and bragged about, by these so called ‘Butchers’ that are supposedly doctors; that take the Hippocratic Oath to do NO Harm. The so-called-doctor invades the woman’s womb and turns the full-term baby’s tiny feet to bring the baby into a breached position. He then proceeds to pull the baby through the birth-canal until the entire baby is out of the womb except for two inches of the head. Clearly, the baby is already born, but the butcher doctor leaves the head of the baby (2 ) Two inches in the canal, as a technical excuse, that the baby is not yet legally born. He then proceeds to take a scissors and stabs the baby’s neck and sucks the brains out with a vacuum; all the while the baby boy or girl was alive. He killed a perfectly health baby. Cuomo is evil for promoting and insisting that this ‘Horrific Procedure’ is a “Right”. The Cardinal of New York and all the Bishops in New York, for the salvation of their own Souls, must act, not just talk. They must see to it that Andrew Cuomo ( who claims to be Catholic and all the other Catholic politicians that participated in promoting and voting for such a ‘Grave Injustice’) must be Officially Excommunicated Publicly from the Roman Catholic Church. Andrew Cuomo and his elk should not be allowed to come close to the Holy Host until they ‘Renounce Publicly’ the horrific procedure of abortion and that they made a grave mistake and are very, very,sorry for even entertaining that abortion is a ‘Right’. Supporting and voting for and telling a Nation ‘Condoning Killing’ the innocent helpless neighbor and throwing away the miracle of Life; a Gift from God is a ‘Right’?? Not only is Cuomo promoting this horror, but, you the tax payer in New York is paying for these horrific killings.
As every second passes, more unborn die and immorality becomes sanctioned by the state. As every second passes, even more scandal is allowed to occur.
“To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards of men.”
Why doesn’t the State promote OTHER OPTIONS for women with unwanted pregnancies? How about giving the baby up for adoption? With the infertitity epidemic in this country, that would be a welcoming option for infertile couples to have the opportunity to become parents. As Catholics we know that the conception of a child must only happen through the marital act. These women need lots of help from our parishes to see them through their unwanted pregnancies and births. We need to tell women the truth about the effects of abortion on their bodies- permanent infertility, life-long depression, sudden death, and the biggest one of all- the death of their soul!
Weren’t many of the people who voted for Cuomo and other pro-abortion politicians baptized Catholics? All too many Catholic clergy claim that these “Catholics” are merely ignorant of essential Catholic teachings and that they will come around once they are properly educated. The truth is, these “Catholics” know what the teachings of the Church are and THEY DON’T CARE! They are going to follow whatever their “consciences” tell them to do.
Bishop Murphy says, “Rally Catholics”. I hope this means protest marches and excommunication of Cuomo. If this article is as far as it goes, then Bishop Murphy’s words mean nothing. “Actions speak louder than words”.
Why bishop did you not excommunicate Cuomo? Who can he be given the Eucharist?
Don,suggest you reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Specifically reference paragraph 2272, which says that anyone knowingly aiding in obtaining abortions undergoes automatic excommunication. Here is a link: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm
Andrew Cuomo is a lost soul. Does anyone know if he actually attends Mass and goes to communion? People are making the ASSUMPTION that he does and that a public excommunication would mean something to him. In reality he could probably care less.
A public excommunication MIGHT send a signal to weak Catholics that it is not OK to follow the lead of people like Cuomo, Pelosi, Kerry, etc. Then again, if these same people are truly ignorant enough to follow the likes of those three characters and knowingly disobey such clearly defined (and ancient)church teachings, then it’s highly unlikely that they’d be swayed by anything a Bishop says or does.
A woman is a mother the moment she conceives - she and her baby in the womb are two people, not one….killing a baby at any point is murder, whether we can see through the mother to actually see a growing baby or not….I have a bumper sticker that says, “If it’s not a baby, you’re not pregnant”. We, as faithful Catholics and other faithful Christians, MUST do what we can (and always pray), to end this new “form of slavery” where a baby in the womb is not considered to be human, as the slaves were so many years ago. God please help us!
Excommunicate all the public politicians who support the very things the Church is against..START THERE!
Ex communication is a tool the church uses to try to persuade a person in danger of hell to repent and to turn back from their sinful ways. I can’t think of a more clear case for it’s use than this both for the poor governor who is risking prostituting his soul for the pablum of public approval and power as well as for those who are in danger of following his example. And this must be announced in public so that it’s example and the consequences of sin can be clearly seen. Some will not listen but it must be said anyway. And we must pray for their conversion.
