A Crisis of Conscience and Constitution
On behalf of all of the bishops of the United States, Francis Cardinal George, archbishop of Chicago, has warned that FOCA and similar measures would make it very hard for Catholics to participate in American public life.
Now, we can get some sense of what this might mean by looking across the ocean, to Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a constitutional grand duchy, in which the sovereign is the Grand Duke Henri, a Catholic. Luxembourg's parliament passes laws; but the sovereign must sign them before they can be enforced.
"Never in Luxembourg's history has the sovereign blocked a decision agreed in parliament," reports AFP. But that's about to change, because parliament is poised to pass legislation legalizing certain forms of euthanasia, and Grand Duke Henri, a Roman Catholic, has announced that he will not sign the law--thus preventing it from entering into force.
The response of Luxembourg's parliament has been to threaten to amend the constitution to remove the sovereign's right to approve legislation and, instead, to force him to "promulgate" it. Such a change would not only attack the constitutional sovereign's freedom of conscience but undermine the entire point of Luxembourg's form of government: to have a constitutional check on the excesses of democracy.
Here in the United States, sovereignty rests with the people, but it is divided between the people in the states and the people through their representatives in Congress. FOCA, by wiping out all state restrictions on abortion and forcing institutions that are regulated by the states to perform abortions, would essentially destroy the sovereignty of the people in those states.
If FOCA passes and President Obama signs it into law, American federalism will become as much of a fiction as the sovereignty of Grand Duke Henri.
Comments
I no longer believe that McCain would have been any better after reading an article by Alan Keyes and the two swords of evil. We can never settle when it comes to the five non-negotiables. I wish I had read that before I voted. And, I apologize for being upset w/ you that you voted a third party. PP and media propelled Obama to the presidency, he owes them, he knows it. I’m praying for a Saul like event to bring Obama to God. Yet, the demons are unchained at this time and it’s probably going to take the nominal and cafeteria catholics to embrace God and his church before anything positive occurs and we turn to a pro-life culture. God bless you and thank you for these writings and reminders regarding our rich and beautiful gift of the true catholic church.
Dear Scott,
As a descendant of immigrants from Luxembourg, I applaud the Grand Duke’s “veto”, but I am equally disturbed by the parliament’s high-handed response.
When my daughter and I visited Luxembourg in 2000, we connected with long-lost relatives and discovered that they (at least) continued to hold to the Faith.
May the Immaculate Conception intercede for America and convert the pro-abortionists.
I think all Roman Catholics through out
the world should take a stand on abortion.
Especially in this country. The Bishops
must put out the word that any politician
who supports or votes for FOCA will be
excommunicated, and denied the Sacraments.
Here in N.Y. I’ve seen our representatives
given Holy Communion, in St. Patricks
Cathedral no less. Where are the Bishops.
IT IS TIME FOR ACTION.
President Obama did not vote pro abortion,the laws are 4 fold on the baby born durnig an abortion must be kept alive 2 more laws as the same is over law-ing as they call it.George Bush got a women pregnat at Yale and His Parents and him made Her get an Abortion.
Dear Scott: I head a Respect Life Ministry at a Catholic Church in North Carolina. We have always been a minority among other Catholics and discussing FOCA does not interest them. Obama’s promise is frightening, since he also wants to take away aid from the pregnancy centers. So we need to pray for Obama’s conversion. As for George Bush’s past, its in the PAST…and if it happened - its between him and our God. Thank you for what you do, Scott. I appreciate this Web Site.
Obama,does not want or will he cut aid to the pregnacy center programs,Catholics are to much a one issue voter,Bush is not pro life,
the war he cut health insurance as governor of
Texas for children on purpose.Catholics need
to be pro solical justice and peace christians
We have the five non-negotiables of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which will never change, in season and out of season, democrat, republican or independent. Obama’s promises to PP, his past votes, no-votes, stagnation of the judical committee and his appointments thus far are key to understanding his agenda towards the embryo’s, the unborn, the born and even the disabled as he stated that he wished he never voted to save Terri Schiavo from the two week dehydration killing. Obama is sincere, but he is sincerely wrong. I feel very sorry for him that he is beholden to PP and the media. But, the sorrow is even greater for the billions of lives who will be lost because of his and his appointed peoples agenda should it all unfold according to his plans. He has appointed people who do everything in their power to shut down pregnancy centers and promote death, from escr, abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia. Why? If he is sincere about wanting to help pregnant women and babies, he would stop supporting PP and put that energy into helping pregnancy centers. They have helped women and babies for many years. He can’t help them by supporting the culture of death and appointing every pro-death individual to his council. This nation would change to a culture of life in one day if every catholic voted as taught by the Holy See. That would change lives for the better in all aspects. The economy(no corp. or gov. would lie, steal, manipulate or promote killing), and the abused(families would promote dignity for all and remain faithful to each other). Society would love one another by sacrificing their lives instead of sacrificing others. We are Catholic, let’s live it! Lives depend on it.
Oh wel…l Federalism died long ago,so Obama can’t take the blame for it’s death. While we are excommunicating Catholics, will we be excommunicating those Catholic legislators and, U.S. Supreme Court Justices that are odds with the Church in regards to the Death Penalty, and other social issues. Scalia has publicly said as a Catholic who is a Justice of the USA, he doesn’t need to consider, what the Pope says on select issues, allowing Scalia to ignore select issues. Just one more morally ambiguous Christian, I suppose.
Get heavy handed with excommunication of legislators, good luck in getting Catholics elected to office, that don’t have a one track agenda, even after a successful abortion ban. Those non-Catholic Christians, who would like to see certain Catholic Legislators excommunicated will use any excommunication against future Catholic candidates. See Catholic politicians will take their orders from the Pope not the U.S. constitution. Catholics choose your allies carefully, many of would be allies are not your friends. A gross excommunications, from the Church, could lead to a formation of an American Catholic Church.