May 4, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota, appealed to both pro-life and pro-abortion Catholics to listen to the words of Christ and follow his teachings with regards to right-to-life issues in a recent homily. Citing St. Justin Martyr and St. Paul, the bishop also said that those who do not live according to the Gospels and follow Church teachings should not receive the Eucharist.
The bishop spoke on this theme because he said he could not remain silent in light of the recent debate in the media on whether Sen. John Kerry, a pro-abortion Catholic, and other pro-abortion politicians should be able to receive Communion.
“I have the responsibility and duty before God to teach and to present to you the teaching of the Church on the matter of living one’s faith in the world,” said the bishop.
One’s faith and political life should not be lived separately, he said. Bishop Aquila pointed out that the split between the faith and one’s daily life is an egregious error that was addressed during Second Vatican Council in 1965.