Jan. 18th, Robert W., I understand your anger and your passion but we are not called to ‘throw anyone out of the Church’...the Cardinals and Bishops are called upon to correct those who publicly defy the teachings of the Church and urge others to do so…Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden have done this for years, as has Kathleen Sebelius but Sebelius was told by her Bishop not to present herself to receive the Eucharist until she has ‘publicly’ retracted her support for abortion and gone to confession. It is puzzling why Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden and other Catholic politicians who aggressively and publicly stand against the Church and urge others to do the same have not been corrected in the same way. In fact, a while back Nancy Pelosi said that she would have been devastated if this had been done…which means that perhaps her ‘devastation’ would have led to conversion of heart and her soul would have been saved. But as long as she is allowed to believe that she is a Catholic in good standing and is affirmed in her sin, she has no reason to change…and that is very sad. Not only will Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden continue to be responsible for the slaughter of millions of innocent babes in the womb, but so will those who have not given them those consequences for their evil agendas thus denying them a catalyst for conversion of heart…
Our bishops speak eloquently in public address, but where is the animated instruction of the faithful where we need it in the pulpit at Sunday Mass? A note in the bulletin is not sufficient to educate the laity and energize them to take action within their constitutional rights. It is way past high time our pastors dedicated themselves to shepherding their flocks on the moral issues of our day, not once n a while, but regularly so that all parishioners understand why the church must take this stand for the good of all. And if indeed we are to take our faith seriously then we need public example, such as open rebuke and excommunication when necessary for all political leaders who parade their Catholicism as a badge of honor but then engage in action that flies in the face of Catholic doctrine. As long as our bishops do not step out in courage to publicly set the consequences of such actions nothing will change. Actions speak far louder than words. So far, there has been too little action and too much verbiage.
Abortion has already killed the Soul of a Nation. The people are numb and do not seem to care about the future of America. If they did, they would not let Planned Parent-‘Hood’ plant their seeds of evil in the Schools paid for by tax dollars. Also, paid for by tax dollars, the politicians are not only voting to kill the future Americans, but they teach the young minor children, which can be classified as criminal,that normal is the same as objectively disordered. The women and men politicians in America, in the Democrat Party, celebrating the Democrat Platform that promotes permissiveness and the killing of babies are not real men or women.(check out their voting records). There is no description for these women, except to say they have a misguided and ‘faults compassion’ mindset and appear to act like men. Both, the women and men are ‘Objectively Disordered.
The most violent and ultimate abuse is abortion.(The killing of an innocent helpless human-being in the womb.)
This happens when you vote for polititians capable of attached themselves to this abhorrents ideas,let’s say kind of insane and very proud to pass edicts to enforced them,then after all why are we surprised to hear this ? The Cuomo type is the classic caricature of what a christian is. Regardless of any anathema the Bishops could cast against this man, by Cannon Law he already is out of the Fold.
Don took the words out of my mind. Very poor job by the interviewer. The obvious question was not asked—what are the bishops going to do? Are they going to simply talk, or take some action. Stop being scared of being talked badly about in the media and press & take a stand. They don’t like you anyway. I so tired of this timid behavior!
1 Corinthians 5:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[a] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
Andrew Cuomo ” a brother?” Does’t this scripture mean anything to the Bishops and Cardinals? Words aren’t enough. Show some guts. Sharing communion with Cuomo may lead to spiritual consequences for the assembly which chooses to ignore Cuomo’s position on abortion and his “marriage arrangement” Am I wrong?
As a recent convert who was too late to make it into this round of RCIA classes, I totally understand your frustration, everyone, with the bishops for not publicly being more fierce and/or excommunicating.
However, there is another concern that must be balanced: what would happen if he *does* get excommunicated? Well, now he wouldn’t listen to the bishop *at all*, would he? Secondly, it would only make Cuomo a martyr for the pro-choice crowd.
I would strongly prefer him to be excommunicated as he deserves, also, but there is a reason here why that hasn’t happened.
