In his famous letter to Valentinian, Saint Ambrose, the Archbishop of Milan, said, “If we examine the context of Holy Scripture and of times past, no one can deny that it is a matter of faith, I repeat a matter of faith, that Bishops judge Christian Emperors, and not Emperors Bishops.”

This assertion of Saint Ambrose comes to mind when one thinks of the recent action, indeed, heroic action, of then Bishop of LaCrosse, Raymond Burke, who brings to his new post as the Archbishop of St. Louis, the gratitude, esteem, and admiration of many Catholics throughout the United States for what he has done. Archbishop Burke had a distinguished career as an Official in the Tribunals of the Holy See in Rome as well as the Bishop of La Crosse. It is in this latter capacity that he issued an “official notification to Catholic politicians” on November 23, 2003. This official notification followed a series of private and confi- dential letters sent to pro-abortion politicians who were from, or abided in the Diocese of LaCrosse. Some of these politicians made these confidential letters public, and this, evidently, provoked the Bishop to issue this public notifi- cation. Bishop Burke’s action in telling his priests to refuse to give Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians, or pro-euthanasia politicians who refuse to recant their support for, or acquiescence in those heinous practices, was his conscientious fulfillment of a document that came from the Holy See entitled, Doctrinal Note on Some Questions regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life issued in 2002. The Archbishop, who is also an exceptionally skilled canonist, cited his careful observance and proclamation of Canon 915 in the current Code of Canon Law. He was crystal-clear in what he was doing.

He said, “With respect to the fundamental responsibility of safe-guarding and promoting respect for human life, it is my duty to explain, persuade, correct, and admonish those in leadership positions who contradict the Gospel of Life through their actions and policies.” He rests this assertion in the document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics. His pastoral concern is illustrated by his very beautiful statement, “I ask for the prayers of all the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse, and of all the people of good will within the Diocese of LaCrosse, that Catholic legislators who have promoted procured abortion and euthanasia with the help and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit may undergo a conversion of heart in this most grave matter, so that human life may be protected and fostered in the greatest way possible, and these legislators may be admitted once more to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.”

Naturally, upon assuming the post of Archbishop of St. Louis, Archbishop Burke was asked whether he intended to insert a similar decree in the legislation of that Archdiocese, pertaining to prohibiting pro-abortion lawmakers from Holy Communion. He wisely said that he would first study the pastoral circumstances and situations in which he has now been placed, and only then make a decision about this, although he did remark that he would have no hesitation to doing so were he to find it necessary or useful.

Of course, it is ironic that the National Lay Review Board that was appointed by the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops would contain politicians and others who are pro-abortion and who have made no secret of their pro-abortion political activities in the past, illustrating their dedication to that heinous and abominable sin. Some of them may have made the hypocritical saying, “I am personally opposed, but...” However, it would certainly be paradoxical if these people appointed by Bishop Wilton Gregory, whose Diocese is just across the Mississippi River from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, would find themselves unable to receive Holy Communion in the Archdiocese of St. Louis because of their pro-abortion stand. It is certainly to be hoped that there will be a realization that killing children is the ultimate child abuse, and that it is cynical to place people who have given their political careers over to killing children in a position pretending to “protect” children.

It is, I think, quite helpful for all to pray that many other Bishops will find it useful to follow the wonderful example of Archbishop Burke, and to say without any equivocation what he said, “I hereby call upon Catholic legislators to uphold the natural and divine law regarding the inviolable dignity of all human life. To fail to do this is a grave sin and gives scandal to the faithful. Therefore, those who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion. They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion should they present themselves until such a time as they publicly renounce their support for these most unjust practices.”

One of the most distressing realities on the national scene is that some of the most ardent supporters of abortion and euthanasia and those who are most diligent in promoting and fostering and permitting an anti-life agenda are actually people who claim, at least nominally, to be Catholics, and, of course,many of their supporters and followers place loyalty to a political party or a political ideology above loyalty to Christ and the clear teachings of the Catholic Church regarding divine and natural law.