Kerry discusses abortion position & Archbishop Burke

POLITICAL CIRCUIT
01/30/2004
ST. LOUIS

Kerry discusses abortion position

Sen. John Kerry, a Catholic from Massachusetts, made his first visit here just two days after St. Louis installed new Archbishop Raymond Burke. Burke came from Wisconsin, where he recently decreed that the state's lawmakers who supported abortion rights or euthanasia couldn't receive Communion until they "publicly renounce" such views.

In an interview with several local reporters, including the Post-Dispatch, Kerry was asked about his opinion of Burke's comments. What follows is the full transcript of Kerry's response:

"Well, as a Catholic, we've long had a discussion in the church about that issue. And obviously I have enormous respect for any, any prelate in the church structure and I'm somebody who cares about that enormously. I was an altar boy and I've grown up in that ethic.

What ethic is this? Support for the murder of innocent babies?

"But, and here's the but: What I've learned is that the separation of church and state in America is a critical component of who we are as a nation. President Kennedy took that on in Houston in 1960 and made it clear that there is a separation and we have to honor it.

What separation? Where do you get this opinion?

Do you really not understand that every man-made law is a consequence or result of the natural law?

St. Thomas Aquinas taught “Every law made by man can be called a law insofar as it derives from the natural law. But if it is somehow opposed to the natural law, then it is not really a law but rather a corruption of the law.”

Is this not the reason that government outlaws robbery, murder, rape and other criminal behavior? These crimes violate the moral law that is founded on our human nature. How long must we wait until you reject ALL of the moral law?

"What I believe personally as a Catholic as an article of faith is an article of faith. And if it's not shared by a Jew or an Episcopalian or a Muslim or an agnostic or an atheist or someone else, it's not appropriate in the United States for a legislator to legislate your personal religious belief for the rest of the country. Now that's the oath you take when you swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Your understanding of your faith and the articles of faith is severely lacking. Hopefully, Archbishop O'Malley will provide some special catechetical lessons for you.

Nevertheless, does the Constitution no longer require that you do all you can to uphold the common good?

The Holy Father states,“Disregard for the right to life, precisely because it leads to the killing of the person whom society exists to serve, is what most directly conflicts with the possibility of achieving the common good.” (Evangelium Vitae, no. 72).

John Paul II also warns us, “It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism” (Centesimus Annus, No. 46).

"So I respectfully, disagree (with the archbishop) and I have to do what I think is important with respect to the Constitution, my obligation as a legislator, and that's what I do."

That's certainly your prerogative, however, by supporting abortion you have effectively abandoned Christ and His Church, and accordingly, the Church has an obligation to impose penalties or interdicts on you as a Catholic to mitigate the scandal you cause among the faithful. This may and should be reflected in your ability to receive the Sacraments.

We must continue to pray for John Kerry and others who view abortion as a perfectly legitimate 'right'. We must continue to pray, fast and do penance for the conversion of their hearts. And may our Blessed Mother intercede for us!