Our politicians these days seem to be hung up on “rights” to push any and all things deemed immoral by the Church and they are doing it with all deliberate speed.These are all “Falsely Conceived Rights”, rights that are
conceived from the bowels of hell itself.Cardinal Dolan listen- the late
and Great Pope Pius XII did not hesitate to excommunicate “Catholics” who
were communists and he “politicized”(as you called it) the Eucharist by
denying them Holy Communion.However I don’t fault Gov.Cuomo as much as I do those church going,communion receiving “catholics” who voted for him in
huge droves as well as Obama who put an “entitlement” under their noses.
Shame,shame on you all.
Excommunication and public penance would be the minimum. Just think Galileo was excommnicated just because he said the earth revolved around the sun. This guy wants open season on the unborn.
@Don.. I agree. Why didn’t NCR ask the hard question? Why not make a public example of some of these politicians by excommunicating them? I cannot believe that Cardinal Dolan would give the Eucharist to a public sinner without some form of public remorse. Is that really true? But for the first time in my life, we have a progressive priest in our parish….using crystal and pottery for the Eucharist, blue vestments for Advent, music during the Eucharistic prayer, skipping washing of hands, adding responsorials, preaching that Mary was an unwed mother! It is very disheartening!! Please…....everyone must pray, pray, pray. We are in dire need of GOD’s intervention! God bless you all!
Excommunicate him, and then Pelosi and then Kerry and work their way on down the line.. its about time our spiritual leaders take a hard stance.
It’s no surprise that he leaves God out of the picture. He is the governor but lives with his girlfriend in her home rather than in the Governor’s mansion. He has no morals or concern for respecting God in any way. I’m sure his dad is not very proud of him.
The governor is a prideful, arrogant man (just like the ‘president’ we are being chastised with in this country. Coumo (Pelosi, Sebillious, and Biden) should be excommunicated PUBLICLY and until this happens…words are just so hollow….
It is my deepest sorrow that I realize that the Catholics that I know, live with as neighbors, attend Mass with are NOT outraged by this governor, or that Senator or this President…. They are the ones that put them into office! They do not care what the Bishops say, politics is their religion and public officials are their gods. I fear for my children.
ENOUGH ALREADY! The Bishops of New York should begin the proper channels all the way to Rome to officially excommunicate Andrew Cuomo. He already excommunicated himself. Are they afraid of Mario Cuomo? Cuomo has done everything to shun the teachings of Christ’s Church for his own political gain. He is an anti-Christ. The battle lines are drawn. Please kick him out of the Church and humble him! By the way, I do pray that the Governor comes to his senses,
Cuomo should be excommunicated. The Church should stand up and say enough is enough!!!
Where oh where are our Catholic Church Leaders? Their silence on the Cuomo efforts to liberalize abortion is deafening. There was a book written by a Fr. Michael Dolan, “Where Have All the Catholics Gone?” published by I Universe that addressed a number of current moral issues. A very worthwhile read! Why are Catholic Church leaders so unwilling to speak out and show leadership? Do they really believe if they remain quiet everything will be alright? Silence of the part of the Church at times when religion and morality are under attack only embolden those who would destroy both. Where have all the Catholics gone; I can tell you that they are waiting, hoping and praying for their leaders to have the moral courage to speak out in a loud, clear, unified way to say this is wrong and that Governor Cuomo, a self declared Catholic, is attacking the unborn and their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Please Church Leaders, do God’s work and “live” your vocations.
The New York legislation sickens me. The precious life inside of a woman’s body is not a part of her body. It has its own DNA from the moment of conception. I have pondered how to describe the new life’s relation to its mother’s body and the best description, other than mother and child, I can come up with is that the child is a guest in its mother’s body to whom the mother owes a sacred duty of hospitality. Maybe some of you can help me out.
As to when life begins, science provides no definitive answers; only theories. Science cannot even answer the basic question of how organic matter emerged from inorganic matter.
What motivated me to write tonight? Before reading about Gov Cuomo’s agenda, I was praying for my friend Anna Katherine, her husband Chris and their baby Mercy who was born yesterday 2 1/2 months premature and is struggling for life. AK and Chris badly want to give the gift of life and for this child to live. it is unfathomable that this child, who is alive and will probably make it, would have been eligible for abortion because it is an inconvenient part of her mother’s body. Please pray for Anna Katherine, Chris and baby Mercy.Pray for Governor Cuomo also.
I agree whole heartedly that when the Bishops decide to publically excommunicate these so called “Catholic” politicians that’s when I will start to believe they are serious. Before that, it seems to me they are just blowing smoke.
