(LifeSiteNews) — Archbishop Richard Henning in Boston is coming under increasing pressure to declare Gov. Maura Healey excommunicated after she legalized abortion up until birth in Massachusetts last week.
A petition organized by LifeSiteNews has amassed almost 27,000 signatures at the time of writing, with the letter addressed to Archbishop Henning delivered to his office, the Apostolic Nunciature and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday.
The petition references a 2021 statement from Cardinal Raymond Burke, the former Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura who said that those who “publicly and obstinately violate the moral law” are in a state of apostasy under Canon 751, automatically excommunicated under Canon 1364, and thus must not be permitted to receive Holy Communion.
Cardinal Burke added that obstinate denial or doubt of the intrinsic evil of abortion could also constitute heresy, which carries the same automatic penalty.
READ: Massachusetts governor says she’s a ‘proud Catholic’ after legalizing abortion up to birth
LifeSiteNews’ Wade Searle and Meghan Mulherin delivered the petition letter in Washington, D.C., and Boston, with plans now being made to try to meet Archbishop Henning about the matter.
In a widely circulated video from August 10 in which she is surrounded by cheering supporters, Gov. Maura Healey, who describes herself as Catholic, signed a bill allowing abortion up until birth.
Archbishop Henning responded to the controversy by saying, “The passage and signing of a bill radically expanding abortion in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a grave offense against the sanctity and dignity of every person. I realize that those who work to uphold and promote that dignity may feel discouraged in this moment. I encourage us to continue to proclaim the beauty and the miracle of life. The Word of God commands us, ‘choose life that you may live’ (Deut 30:19). May that truth give us strength and hope.”