+ J.M.J.+

Praised be Jesus Christ!

I am sure that I voice for many the sincerest best wishes on the occasion of your appointment by our Holy Father as the new Archbishop of Saint Louis.

Those who know you recognize the varied and multiple gifts that Almighty God has given to you. And you yourself gladly and promptly confess that these derive from the merciful and benevolent hand of the Lord. These precious treasures are meant to be shared—and you have done so admirably as a conscientious bishop, a superb canonist, a pious priest and a faithful Catholic.

Many fondly attest to the incredible accomplishments of Raymond Leo Burke. Some point to your diligent work developing rural life in the United States. Others highlight your encouragement of priests and seminarians, consecrated religious and consecrated virgins. Still others emphasize your indefatigable labors to teach the fullness of the Catholic Faith in the Diocese of La Crosse and beyond.

What you have done recently, however, in identifying for Catholic elected officials their grave duty to defend human life, including that of preborn children, merits special mention. Your Excellency, you have imitated several other Bishops who, over the years, have enunciated clearly—despite hostile reaction from some quarters—what is expected of Catholic elected officials pertaining to the Herculean effort to protect our preborn brothers and sisters.

Already your well-considered remarks about the pressing responsibility of Catholic legislators have heartened some and dismayed others. But you have heralded precisely what the truth is and what it demands.

Although I can profess no expertise in the political arena, I dare to say that there is at least a possibility that in the near future our nation will elect to its highest office a Catholic who ardently insists that he is “pro-choice.” (The voting record of the legislator that I have in mind proves his shameless claim.) Such a reality would assuredly mean, for example, that the door would be opened even wider for sundry initiatives aimed at increasing the opportunity to have and procure abortions. This outcome would be most regrettable; the diabolical strategy of those who promote the killing of preborn boys and girls would be furthered.

Your Excellency, your comments to Catholic elected officials have reminded them that their actions bring consequences. A Catholic legislator who knowingly and willingly fosters abortion by voting to make it even more available than it is currently must not receive Holy Communion.

You have helped not only Catholic elected officials but also all of us to recall that both human life and the Most Holy Eucharist are sacred! We cannot treat either the bodies of our preborn brothers and sisters or the Body and Blood of the Son of God and Son of Mary with contempt.

Furthermore, you have assisted us indirectly in realizing again that when Catholic legislators neglect to defend human life, then we must ponder carefully our response to that noticeable failure vis-à-vis the voting ballot.

Your Excellency, thank you for charitably and firmly proclaiming the truth, regardless of the personal cost, by standing up for the beauty and splendor of human life and for insisting on the adoration we owe to the Most Blessed Sacrament. You enjoy our esteem and, most importantly, our prayers as we commend you and your Episcopal ministry to the ever-watchful guidance of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Ad multos annos!

Contact

Mary's Field
http://www.catholic.org  , VA
Monsignor Charles M. Mangan - Official, 390 66616-1125

Email

fathermangan@catholic.org

Keywords

Pro-Life; Most Holy Eucharist