Taking a Stand

According to today's Sacramento Bee, it looks like Bishop Weigand of the Diocese of Sacramento has finally had enough of that moral catastrophe in the governor's mansion who claims to be a Catholic. Governor Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis is a very diligent promotor of the abortion industry. He recently signed into law (AB 2194) a requirement that all medical residency training in this state must provide training in committing, uh, performing abortions. There are no religious or "conscience" exclusions.

As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone -- politician or otherwise -- who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the church," Weigand said. "Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart.

Russ Lopez, a spokesman for Davis, criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith". And here I thought that's what they were for. I suppose one has to forgive Lopez, though. Bishops in this state don't usually interfere in matters of religion. It probably came as a shock.

[And thanks to my correspondent Joseph M. for the reference.]