(CNSNews.om) — Although the Catholic bishop of Richmond, Va., the Most Rev. Barry C. Knestout, denounced Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D-Va.) vote against providing medical help to infants that survive abortions as “appalling and beyond comprehension,” he would not say whether Kaine, a pro-abortion Catholic, should present himself for Communion at Mass in the Diocese of Richmond.
Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have taught that abortion is a “crime which no human law can claim to legitimize,” and it is “never licit to obey” such a law, or to “take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it.” Support for abortion, in addition to the act itself, is viewed as a grievous (mortal) sin by the Catholic Church.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) (Getty Images)
On Monday, Feb. 25, Senator Kaine, who attends St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Richmond, voted with 43 other Democrats in the U.S. Senate against ending debate on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which prevented it from going any further. That legislation, had it gone on to become law, would have required medical personnel to assist any infant that survives an abortion and to have the child admitted to a hospital.
Simply, the child would be treated just like any other newborn child. Kaine’s Virginia colleague, Sen. Mark Warner (D) also voted against the bill.
That same day, Feb. 25, Bishop Knestout and the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, Va., the Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, issued a joint statement on the legislation. In part, they said, “That this bill did not pass unanimously — let alone even pass at all — is appalling and beyond comprehension. We are dismayed and outraged that Virginia’s US Senators Warner and Kaine voted against this critical lifesaving legislation.” (Emphasis added.)
Given Kaine’s support for abortion (and for allowing infants that survive abortion to die on a table), CNSNews.com asked Bishop Knestout, “Given Sen. Kaine’s long-held and very public support for abortion, will you instruct him not to present himself for Holy Communion in your diocese? Yes or no?”
In response, the communications director for the diocese, Deborah Cox, replied by email, “Bishop Knestout is very explicit on his stance about this particular legislation and the failure of the U.S. Senate to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311). His joint statement with Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge clearly articulates his thoughts and position on the matter.”
In 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and vice
presidential candidate Tim Kaine. (Getty Images)
She continued, “Bishop Knestout recognizes there is interest in how he will proceed going forward with Catholic politicians regarding legislation or any policy matters that are in direct conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
“He welcomes the opportunity to meet with public officials about spiritual and public policy matters. However, as shepherd and pastor of the diocese, it is his obligation to address such matters directly and personally with an individual. In order to ensure the utmost pastoral care for the individual, he does not publicly discuss his pastoral conversations with parishioners of his diocese.”
In other words, Bishop Knestout may have already spoken privately with Sen. Kaine about the issue or he may not have — we do not know.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) (Getty Images)
