Contact: Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., President, Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, 717-957-2662

MARYSVILLE, Penn., MAY 24 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy denounces the recent attempt by 18 Democrat members of Congress to rebuke Pope Benedict XVI in a public letter issued on May 14. That letter was self-incriminating of those who signed it as it betrayed a complete lack of priorities on the part of the politicians if not a distorted view at least. The CCC is not only an association of priests and deacons dedicated to ongoing formation (spiritual, theological and pastoral, in a fraternal setting), it is also composed of tax-paying, voting citizens of this nation. As fellow Americans and as Catholic Christians, we resent these 18 members of Congress interfering with the pastoral duty and obligation of the Pope. As the supreme pastor of the universal church, it is his prerogative to continue the three-fold ministry of Christ (priest, prophet & king) by sanctifying, teaching and shepherding. The Pope, therefore, has every right to "teach" the faithful on the immorality and evil as he sees it and has every right to discipline those who refuse to abide by the laws of God.

Abortion and euthanasia are contrary to the Divine Law and to Natural Law, regardless of which nation, state or municipality 'legalizes' these. Even though the Supreme Court issued their infamous Dred Scott and (1857) and Plessy v. Furguson (1896) decisions, slavery and racial segregation remained unjust, evil and immoral, despite their apparent 'legality' by the highest court of the land. Likewise, Roe v. Wade (1973) may have 'legalized' abortion across the land, but its inherent injustice to the unborn human child remains a moral and civil evil upon our country.

Anyone who supports abortion is a formal cooperator in evil while those who 'personally oppose abortion but uphold a woman's right to choose abortion' are material cooperators in evil. When he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict sent a letter to the US Bishops in 2004 which said "a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia." He also said that Catholic politicians who consistently campaign and vote for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws are formal cooperators in evil and they are "not to present themselves for Holy Communion." Our words and actions make us worthy or unworthy. Church law merely ratifies our decision by telling us to refrain from Communion when we should not be taking it.