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BISHOP REMINDS PRO-ABORT CALIFORNIA GOV. DAVIS HE IS EXCOMMUNICATED

SACRAMENTO, January 23, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand issued a warning to California Governor Gray Davis to renounce his support for abortion or else to refrain from receiving communion. The bishop spoke of persons who hold pro-abortion views as being barred from communion and mentioned Davis specifically.

"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."

Bishop Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, who rejected Davis' wish to deliver gifts to St. Patrick's Orphanage, saying Davis would be welcome if he renounced his pro-abortion stance. The bishop noted that his public clarification on Davis was necessary since Davis' scandalous behaviour has led some to ask, "how can a Catholic be in good standing and still hold that point of view? I'm saying you can't be a Catholic in good standing and hold that point of view. The governor's position is very public and contrary. ... You can't have it both ways."

Davis claims to be Catholic and his spokesman Russ Lopez lashed out at the bishop saying "There are a lot of Catholics who are pro-choice. Does the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving Holy Communion?" asked Lopez. "Who's going to be left in church?"

Despite media pressure Bishop Weigand refused to back down. "He's been aggressive on this issue, even boastful. I'm just trying to clarify that he is not in line with the Catholic Church on an issue that the Pope has said is the most important issue of our day."

See the coverage in the Sacramento Bee:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/5964420p-6923638c.html

Bishop Weigand does not have an email address but he may be contacted at:
Bishops Office, Pastoral Center, 2110 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 916-733-0200
Fax: 916-733-0215

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