So when is Cardinal Dolan having another social event with Cuomo? Why isn’t he in the major media blasting this Evil. Leading Demonstrations against this Evil?
Gov. Cuomo a Cathoilc ? Laughable. Bishop Murphy a leader of the faithful? I think not. Our Church leaders need to stand up for God and stop worrying about public opinion. Gov. Cuomo should be denied the Eucharist at the least. It is the Bishop’s responsibility to serve God, not the state. If he needs a refresher course, let him read Matt 10: 16-33.t
WOE! to you New York, you will be punished by God is this becomes law.
Call out these demons for what they are, finally and at last… Every senseless taking of innocent life (through abortion) is a sacrifice to Satan. Whoever takes part in the murder of these innocent ones, or supports such, needs to be publically excommunicated. The open dialogue is not working and talk is cheap. The bishops need to climb down from their ivory towers and face these demons head on. Publically - Excommunicate and anathema if they support, or practice, abortion!
The Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right hand: until I make those in eminity with you your footstool.
Is Cuomo still receiving Holy Communion? Probably.
If so, publically refuse him.
Excommunicate him.
Or, just keep trashing him with verbal wet noodles. Ouch.
May GOD have mercy on his soul….cuomo….he is in trouble big time.
perhaps it might be insightful, and also a challenge to carefully consider these quotes regarding the sanctity of life.
Quotations from the early Church Fathers on the Sanctity of Human Life
The Didache ca 120 AD
“Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion.” 2:2
“The Way of Death is filled with people who are ... murderers of children and abortionists of God’s creatures.” 5:1-2
The Epistle or Barnabas ca 125 AD
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor more than thy own life. Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion.” 19:5
The Apocalypse of Peter ca 135
“I saw a gorge in which the discharge and excrement of the tortured ran down and became like a lake. There sat women, and the discharge came up to their throats; and opposite them sat many children, who were born prematurely, weeping. And from them went forth rays of fire and smote the women on the eyes. These were those who produced children outside of marriage and who procured abortions.” -26
“Those who slew the unborn children will be tortured forever, for God wills it to so.” -2:264
Clement of Alexandria ca 150-180
“Our whole life can go on in observation of the laws of nature, if we gain dominion over our desires from the beginning and if we do not kill, by various means of a perverse art, the human offspring, born according to the designs of divine providence; for these women who, if order to hide their immorality, use abortive drugs which expel the child completely dead, abort at the same time their own human feelings.” -Paedagogus 2
St. Athenagoras ca 765
“We say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give account of it to God. For the same person, would not regard the child in the womb as a living being and therefore an object of God’s care and then kill it…. But we are altogether consistent in our conduct. We obey reason and do not override it.” -Legatio 35
Tertullian ca 160-240
“For us [Christians] we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter when you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to birth. That is a man which is going to be one: you have the fruit already in the seed.” -Apology 9:6
“They [John and Jesus] were both alive while still in the womb. Elizabeth rejoiced as the infant leaped in her womb; Mary glorifies the Lord because Christ within inspired her. Each mother recognizes her child and is known by her child who is alive, being not merely souls but also spirits.”
