Pro-abortion 'rights' Catholic governor possible pick for HHS secretary

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 16

Archbishop Naumann, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama

Washington D.C., Feb 10, 2009 / 06:02 am (CNA).- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic Democrat in favor of legalized abortion, is considered to be a possible nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Sebelius has faced significant criticism for her promotion of abortion, including her connections to notorious Kansas late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller.

The 60-year-old governor had backed President Barack Obama in his primary race against former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The Associated Press reports that a Kansas Democrat close to the governor, speaking under condition of anonymity, said Sebelius had not spoken about the position in recent days but appeared to be a strong contender.

Former Sen. Tom Daschle had been nominated to become HHS secretary but withdrew his name after admitting he had not paid all his taxes since leaving Congress.

Gov. Sebelius was considered a possible candidate for several Cabinet posts after President Obama’s election in November. However, in early December she removed her name from consideration saying Kansas budget problems required her attention.

In May 2008, Archbishop of Kansas City Joseph F. Naumann publicly admonished Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for her support for legal abortion.

As Archbishop Naumann explained to CNA, he requested that Gov. Sebelius stop receiving Communion because of her “30-year history of advocating and acting in support of legalized abortion.”

Writing in the Archdiocesan paper The Leaven, the archbishop also pointed out that Governor Sebelius’ support for abortion leads others to question the “moral gravity” of abortion. The governor’s continued reception of Holy Communion, coupled with her support for legalized abortion, convey the erroneous message that, “You can be a good Catholic and support legalized abortion,” he wrote.

In April 2007 Gov. Sebelius hosted a reception at the governor’s residence for the late term abortionist Dr. George Tiller and his clinic’s staffers.

Photos of the event, published by Operation Rescue showed the governor greeting Tiller. Operation Rescue reported that the event was a party held in Tiller’s “exclusive honor,” though the governor’s spokeswoman denied that characterization.

The pro-life group also alleges that Tiller has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to pro-abortion Democrats, including Sebelius, through a “complicated series of political action committees and non-profit organizations.”

In one of the last acts of the Bush administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services instated conscience protection regulations making explicit the right of pro-life medical professionals and workers to decline to cooperate in an abortion. Pro-abortion rights groups opposed the measures and have said they plan to repeal them through HHS channels.

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: sam
dallas,texas 02/23/2009 07:33 AM EST

many in this forum sound ,really, like muslim extremists accusing non-believers(kaffirs).the governor is a good person who needs love and counselling.But as catholics lets sow love and pray for others,lets cease this chest thumping and phariseean hypocrisy.God loves us all,even the governor and Obama.Be good christians and stop this hate and name calling,,how does it make us better or righteous?Only serves to console our earthly emotions and allegiances.

Published by: Emerson
Minneapolis 02/11/2009 06:04 PM EST

It is not correct under canon law that a person who supports abortion "excommunicates himself."

The caveat in Canon 918 is that the person must be aware of the penalty. EVERY priest and bishop in the world should be making that known regularly from the pulpit.

But that might cut into donations toward the mortgages on all these new community centers (with a church hidden in there someplace).

Has ANYTHING gone right since Vatican II? No wonder we have had so many converts; they can't tell the difference between the Catholic church today and the Methodist or Lutheran. No big leap.

Shame on us for abetting in this.

Published by: ssoldie
Brainerd,Mn 02/11/2009 11:47 AM EST

We Catholics have been 40 years in the desert, we now deserve what we get. Pray the rosary..........daily.

Published by: Teresa Lawrence
San Antonio, Texas 02/11/2009 10:00 AM EST

There cannot be a "Catholic" Democrate who is pro-abortion. This is an absolute contradiction to our Judeo-Chrisian faith which chooses "LIFE- not death".May the Light and Love of the Holy Spirit move all minds and hearts to open to truth and the central message of the Gospel which is love - God's love and deep value of all His creation.

Published by: Frank Niemiec
Phoenix/AZ/USA 02/11/2009 12:02 AM EST

When are our Bishops going to excomunicate Pro-Abortion politicians who call themselves Catholic?

