40 Days for Life CEO: If Cuomo’s Abortion Activism Doesn’t Merit Excommunication, Then What Would?

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By Lisa Bourne, LifeSiteNews, January 31, 2019

Lisa BourneThe Catholic president and CEO of 40 Days for Life has joined a number of Catholics ​in supporting the call for Andrew Cuomo to be excommunicated from the Catholic Church over his push for and celebration of New York state’s radical abortion expansion.

“The outrage has been pouring out and ranges from Protestant and Evangelicals calling out pastors who have been silent on abortion to Catholics who are calling for Gov. Cuomo, a public Catholic, to be officially excommunicated,” wrote Shawn Carney.

“If Cuomo is not excommunicated, then I as a Catholic join many in wondering what one must do or publicly advocate for in order to get excommunicated,” he added.

New York’s passage of the so-called Reproductive Health Act codified abortion in New York law as a “fundamental right” in case Roe vs. Wade gets overturned. The law’s passage drew cheers in the statehouse from pro-abortion politicians.

Carney commented on the sickened feeling held by so many people of faith and goodwill who watched the passage of the bill and how its passage was celebrated, including Cuomo ordering the World Trade Center tower to be lit up pink.

“New York’s decision – and celebration – of allowing abortions on babies up until the day they are born makes many want to throw up,” Carney said. “G.K. Chesterton said it nearly 100 years ago, but it applies today perhaps now more than ever, ‘The madness of tomorrow is not in Moscow, but much more in Manhattan.’”

Much has been made of the possibility of excommunication from the Catholic Church for New York’s pro-abortion governor, who has identified as Catholic, and had campaigned vigorously for this law and also done so for abortion throughout his career.

Publicly knocking pro-lifers and conservatives along the way, Cuomo, who also lives in a non-marital union while identifying as Catholic, has supported various other things in conflict with Catholic teaching as well, such as affirming LGBT lifestyles and banning reparation therapy.

Debate and discussion continue over whether excommunication is possible and warranted, and if it would have any effect on someone who publicly rejects the Church’s teaching.

Many Catholics agree that some sort of penalty for Cuomo is in order. Some Catholics have found the response of non-action from New York’s Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who said that excommunication is “not an appropriate response” to pro-abortion politicians, to be frustrating.

Two other bishops, Knoxville, Tennessee, Bishop Richard Stika and Tyler, Texas, Bishop Joseph Strickland, have both signified that if Cuomo lived in their jurisdiction they would take action. Strickland had urged Cuomo’s ordinaries to do so.

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany, where the New York statehouse is located, said in a January 26 interview with Fox News that excommunication is not out of the realm of possibility for Cuomo.

Noted Christian evangelist and philanthropist Franklin Graham also called for Dolan to act in excommunicating Cuomo.

“Whether it moves the governor’s calloused heart or not, it will have a great impact on not only the church in New York, but on the church worldwide,” Graham said. “It’s about standing for right over wrong, good over evil.”

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/40-days-for-life-ceo-if-cuomos-abortion-activism-doesnt-merit-excommunicati