Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY

So, I admit to comparing Pope Benedict to Emperor Palpatine. It was funny, dang nab it! However, I do think he's shaping up to be the wrong kind of guy to head the church. Want proof? Check out this news article following up on this case: a nine-year-old girl is raped, and has an abortion in Brazil. The family *and* doctor are all excommunicated from the church for doing so. The article reviews the Vatican's response. Read it to find out how much they care about the "human weight" factor vs. enforcement of their righteous dogma.

I'm not necessarily looking for discussion, but if anyone wants to take up the mantle and defend the Church's actions in this particular case, be my guest.

Kristen said about 6 hours later

So of course the step-father, guilty of raping a child, probably throughout the course of her lifetime, will be excommunicated? No?? Apparently the doctor and mother are guilty of murder. So does the church not differentiate between circumstances surrounding the "murder", like levels of intent? So if I kill someone who is attacking me or my child I am automatically excommunicated? What if I hit someone with my car?

The fact that excommunication exists is the ridiculous part. I understand their beliefs as to why Catholics believe abortion is wrong. But this wouldn't have made the press if it weren't for one of these countless, unnecessary rules the Church spends so much energy and money trying to enforce. The Catholic church says that only God can create and take life...so why isn't it only God who decides who can be a member of his church? Why does an earthly institution have the power to do that? If they can mediate on God's behalf for that, then why can't the same institution make exceptions, or at the very least, turn a blind eye on a situation like this? They've sure turned a blind eye on other things...
GJ said about 18 hours later

They can excommunicate because the church is created by people, not God. I don't think they're saying "You're cut off from God," as that would be egotistical in the extreme. However, they are saying "You are no longer a Catholic," which, for many Catholics, is the same thing as believing in God.

There is all this song and dance about how atheist morals are relativistic, but honestly--in times like this--isn't that exactly what you want, rather than jack-booted adherence to rules that are created by humans (inspired by God, maybe, but created by humans for sure).
Steve said 1 day later

I don't think excommunication should be done - the key to Catholicism is forgiveness. Who do we think we are to tell someone they cannot be a Catholic?

According to church law, the only time an abortion is not a sin is if the child is not going to live and the mother's life is at risk if she were to continue to have the child. Not sure how often that happens, of if you know it. Sounds like most of you slept through religion class back in high school. Kristen is excused, she didn't stay at Ludden for the year that was reviewed.
GJ said 1 day later

I know Church law pretty well, Steve. The point here is ridiculing it. What a great law it is that considers it a sin to abort the product of a rape. I've heard all the justifications about why the fetus' life is still so very important, yet the physical and mental health of the victim is apparently not overly critical. It's "rules" like this that keep the abortion debate such a hot, hot topic.

On top of that, it's not just *any* old sin, you get excommunicated to boot. The rapist? I bet he got he got a medal for his trouble--I mean, he created life, didn't he? Isn't that always good? Note: I don't know much about the rapist, or how the church views him, but given how they have treated the victim and victim's family, it's not a big stretch to envision this, is it?
Kristen said 1 day later

I did a bit of research on excommunication, and apparently it is really just telling a person that they cannot receive the sacraments (especially communion). Excommunicated people are supposedly encouraged to go to church, and apparently the whole point is to pressure them to turn from their evil ways and seek forgiveness. For some reason if someone declares me as "excommunicated", it makes me feel a tad uncomfortable with stepping foot in church.
For me it is one more example of how the Catholic Church is so exclusionary to groups of people (women, unconventional sexualities, people not Catholic---even Christians that are not Catholic!) Excommunication was rule written with a political agenda...another way to interpret a few bible clauses that would justify shunning certain individuals. The Church, trying to stick to what's on the books instead of changing with the times, now is applying that same rule, further ostracizing people...
GJ said 1 day later

They're not too good with changing with the times (they locked up Galileo, for crying out loud), but they at least now accept the concepts of science being a separate thing from faith (as in, the Earth isn't 6000 years old, etc.). But this pope isn't the buckling kind, so I half expect he'll energize the conservative base, and drive away the progressives in droves. It's no wonder the non-denoms have seen such explosive growth over the past thirty years.