Madrid, Spain, Dec 1, 2009 / 02:02 am
The secretary general of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Antonio Martinez Camino of Madrid, said last week that Catholic politicians who vote in favor of abortion “must go to confession and publicly recant if they wish to receive Communion.”
“The objective state of sin is resolved by going to confession and publicly repairing the damage caused,” Bishop Martinez Camino said during a press conference at the close of the Spanish bishops’ 94th Plenary Assembly.
Bishop Camino’s comments came after the bishops passed a statement reiterating that “Catholics must recall,” if they vote for pro-choice measures, they are putting “themselves publicly in an objective state of sin, and as long as it endures, they cannot receive Holy Communion.”
Bishop Camino said the response of Catholics is one of “'yes' to the life of the innocent and defenseless, 'yes' to appropriate sexual education, 'yes' to pregnant women, who should be supported in their maternity, and 'yes' to just laws that support the common good and do not confuse injustice with rights.”