“If you allow Durbin to defy and mock church teaching, and to glory over his victories in defeating the most precious right to life, you allow a sinner to elevate himself over the church and over the authority of the Holy Father.”
Andy Martin
U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin responds to Pope Benedict’s invitation to Anglicans (in the United States: Episcopalians) to join the Roman Catholic Church by asking how Cardinal George can tolerate the open defiance of church doctrine by Senator Durbin.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF FRIDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO
December 11, 2009
Francis Cardinal George
Archbishop of Chicago
835 N. Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2030
HAND DELIVERYRe: Senator Richard Durbin/Holy Communion
Dear Cardinal George:
I am a member of the Episcopal Church. Some years ago I studied for Holy Orders in my church, but I ultimately elected not to enter the ordained ministry. I though my secular work fighting corruption and working for the improvement of this state and the United States was an honorable calling.
But I take my lay ministry very seriously. While I am unhesitating in seeking to be a servant of the people, I am always first and utmost a servant of Jesus Christ. The energy and grace which Jesus imparts to His believers allows me to continue the war against corruption in Illinois and Washington.
Two months ago the Holy Father invited Episcopalians (Anglicans) such as me to rejoin the Roman Catholic Church. I was startled by the boldness of Pope Benedict’s invitation. And I have studied his words carefully.
In the Note of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Father, the first paragraph challenges all of us “who wish to enter into full visible communion The Note confirms that the holy sacrament of communion is a visible manifestation, perhaps the most visible manifestation, of our call to follow Christ.
But before I can accept the Holy Father’s invitation to join the church, and before I can even make an informed and intelligent decision on how to decide, I need to ask you a clear question.
If Holy Communion is such a “visible” and universal sacrament of the Church, how can you allow apostates such as Senator Richard Durbin to receive communion when Durbin mocks the church’s teachings on abortion and the right to life, both for the unborn and those facing the end of life? How indeed?
Recently Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island became engulfed in a controversy involving the bishop’s private communication to Patrick Kennedy to refrain from accepting the sacrament because of Kennedy’s pro-abortion views.
Earlier this week, Senator Durbin was on national television gloating over his success in defeating an anti-abortion provision for the so-called health care reform proposed by the president. In other words, Durbin not only acts contrary to church teaching, he visibly and openly defies church doctrine and gloats over his success in mocking and denying the teachings of his church. Durbin is no ordinary sinner.
So when is the Archdiocese of Chicago going to follow the Diocese of Rhode Island and request that Senator Durbin refrain from receiving the sacrament in this archdiocese?
If you allow Durbin to defy and mock church teaching, and to glory over his victories in defeating the most precious right to life, you allow a sinner to elevate himself over the church and over the authority of the Holy Father.
I ask you to consider requesting that Senator Durbin refrain from receiving the sacrament of communion. I most respectfully ask you to explain to me how any church leader can tolerate the defiance of mockery for church teaching manifested by Senator Durbin.
As a former U. S. Senator said on February 17, 2008, “Words? Just words? Don’t tell me words don’t matter
Well, do they matter? Do the teachings of the church matter?
Are your teachings as Archbishop “just words Or do your words regarding the sanctity of life have real meaning? If you believe in the truth behind your own words, how can you allow Senator Durbin to receive communion in your archdiocese even one more time? The Advent scripture for today invites us to reflect on the Gospel passage: “Wisdom is vindicated by her works [Matthew 11:19]
Faithfully Yours in Christ,
ANDY MARTIN
AM:sp
December 11th news conference details:
WHO:
U. S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin
WHERE:
Sidewalk news conference, SE corner of Huron and Wabash,
ChicagoWHEN:
Friday, December 11, 2009 1:00 P.M.
WHAT:
Internet Powerhouse and U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin challenges Francis Cardinal George to ban Senator Richard Durbin from receiving communion in the Archdiocese of Chicago
MEDIA CONTACT:
(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329 (not always turned on)
WEBSITE:
E-MAIL:
Andy Martin is a legendary Chicago muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of broadcasting background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He is currently promoting his best-selling book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask and producing the new Internet movie “Obama: The Hawai’i years.” Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of http://www.ContrarianCommentary.com.
Martin comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of experience. He has over forty years of experience in Asia and the Middle East, and is regarded overseas as America’s most respected independent foreign policy, military and intelligence analyst. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York.
UPDATES:
http://www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSA
http://www.facebook.com/AndyMartinAndy’s columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com.
[NOTE: We try to correct any typographical errors in this story on our blogs; find our latest edition there.]MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329 (cell not always on)
E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.
fratres.wordpress.com 
My first thought was, “Praise the Lord.” I thank Andy Martin for this well written letter to to the Archbishop of Chicago and the head of the USCCB. May Cardinal George lead by example in this fight against the mocking of Church Teaching in regard to the evil of abortion and the sanctity of human life.
I’d consider moving to the midwest simply to vote for Andy if personal circumstances allowed, they don’t. We need more like him…
Happy Advent Nancy,
James
I have been waiting for Cardinal George to step out on this matter. As head of the USCCB please advise all bishops that they must defend our faith regarding the evil of abortion and refuse Holy Communion to all those politians who profess to be Catholic from receiving. I know the list is long. But, it is our faith. We in the pews have been waiting as our bishops are silent. Like Pope John Paul II said, “Be not afraid”. They are commiting a grave sacrilige and their souls are in jeopardy. And yes I thank Andy Martin for his letter . Why should he come into our beautiful faith when we don’t speak out when someone is mocking Jesus’s church. We are all in this fight together. May God Bless all our Bishops, priests and Cardinals for their strong stance on this issue.
Hi Carol–
Looks like the Diocese of Albany, NY, is taking on pressure to withhold communion for K. Gilibrand’s vote to kill children as well..
See here for more.
Yours For Life,
James
I appreciate the need for all Bishops to develop the spine to take on the heretics among us. but I am suspicious of this (all) politicians. Could this be a stunt for political gain? I am woried about anyone putting conditions on converting – either you are convinced that you have the found the triuth or you are not. Did this guy ever challenge his own Epicopal Church? He is willing to stay in a faith tradition that accepts homosexual bishops, but places conditions in his conversion? I smell something fishy here.
And the expected reverse-Martin-Lutherasm upon the Catholic Church as the unification begins…..do we walk the talk or continue to just talk and walk – and talk and talk! C’mon Cardinal, Your Excellency, sincerely and humbly, how long does the private conversation need to wait for change before the public scandal is just too damaging to the budding believers (young and potentially-former Episcopalians and rather, all potential new-converts and prayed-for reverts? What’s the time limit? Really, there should be one – after true private dialogue – because the public scandal is un-catechizing faster than we feeble lay pro-lifers can catechize! With friends like these fellow public servant Catholics, who needs enemies!