-De A ninta 26:4
Nlititicilis Felix ca 180-225
“There are women who swallow drugs to stifle in their own womb the beginnings of a man to be - committing infanticide before they even give birth to the infant.” -Octavius
St. Hippolytus ca 170-236
“Reputed believes began to resort to drugs for producing Sterility and to gird themselves round, so as to expel what was conceived on account of their not wanting to have a child either by a slave or by any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth. Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time.” -Refutation of all Heresies 9:7
Council of Eivira ca 305
“If a woman becomes pregnant by committing adultery, While her husband is absent, and after the act she destroys the child, it is proper to keep her from communion until death, because she has doubled her crime.” -Canon 63
St. Basil the Great ca 330-379
“She who has deliberately destroyed a fetus has to pay the penalty of murder…. here it is not only the child to be born that is vindicated, but also the woman herself who made an attempt against her own life, because usually the women die in such attempts. Furthermore, added to this is the destruction of the child, another murder.” -Letter 188:2
“Moreover, those, too, who give drugs causing abortion are deliberate murderers themselves, as well as those
receiving the poison which kills the fetus.” - Letter 188:2
St. Ambrose of Milan ca 339-397
The wealthy, in order that their inheritance may not be divided among several, deny in the very womb their
own progeny. By use of’ parricidal mixtures they snuff out the fruit of their wombs in the genital organs
themselves. In this way life is taken away before it is born .... Who except man himself has taught us ways of
repudiating children?” -Hexameron
St. Jerome ca 342-420
“They drink potions to ensure sterility and are guilty of murdering a human being not yet conceived. Some,
when they learn that they are with child through sin, practice abortion by the use of drugs. Frequently they
die themselves and are brought before the rulers of the lower world guilty of three crimes: suicide, adultery
against Christ, and murder of an unborn child.” -Letter 22:13
The Apostolic Constitutions ca 380
“Thou shalt not slay the child by causing abortion, nor kill that which is begotten. For everything that is
shaped and his received a soul from God, if slain, it shall be avenged as being unjustly destroyed.” - 7:3
St. John Chrysostom ca 340-407
“Why sow where the ground makes it its care to destroy the fruit? Where there are many efforts at abortion? Where there is murder before the birth? For you do not even let the harlot remain a mere harlot, but make her a murderer also. You see how drunkenness leads to !@#$%, !@#$% to adultery, adultery to murder; or rather something even worse than murder. For I have no real name to give it, since it does not destroy the thing born but prevents its being born. Why then do you abuse the gift of God and fight with His laws, and follow after what is a curse as if a blessing, and make the place of procreation a chamber for murder, and arm the woman that was given for childbearing unto slaughter? -Homily 24 on Romans
For those who would say that the very early Church was silent on the question of abortion, even the few select quotations quoted above from the Church Fathers gives witness to the contrary, I say, Tell it like it is. The real truth for a change!
May God, the Creator of all human life, forgive them this horrific sin….......the killing of babies even up to birth. What can be more evil than this?? 55 million babies killed to date in this country alone…............God have mercy on this nation!! Abortion is the #1 sin in the world today. Gov. Cuomo should be worried….........he WILL stand before Christ when he dies. I pray that he will be converted before it is too late for him….........and I say this for all in the abortion industry. Wake up.
http://WWW.ABORTION—-MY-HEART-WEEPS-TEARS-OF-BLOOD.NET
Isn’t Gov Cuomo Catholic? Why isn’t he formally excommunicated by his bishop in NY? After 40 years and over 56 million babies dead we know dialogue and prayer is not enough, action is needed to correct the murder of innocent children. Why are the Bishops silent? Better to be corrected in this life than burn forever in hell in the next.
I am so sick of the Bishops’ measured responses and promotion of civility when dealing with these issues. Where is the righteous anger directed at this evil? If Jesus made a whip of cords to angrily drive the money changers from the temple, I wonder what he expects the Bishops to do with the likes of Cuomo and other “Catholics” who openly promote the evil of abortion and yet go unchallenged when they present themselves to receive Him in Holy Communion? Why are the sheep so courageous, but the shepherds such cowards? Where are the martyrs? Where are the saints? How long must we wait oh Lord?
I guess that one Sandy was not warning enough!!
There WILL be more!
The public is so easily duped by slogans like ‘The Republican’s War On Women’, ‘A Woman’s right to choose’, what about “the baby’s rights to live?”, that issue never comes into play.
And getting back to “the war on women”, since there’s a fifty fifty chance that baby is female, what greater war on women to killing them is there?
The nansy pansy Republicans should take the gloves off, and come out fighting and the Catholic Bishops should too.
Cuomo and the like needs to be booted out of the religion for what they stand for. IMHO.
Dear Bishop Murphy,
Thank you for all & any information you can give us. This is the saddest time in our lives…our Country going into flagrant immorality & Communism…we cannot “sugar-coat” it any longer. We need DAILY blogs from all our Bishops & Cardinals to keep our courage up & to help us “deal” with all these Satanic threats & Satan’s “Little Helpers”. Please do not abandon us…we need courageous Shepherds to “tell it like it is” DAILY…no matter what the cost!
We are telling Obama to “lead”......we are asking the same of our Leaders! Our King is more powerful than King Obama…we can “overcome the world” if we “fire up our Leaders” and help them lead us courageously to fight for our Faith
& Country! We don’t have time! It HAS TO BE DONE NOW!!!
Thank you kindly,
Millie Coombes
Jan. 20th: Trinman, beware of making threats!!! Beware!!!
