"Luci, ole boy, we gotta send Mengeling a Whitman sampler!"

Dear Supporters of the Church and Truth Project:

Bishop Mengeling now has officially told the media that he will DO NOTHING to discipline Granholm or any other pro-abortion Catholic politician. This is most distressing. First, let me clarify that I said much more to the reporter than was printed. He took only one quote from me. In any case Bishop Mengeling's primary reasons for not disciplining pro-abortion Catholic politicians is that the Church must treat people like adults, not children and that the Church can't judge anyone--only God can!!

This is amazing!

I truly do have respect for the bishop, but his position is completely irresponible. I'm sorry, but when someone supports a law that permits another group of people to be murdered I think we can safely say they are in contradiction to the Church and to God's law and cannot be admitted to Holy Communion! Indeed, we do want to treat people like adults!!! That's why the so-called Catholics like Gov. Granholm and Kerry MUST BE CALLED TO RESPONSIBILITY! No one is calling them to live like adult Catholics. Instead, the bishops permit these Catholics to act like spoiled teenagers--teenagers who will decide for themselves what is right and wrong no matter what the Church says, no matter that what they do that causes other human beings to be exterminated. It wouldn't be so bad except that what they decide to do and support faciliates the deaths of innocent human beings.

This article is followed by a very interesting interview with Bishop Mengeling. His answers are actually pretty good. However, his in-action is a contradiction to what he believes about abortion. He says---it's killing!! Ok---dearest bishop, if it is killing then how can those politicians like Gov. Granholm, etc. be permitted to received the Precious Body of Christ while supporting the law that allows this killing? It is a scandal of the first order. But Jennifer and company may do as they please! After all they are adults, right?

We must call and write the bishop. Tell him that something must be done!!! His in-action hurts the Church, hurts Christ and hurts Jennifer Granholm too! He must hear from the people in the pew. Do not delay on this:

Write to Bishop Carl Mengeling, Diocese of Lansing, 300 West Ottawa

St., Lansing, MI 48933, Phone: 517 342-2505

We must also write letters to the editor of the Lansing State Journal, email for that is at the end. Our point of view must be heard!

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Lansing State Journal, May 02, 2004, 'Lansing Diocese leaves Eucharist up to individuals, Bishop says pols who support abortion can make choice', By James McCurtis Jr., Lansing State Journal

The Diocese of Lansing won't withhold Communion from Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, Bishop Carl Mengeling said last week.

Instead, the diocese will leave the decision on receiving the Eucharist to individual Catholics.

Vatican Cardinal Frances Arinze, a Nigerian who heads the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said recently that priests must deny Communion to politicians who favor abortion rights.

The remark could apply to presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, both Roman Catholics who support abortion-rights laws.

However, the Vatican said U.S. bishops have discretion in deciding who should receive Communion. But Arinze's comments could put more pressure on them to sanction Catholic politicians whose positions are against church policy, experts say.

Mengeling said individual Catholics are obligated to determine if they are fit for Communion, not priests, bishops or cardinals.

"All Catholics, that includes myself, must examine themselves extremely carefully before they approach the Eucharist," Mengeling said. "Our Catholics are adults. We can't treat them like children."

For almost two years, members of the Catholic anti-abortion group Church & Truth Project, based in Ply-mouth, have been protesting in front of St. John's Student Parish in East Lansing and St. Mary Cathedral downtown, demanding that priests not give Communion to Granholm.

Monica Migliorino Miller, director of the Church & Truth Project, said that although the group respects Mengeling, his stance on the issue is wrong.

"The bishops have a responsibility to teach the truth and protect the sacraments," Migliorino Miller said. "To be a bishop means you have to have some courage in this day and age."

Mengeling said denying Communion to Granholm and other politicians who support abortion rights would force the church to judge every Catholic, a task he said is up to God.

"We assume that (people) are in good standing with the law in terms of their own conscience," Mengeling said. "The Lord knows that. I don't."

Liz Boyd, Granholm's spokeswoman, said the governor, who regularly attends St. John's, has taken an oath to uphold the laws of the state and that she represents all citizens - not just Catholics.

"Gov. Granholm is a person of faith, and her faith is very important to her," Boyd said. "Should the church decide to impose spiritual penalties for political votes of which they disapprove, it may be difficult for any Catholic to serve in public office."

Mengeling is one of few bishops who has spoken publicly about the issue since Arinze made his comments.

Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis and Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Neb., said they would not give Communion to Kerry because of his views, which support abortion rights.

To determine what steps to take against Catholic politicians who back positions that don't agree with church doctrine, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops appointed a seven-member committee last year.

"You've got different opinions," said Father Thomas Reese, editor in chief of America, The National Catholic Weekly Magazine.

"Some bishops are saying this is not a good political strategy. In fact, it could backfire. For one, it would turn abortion into a Catholic issue when it's a human issue."

Rep. Julie Dennis, D-Muskegon, said Catholic politicians represent citizens from diverse religious beliefs and backgrounds and they are being unfairly targeted.

"I will not legislate Catholic doctrine because the Vatican thinks I ought to," said Dennis, a Catholic who also supports abortion rights.

"I think it's really unfortunate they are using folks to do this kind of activity."

Published May 02, 2004, Lansing bishop says politicians should follow beliefs

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Questions and answers with Bishop Carl Mengeling:

Q: Should Catholic politicians be required to support the Vatican's directives?

Yes, because I think all people that are elected to Congress in Washington or the state Legislature, they come from all different kinds of backgrounds and each one of them brings with them their particular convictions: personal, their particular experiences of life, their faith and all the rest of it.

And all of that plays into what they offer as they deliberate about issues. And I think that's rich.

Sure, they should. I would assume they would, just like I would assume that people from all other walks of life or different backgrounds would present their cherished values and profound insight. Why should they be silent?

Q: Why are pro-choice Catholic politicians being targeted? Why not Catholic pro-choice actors or Catholic newspaper editors who write opinion pieces or the average pro-choice Catholic?

Particularly the people that we elect, the people that make the laws, are determining the direction of this country. And there's where the real issues have to be dealt with, and especially if it's a Catholic who is legislating the right to kill, abortion. People who make the laws carry a big responsibility.

Q: Should non-Catholic voters expect Catholic politicians to adhere to Vatican leadership?

I would assume that what Christ stands for and what the church teaches is good, and it's beautiful and it's life-giving. I mean, why should a Catholic be ashamed of that?

Q: There are a lot of non-Catholic voters who might be agnostic or atheist.

That's their choice. That's part of America, too, but everybody in this democracy has the right to give their input.

Q: Should politicians adhere to their respective religious leadership, be it the Vatican, synagogue or mosque, when it comes to public policy?

Sure. Because in this case, we're dealing with something that's supreme, and that's human life. The biggest civil rights thing there is is human life. The more people that can feed into that in a positive, good way, the better.

Q: Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Gov. Granholm, said, "Should the church decide to impose spiritual penalties for political votes of which they disapprove, it may be difficult for any Catholic to serve in public office." What are your thoughts?

I wouldn't agree with that. I'll give you a good example. Catholic judges - probably about a third of the judges in the United States are Catholic - they operate beautifully within the context of the laws of the land regarding divorce.

The fact regarding divorce, you're dealing with a whole gamut of the public that's on a whole different plane in terms of the permanence of marriage or divorce and remarriage.

But for Catholics, the church's teachings are very clear on that, and yet a Catholic judge can execute whatever he needs to in terms of divorce and everything else.

Contact James McCurtis Jr. at 377-1046 or jmccurtis@lsj.com.

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