Bishop asks whether 'pro-choice' Catholic politicians are heretics

Published: 2006-03-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The church needs to examine whether Catholic "pro-choice" politicians' views are in heresy regarding church teaching against aborting unborn human life, said Bishop Robert F. Vasa of Baker, Ore. "I think there is suitable reason to consider the possibility that there is a right-to-murder heresy," he told Catholic News Service. The bishop spoke by telephone to CNS March 22 about a column he wrote in the diocesan newspaper, Catholic Sentinel, raising the question as to whether the views of Catholics who believe a woman has a right to choose abortion are in heresy. Bishop Vasa told CNS that he is not in a position to state whether a "right-to-murder heresy" exists. "I'm raising the question. I'm not a theologian," he said. The bishop said the question goes beyond Catholic legislators and "could extend to other Catholics who believe that it would be OK to be pro-choice and Catholic."

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