It is so discouraging to the faithful when our Bishops allow these wolves to remain among the sheep, devouring souls every day. Don’t they see this? Why do you think so many Catholics are discouraged or lukewarm? It is because our leaders permit these monsters to remain among us. Instead of taking decisive action, our Shepherds allow the wolves to stay at the table with the lambs. They say “Well, we disagree with the wolf but even wolves have redeeming qualities, so we should pray for the wolf and hope he stops.” Show some guts and cast this evil man out of God’s house until he repents. BE NOT AFRAID!! BE A SHEPHERD!!
Why don’t the bishops excommunicate this evil man??
I think it’s about time the press adopts a new moniker for the New York State governor: How about Governor Andrew BABYKILLER?? Yes, Governor Andrew BabyKiller certainly has a ring of truth to it…....
Why didn’t the reporter ask a tough question? Like “Do you intend to excommunicate the Governnor since he is causing scandal to the faithful?” I know we are supposed to be charitable but it makes me sick how these Catholic politians get away with receiving Holy Communion. For years, I didn’t receive the Eucharist because I respected the teachings of the Catholic Church yet these bums get away with it and even get complimented while they are being criticized. (CINO- that’s good one.)
The real “war on women” in this country is being waged by the abortion industry: http://www.know7things.com/sin.html
I would like the interviewer and the editors NC Register to let us know whether the comments to this article will be shared with His Emminence?
New York State “liberalized” its abortion laws back in 1970. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church didn’t see it coming, being preoccupied with lobbying about parochial schools:
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/09/nyregion/70-abortion-law-new-york-said-yes-stunning-the-nation.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
New York “liberalized” its abortion laws back in 1970. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church was preoccupied with lobbying over parochial schools to mount a resistance before it was too late:
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/09/nyregion/70-abortion-law-new-york-said-yes-stunning-the-nation.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
The bishops should have, over the past 40 years and 50 million abortions, denied the sacraments or excommunicate those ‘catholic’ politicians and judges who in public advocate for abortion and/or gay marriage. Cardinal Egan did it to the mayor of NY and Bishop Murphy should do to to the governor of NY.
IT’S TIME THAT OUR BISHOPS STOP WRITING WONDERL PROSE ABOUT THE EVILS OF PRO-GAY, PRO-ABORTION AND TAKE CONCRETE ACTION AGAINST THOSE POLITICIANS WHO MAKE A MOCKERY OF CHURCH TEACHINGS.
CUOMO, PEOLOSI, SOUZZI, BIDEN, ETAL SHOULD NOT ONLY BE DENIED THE EUCHARIST THEY SHOULD ALSO BE EX-COMMUNICATED.
FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO. (JAMES 2:26)
Andrew Cuomo should, by ALL RIGHTS be excommunicated forth with without question from the Catholic Church and any other christian faith in which he will try to hide behind for voting support. CHRISTIANS STAND UP AND BE HEARD! PROFESS YOUR FAITH. Jesus said; if you are not with me you are against me.
WHERE ARE THE JEWS, ALL ORTHODOX FAITHS, MUSLIMS AND THE REST, THIS GOES AGAINST ALL YOUR TEACHING AND DOCTRINES. ALSO HOW COME NONE OF YOU ARE SPEAKING UP AND BEING HEARD??? ARE YOU AFRAID TO DEFEND YOUR RELIGION ALSO THIS INCLUDES YOU TOO. NOT JUST CHRISTIANS.
“Three times he shouted to the crowd”...“Give us Barabbas!”
FAITHFUL CATHOLICS CALL TO ACTION
Lent is on the horizon and most bishops have a Lenten Appeal. They have this in my diocese I don’t know if they have the same program in the New York dioceses. I usually make a contribution but this year plan to withold my contribution and write to my bishop that although he has supported the pro-life movement we live in a diocese adjacent to Washington DC that should publicly ban pro-choice and pro-gay marriage Catholic politicians from Communion;. I will give my meager donation this year to a pro-life organization instead of to the diocese. I will also tell my bishop that I’ll email every Catholic on my mailing list to do the same. I ahve a mailing list of at least 300 Catholics. I know some of them will not be happy with me. But you know what?....it’s time we took action. This time however, instead of merely voting with our wallets…take the time to write a respectful letter to our bishops and tell them WHY we’re voting with our wallets.
Another pro abortion Catholic politician. There are so many of them. What really bothers me is that Governor Cuomo received a Catholic education his whole life.He graduated from Fordum University. What’s wrong with that picture?
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