Archbishop Carlson Lays Down the Hammer on "Pro-choice Catholicism."

A few weeks ago, St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson published a letter regarding the Fifth Commandment (that’s the ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ one). He talked about a lot of life issues, but the biggest among them was abortion (emphasis added):

People who are casual about the sin of abortion and who choose to view it as a political issue rather than the serious moral issue that it is are guilty of violating the Fifth Commandment. You cannot be “pro-choice” (pro-abortion) and remain a Catholic in good standing. That’s why the Church asks those who maintain this position not to receive holy Communion. We are not being mean or judgmental, we are simply acknowledging the fact that such a stance is objectively and seriously sinful and is radically inconsistent with the Christian way of life.

Through the whole letter (and you really should read it, it’s not that long), Archbishop Carlson keeps re-emphasizing a point I think we can forget: ‘life issues’ are about life and death. They’re not simply political games or talking points for speech and debate. We fight for life because it’s life: it’s the most simple and wonderful gift we have. When we take up ‘political’ or social positions that seem easier or more ‘normal,’ especially on issues of life and death, we have to check those decisions against our Catholicism. You’ve gotta love a Bishop that’s not afraid to call it like the Church sees it.

Before the Cross: Good Catholics Cannot Be Pro-Choice (St. Louis Review)