Abp. Naumann of Kansas City bars pro-abort politician from communion

Rocco calls this the latest episode in the "communion wars".

While I don't have a catchier title to substitute, there is far more in play here, and it deserves attention.

CWNews gives us an excellent, concise summary of what has happened:

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City has announced that Governor Kathleen Sebelius should not receive Communion because of her support for legal abortion.

In a column appearing on May 9 in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Leaven, the archbishop said that Governor Sebelius has sent a "spiritually lethal message" by implying that she could remain a Catholic in good standing while supporting abortion on demand.

.... He reported that he had met with her "several times over many months to discuss with her the grave spiritual and moral consequences of her public actions." Because the governor has now rejected his pleas and her public stand constitutes a scandal to the faithful, the archbishop said that he has now directed her to refrain from receiving Communion.

And he shows her the clear way back into the fold:

The governor will be welcomed back to Communion, the archbishop wrote, if she acknowledges her error, goes to Confession, and makes "a public repudiation of her previous efforts and actions in support of laws and policies sanctioning abortion."

You can read the Archbishop's full, original column here.

The Archbishop has the support of his fellow Kansas bishops [listed in his letter are Bishop Ron Gilmore (Dodge City), Bishop Paul Coakley (Salina) and Bishop Michael Jackels (Wichita)].

The Archbishop's action also places an additional burden of proof on other bishops around the United States who remain silent under similar circumstances.

Expert commentary available from Fr. Z and canonist Ed Peters. I have chosen not to repeat here the informative, helpful, and contextualizing comments which they make better than I could.

For another sign of hard, good decisions (finally) being made and carried into action by the competent authority, see "N.Y. bishop ends practice of Communion at celebration of the word" (CNS).

On second thought, maybe I do have a good phrase to describe these developments: "Fruits of the Papal Visit."

For instance, take a look at the opening words of the Archbishop's column:

On the day of my return (Monday, April 21) from the exhilarating experience of participating in Pope Benedict’s pastoral visit to the United States, I learned that Governor Kathleen Sebelius had vetoed the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act....

Pope Benedict's words put into immediate action. It's a beautiful thing.

Anyway .... an AmP Shout-Out to Archbishop Naumann!

Next, the reaction to the Archbishop's decision. Remember that any declaration on this topic immediately triggers a cascade of opposing reactions. This most recent episode is no different.

The original coverage from the Kansas City Star is neutral.

A KCS political blog publishes these three helpful tidbits:

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said the governor had not seen the [archbishop's] column, but said “receiving Communion has not been a problem in the past for her.”

... Speaking about the debate in 2004, Bishop Raymond J. Boland of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph told a Star columnist, “I don’t think I have any right to invade another person’s conscience when they come to me.”

... Forcing priests to refrain from giving the governor Communion would be one option, but one not being considered by the archbishop. Instead, he said he puts the burden on Sebelius to do the “right thing” and heal the fracture her actions have caused the church.

Commonweal focuses on political ramifications:

T he Kansan controversy could have implications for the presidential race. Gov. Sebelius has endorsed Barack Obama, who has Kansas roots, and is being mentioned here and there as a possible vice-presidential candidate. Her father, John Gilligan, was governor of swing-state Ohio in the 1970s, making them the only father-daughter governors in U.S. history. And she’s been successful in getting votes in a heavily Republican state. And she would conceivably help Obama by connecting with women and Catholics.

Political considerations such as those above, however, are purely secondary to the core issues involved with this pro-abortion governor and her bishop.

Related links:

• Kansas Archbishop Urges Pro-Abortion Gov. Sebelius to Skip Communion (LifeNews)
• KS Archbishop Tells Pro-Abortion Gov. Sebelius to Refrain from Communion and Amend Her Life (Operation Rescue, and notes Sebelius' connection with abortionist George Tiller)
• Catholic Kansas Gov. Sebelius Vetoes Restrictions on Late-Term Abortion (LifeSiteNewS): "Tiller has donated over $38,000 in political funding to Sebelius since 1994."
• Catholic archbishop raps Kansas governor (SperoNews)