California priest issues follow-up letter on Catholics, voting

December 23, 2008

Father Joseph Illo, the California priest who last month exhorted Catholics who voted for pro-abortion candidates to go to Confession, has issued a second letter modifying his views. The priest of the Diocese of Stockton wrote on Friday, “I realize that (my previous letter) goes beyond what the Church has actually stated.” He added, “The Church does not state that voting for a candidate who promotes the practice of abortion is always a mortal sin.”

Stockton Bishop Stephen Blaire “appreciates that Father Illo made some necessary clarifications,” his spokesman said yesterday. “The bishop would like to highlight the two areas that required clarification: No one can make general statements about the imputability of guilt. Each person in his or her own conscience stands before God. And second, no one can make general statements assuming the intentions that people have when they vote.”

 

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Further information:

• Priest backs off a bit in letter to congregation (Modesto Bee)
• California priest says Obama supporters should go to Confession; bishop responds (CWN, Dec. 4)