Published by: James
Tampa/FL 02/10/2009 08:41 PM EST

Just a couple of points for clarity and charity; a person excommunicates oneself by disagreeing with the church in grave matters such as the taking of innocent lives by abortion. That being said, the Church through her Bishop does not have to make an official order of excommunication for her to be outside of the Church. It is true that her stance being so public and against life, that the Bishop really needs to consider making it an official act to remove the scandal from hurting the rest of the body of Christ. However, we need to understand one thing as to charity and our holy family, a person may opt to walk away from the truth of the one True Church, but that does not remove her from being Catholic. Clearly she is a lost sister in Christ; and like the Father who waited patiently for the return of the prodigal son, we must pray for her healing and conversion. She likely has an emotional injury in her past that she is covering up by her fighting to maintain legal abortion in America. Pray for Governor Sebelius and for her Bishop who lovingly has spoken the Truth to her at least once publicly. When I commit mortal sins, I am separated but still a part of the Catholic family. Let us open our hearts to pray all the more for the Governor on account of our own eyes having planks in them from time to time.

Published by: Mary
Shawnee/KS/USA 02/10/2009 07:53 PM EST

They can have her! Kansans have put up with her for 8 yrs!!!

Published by: MarkF
Falls Church, VA 02/10/2009 05:29 PM EST

Hey, can we stop with the name calling?

I think it is commendable that her bishop is denying her communion. I hope that the bishop of Washington, DC and Arlington, VA would do the same for all the pro-abortion, pro-homosexual Catholic politicians living here.

But, she is still a Catholic. It is only by excommunication that someone is not part of the body of Christ. Some may argue that mortal sin does this to all of us, but I am not one to say.

But please, while recognizing that we all have a reason to be mad at people who are Catholic in name only, we all have the duty to show love for all people, especially for sinners.

Think about it. This sort of language actually causes more sin than it ends. It gives those who are outside of the Church a reason not to join or to repent.

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C 02/10/2009 04:23 PM EST

Yes, brother Dan. We should know all of Catholic government officials, both democrat and republicant, who is in favored of legalized abortion. WE NEED YOU! We must shed the light into why 54% of the Catholics voted for a baby murder advocate to be their president. Some of the priests are trying to tell us that the 54% are not a regular church going Catholics. That is not true. I saw a few Catholics wore the Hussein Obama campaign button in my church attending Mass

Published by: Mary
Anthem AZ 02/10/2009 01:17 PM EST

I would like to understand Gov. Sebelius's thought process. It is totally inconceivable to people like me to wrap our minds around their understanding of how the killing of a child is compassionate. We are called to put on the mind of Christ. Maybe that is way we will never understand that way of thinking, because it is definitely not how Christ would think. Pray that she will have a conversion and follow Christ. No one likes to see a person manipulated by the devil.

Published by: Nina
Portland OR USA 02/10/2009 01:15 PM EST

Thank you for this revealing story. The Democrats are the Party of Death.

Published by: Jack P
Canada 02/10/2009 12:53 PM EST

The article title is technically incorrect.

To be a "Catholic" one is required to be in communion with the church of Rome. As she is no longer in communion with us, Gov. Sebelius is no longer legitimately entitled to be called or labelled as a "Catholic".

"Former-Catholic", "Ex-Catholic", or perhaps sometimes even "Anti-Catholic" would be the correct titles to use in her regard.

Published by: Eric
Venezuela 02/10/2009 10:16 AM EST

Brothers in the faith, you excuse me but I desire to give a little opinion:That Mrs. Sebelius is not catholic, because nobody can to be catholic and support the abortion. I am completely in agreement with the bishop Naumann in regard to take away her the holy communion. It is necessary recall that the moral gravity of the abortion tried is manifests in all their truth if is recognized like a homicide and, in individual, if are considered the specific circumstances that do it qualitative. Who is eliminated is a human being that begins to live, so no word can change the reality of the things: the tried abortion is the direct and deliberate elimination, as wanting that be done, of a human being in the initial phase of its existence, which goes of the conception to the birth. I invite you to read the encyclical “Evangelium Vitae”, all a treaty concerning to the sacred an inviolable character of the human life, in these turbulent times and of confusion. Groups Pro-life go ahead!

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C 02/10/2009 10:07 AM EST

The 44th administration is trying to use Catholics in the government to destroy the pro-life Catholics. I agree with Archbishop Naumann. I believe The USCCB should investigate how many bishops and priests voted for the pro-abortion president and lead 54% of the Catholics to the same. I hope they confess before receiving the Holy Eucharist

Published by: Oriens
Pretoria/GP/South Africa 02/10/2009 10:03 AM EST

People like her should be excommunicated.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe/NM/US 02/10/2009 09:31 AM EST

'a Catholic Democrat in favor of legalized abortion,'

Do we need to know any more?

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com