MADISON, Wisconsin, JAN. 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison says he is in “complete agreement” with La Crosse Bishop Raymond Burke’s position to deny Communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion and euthanasia.
Bishop Burke has instructed priests in his diocese to refuse Communion to politicians who support abortion until they recant their positions. He will be installed as archbishop of St. Louis next week.
Bishop Morlino suggested that even though he agrees with Bishop Burke’s assessment of Catholic teaching, he might not decide on the same course of action for the Madison Diocese, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Bishop Molino has been head of the Madison since August.
In his weekly column in the Catholic Herald newspaper, Bishop Molino wrote: “It is indeed the case that Catholics who are public office holders enjoy the blessing of only one conscience — they do not have one conscience for their private lives and one for their public responsibility, one for Church matters and another for State matters. That could not be more clear.”
He continued: “The one conscience given to all of us seeks the truth that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, truth that He has chosen to speak forth through His Body the Church. It is through the Church that we receive the mind of Christ, and it is clearly not possible for a Catholic public office holder to leave the mind of Christ aside as he or she enters a Senate or House chamber or the office building whence they discharge their particular function in public life.”
