Brethren,

Ut oh, after almost 50 years, bishops are suddenly sprouting balls. It could also be said that some have erected raging hard-ons in defense of Christ in The Holy Eucharist. Following their lead (after reaching the saturation point following the abuses of Vatican Council II) Roman Catholics are finally reclaiming their Church. ....Better late then never.

Three weeks ago, the newly installed Ordinary of Camden, NJ, Bishop Joseph Galante, excommunicated the adulterous, liberal Governor James E. McGreevey (Dem.). Others are following suit... This week free-reeling Extraordinary Ministers of Communion NOT "ministers of the eucharist") were finally reigned in while sit-in deacons and priests were kicked off their lazy asses to do what they are ordained to be doing themselves.

Who roused these sleeping purple giants? Did someone slip them viagra? It's a pity that these ultramontane bishops make our own prelates seem cowardly and impotent by comparison. Where is THEIR backbone and intestinal fortitude?

Ever since Francis Cardinal Arinze of Africa, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, presented a new Vatican instruction last month, "Redemptionis Sacramentum" (The Sacrament of Redemption)" On Certain Matters to Be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy Eucharist," aimed at ensuring the proper celebration and reception of the Eucharist -- and declared that politicians who support abortion must not go to Communion -- a new courage has revitalized The Church.

The 70-page document was written at the request of +John Paul II by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Pope's last encyclical "Eucharistia de Ecclesia," published last year, was pastoral. This document is juridical.

There is nothing new within it. In fact, the document does not give new norms, but "specifies" them, the Cardinal said. Simply put: LONG TIME ABUSES HAVE FINALLY BEEN CURTAILED! Because, as the Cardinal also wrote, "The Holy Eucharist is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat It according to his own whim." "....All abuses regarding the Holy Eucharist are not of the same weight," he said. "Some threaten to make The Sacrament invalid. Some are manifestations of deficiency in Eucharistic faith. Others contribute to confusion among the people of God and to growing desacralization of Eucharistic celebrations. They are not banal."

Like a mighty gust of wind, The Holy Spirit is at work!

FOOTNOTE: On March 30, 2000, I wrote, >> "....I expect that the next Pope will be one of the 13 black Cardinals from Africa -- + Francis Cardinal Arinze, Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue since 1985. His father was an African witch-doctor and the Cardinal a RC convert. He is dynamic." <<

Thank you, Jesus.
-- Fr. Steve +

Read the document: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=52462 Anyway, this is what my spiel is leading into...

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Defiant Catholic Voters Shouldn't Receive Communion, Say 2 Bishops
Prelates in Colorado and Oregon Extend Warnings Beyond Politicians

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, MAY 14, 2004 (ZENIT) --- Bishop Michael Sheridan says that Catholics should not receive Communion if they vote for politicians who defy Church teaching by supporting abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia or stem-cell research. (AMEN! -- Steve+)

The Colorado Springs Bishop delivered this message in a pastoral letter published last week.

A similar idea was presented by Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland, Oregon, who also spelled out his position in a newspaper column last week.

Bishop Sheridan, 59, wrote in his pastoral letter: "Anyone who professes the Catholic Faith with his lips while at the same time publicly supporting legislation or candidates that defy God's law makes a mockery of that Faith and belies his identity as a Catholic."

In a telephone interview, the Bishop told the New York Times: "I'm not making a political statement. I'm making a statement about Church teaching." (HALLELUIAH! -- Steve +)

In his pastoral letter http://www.diocesecs.org/home%20page/bishopSheridan.htm he wrote: "Among the many distortions and misrepresentations that prevail in the current debates about the relationship between religion and the social order (politics) is the assertion that faith and politics are to be kept separated. This, apparently, is based upon the American doctrine of the separation of church and state.

"In fact," he continued, "the wall that separates church and state is the safeguard against both the establishment of a state religion and the imposition of sectarian religious beliefs and practices, such as particular denominational forms of worship or theological tenets. In no way does the American doctrine of separation of church and state even suggest that the well-formed consciences of religious people should not be brought to bear on their political choices."

After explaining the obligation of the faithful and Catholic politicians to show their faith in public, Bishop Sheridan wrote: "There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia 'ipso facto' place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation."

"Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences," wrote the prelate.

"It is for this reason that these Catholics, whether candidates for office or those who would vote for them, may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled with God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance," Bishop Sheridan stated.

Archbishop Vlazny, in his column in the Catholic Sentinel newspaper, touched on the same points.

"Should Catholics who choose to vote for pro-choice politicians refrain from reception of the Holy Communion?" he asked. "If they vote for them precisely because they are pro-choice," the Portland prelate continued, "I believe they too should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion because they are not in communion with The Church on a serious matter.

"But if they are voting for that particular politician because, in their judgment, other candidates fail significantly in some matters of great importance, for example, war and peace, human rights and economic justice, then there is no evident stance of opposition to Church teaching and reception of Holy Communion seems both appropriate and beneficial."

Archbishop Vlazny, 67, added: "Catholics who do support pro-choice politicians still have serious responsibilities with regard to their stance on this matter. They must make it very clear to these politicians and governmental leaders that their support is in no way based on the pro-choice advocacy of these political leaders."

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