Canon Law Blog Update (Abp. Joseph Naumann and the Kansas' Catholic Governor Kathleen Sebelius

On his blog, Edward Peters also points us to Fr Z's blog, with a very good commentary on the Archbishop's Pastoral Action. Fr Z begins his commentary with:

What is going on here?  I explain it in this PODCAzT.  Essentially, this is not just about the Governor's position on abortion, though that is key.  What makes this a matter of public statement is that the Governor is a public figure who, by words and actions, gives scandal to the faithful.  Were the Governor doing some other thing very publicly that defied the Church's teachings or laws, the same remedy would apply.  In this case it is abortion, but it could be, for example, divorce and remarriage, or belonging to the Masons, or actively homosexual lifestyle, etc.  When public figures create public scandal, they must make public reparation before they may return to the sacraments.  The reparation must be proportionate to the scandal.  Were this person a private person no one knew or watched, it might be handled in a different way.

He goes on to make explanatory comments embedded in the Archbishop's annoucement.

Bravo, Archbishop Naumann!! Bravo!!

God bless!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Edward Peters
Date: May 10, 2008 at 12:27 PM

Staunching the wound of Bleeding Kansas
 
Abp. Joseph Naumann has applied a Canon 915 tourniquet to the wound inflicted on the Body of Christ by the Catholic governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius. His actions are a model to emulated.

Read more about it here: http://www.canonlaw.info/2008/05/staunching-wound-of-bleeding-kansas.html
 
LightoftheLaw URL: http://www.canonlaw.info/blog.html