{"id":2647260,"date":"2026-08-20T08:23:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-catholic-church-must-excommunicate-mass-governor-who-signed-until-birth-abortion-law\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:28:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:28:49","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-catholic-church-must-excommunicate-mass-governor-who-signed-until-birth-abortion-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-catholic-church-must-excommunicate-mass-governor-who-signed-until-birth-abortion-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Church Must Excommunicate Gov. Who Signed Abortion Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-catholic-church-must-excommunicate-mass-governor-who-signed-until-birth-abortion-law%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647260&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article highlights the controversy surrounding Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey&#8217;s recent signing of an expansive late-term abortion law, allowing physicians to perform abortions up until birth if deemed &#8220;medically necessary.&#8221; Catholic advocacy groups, including CatholicVote, have called for her excommunication, citing her actions as grave sins according to Church teachings.Despite Healey&#8217;s public identification as a practicing Catholic and her meetings with Pope Francis, she asserts her stance on abortion does not conflict with her faith, a claim challenged by conventional Catholic doctrine, which considers abortion a grave sin that can lead to excommunication. The Catholic Church&#8217;s teachings explicitly condemn cooperation in abortion procedures, and Church authorities have historically debated whether pro-choice politicians should be denied communion. The article emphasizes that excommunication aims to correct and restore, not punish, and current leaders like Bishop Paprocki advocate for applying these sanctions to faithful advocates of abortion rights. The discussion underscores the ongoing tension within the Church regarding political figures supporting abortion and calls for clearer adherence to doctrinal teachings.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wng.org\/sift\/catholic-activist-calls-for-mass-governors-excommunication-1786623573\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CatholicVote<\/a>, one of the country\u2019s largest political advocacy groups, has called for Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to be\u00a0 excommunicated from the Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says\u00a0 certain \u201cparticularly grave sins\u201d can incur the church\u2019s most severe ecclesiastical penalty. Healey \u2014 a baptized Catholic \u2014 appears to be the ideal candidate after signing an atrocious abortion law. <\/p>\n<p>On Aug. 10, Healey <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/11\/in-massachusetts-you-can-now-abort-babies-minutes-before-birth-for-any-reason\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signed<\/a> a bill that permits physicians to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actor-director-nick-searcy-talks-about-the-struggles-and-triumph-of-gosnell-in-a-post-roe-v-wade-world\/\" title=\"Actor\/Director Nick Searcy Talks About The Struggles And Triumph Of &quot;Gosnell&quot; In A Post-Roe v. Wade World\">perform late-term abortions<\/a> up until birth if, in their sole discretion, they deem killing a full-term child who can survive outside the womb \u201cmedically necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/bostoncatholic.org\/news\/july-29-2026-catholic-bishops-of-massachusetts-statement-against-late-term-abortion-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a> issued shortly before the act became law, Catholic bishops in Massachusetts called it \u201ca radical measure which is gravely immoral.\u201d Former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life advocate and Catholic convert Abby Johnson called Healey\u2019s act \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6403289112112?dicbo=v2-1XpE8sk&#038;intcmp=fn_article_mobileweb_bc_ob_more_from\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">barbaric.<\/a>\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The Massachusetts government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/news\/governor-healey-signs-legislation-strengthening-abortion-protections-in-massachusetts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a> claims the \u201cnew law ensures patients facing serious pregnancy complications can receive medically appropriate care from trusted providers.\u201d This is simply not true because the new law doesn\u2019t merely strengthen or clarify anything. As a lawyer, Healey certainly knows the language of the statute, with its total lack of restraints, opens the door wide for just about any reason to abort a child a doctor can come up with, including the mother\u2019s feelings. <\/p>\n<h2>A Proudly Pro-Death Catholic Who Got A Private Papal Audience<\/h2>\n<p>The previous Massachusetts abortion law permitted late-term abortions to preserve a patient\u2019s life, for physical and mental health reasons, or for lethal or severe fetal abnormalities. Pro-life doctors have publicly testified that abortion is essentially never medically necessary in such circumstances. But Healey and her cronies claimed allowing abortions of babies up to six months old in the womb wasn\u2019t \u201caccessible\u201d far enough. Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/13\/massachusetts-wont-let-you-sell-puppies-under-8-weeks-but-lets-you-abort-babies-until-birth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cats<\/a> have far more protection in Massachusetts than unborn humans. <\/p>\n<p>Healey proudly identifies as a Catholic. After securing a private audience with Pope Francis in 2024, she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/massachusetts-playbook\/2024\/05\/16\/when-healey-met-the-pope-00158298\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>: \u201cAs a Catholic, I think about what we were taught about making sure that we look after those around us \u2014 that we pay particular attention to those who are the most vulnerable among us.\u201d Is there anyone more vulnerable than a child in a mother\u2019s womb? <\/p>\n<p>Healey nevertheless went on to defend her position on abortion, stating: \u201cTo me, it doesn\u2019t make me any less of a Catholic or detract from my relationship to the faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Any conscientious Catholic would beg to differ. Throughout its entire history, the Catholic Church has maintained that abortion is a grave sin. Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usccb.org\/issues-and-action\/human-life-and-dignity\/abortion\/respect-for-unborn-human-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2271<\/a> of its catechism states: \u201cSince the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. The teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>The Just Consequence Is Obviously Excommunication<\/h2>\n<p>The catechism further <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholiccrossreference.online\/catechism\/#!\/search\/2270-2275\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">states<\/a> that \u201cformal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense\u201d to which the church \u201cattaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Excommunication can occur in one of two ways. Automatic excommunication occurs when a Catholic commits one of several acts listed in the church\u2019s Code of Canon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/cod-iuris-canonici\/eng\/documents\/cic_lib6-cann1364-1399_en.html#PARTICULAR_OFFENCES_AND_THE_PENALTIES_ESTABLISHED_FOR_THEM_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Law<\/a>, which includes procuring an abortion (section 1397), heresy, desecrating the Eucharist, and more. In other cases of grave sin, the decision is left up to a local bishop or judicial tribunal. <\/p>\n<p>Is Healey guilty of procuring an abortion or procuring <em>many<\/em> by signing such an egregious law? Or is her act a lesser sin that will trigger a <em>ferendae sententiae<\/em> proceeding? <\/p>\n<p>The Code of Canon <a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/about:blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Law<\/a> also states that those considered to be \u201cobstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion,\u201d arguably left up to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewtn.com\/catholicism\/library\/discipline-regarding-the-denial-of-holy-communion-to-those-obstinately-persevering-in-manifest-grave-sin-1230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decision<\/a> of the local priest. Bishop Thomas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewtnnews.com\/world\/us\/bishop-paprocki-examining-conscience-before-communion-is-essential\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paprocki<\/a>, a bishop in Pope Leo\u2019s home state of Illinois and, like Pope Leo, a canon lawyer, has said this should be applied to politicians who publicly and obstinately advocate for abortion. <\/p>\n<p>Several years ago, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/06\/18\/1008011203\/us-catholic-bishops-have-heated-debate-before-end-of-week-vote-on-communion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">debated<\/a> whether then-President Joe Biden, a Catholic, regular Mass-goer and staunch supporter of abortion rights, should continue to receive communion. Under section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/cod-iuris-canonici\/eng\/documents\/cic_lib4-cann879-958_en.html#Art._2.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">916<\/a> of the Canon Law, a person who is conscious of grave sin, as Biden should have been, may not receive communion without sacramental confession. <\/p>\n<p>The USCCB subsequently <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6121050\/catholic-bishops-joe-biden-communion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued<\/a> a teaching document on the Eucharist, but declined to rebuke the president. A few days before, Biden had a private audience Pope Francis, and later bragged that the pope had allegedly proclaimed him \u201ca good Catholic\u201d who \u201cshould keep receiving Communion.\u201d Emboldened, stalwart Catholic abortion advocates kept at it. <\/p>\n<p>In response, a few brave Bishops spoke out. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncronline.org\/vatican\/vatican-news\/pope-leo-appoints-conservative-san-francisco-archbishop-vatican-tribunal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">appointed<\/a> to the Catholic Church\u2019s Supreme Court, barred then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from communion, noting the \u201cgrave evil\u201d of her abortion advocacy.  <\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news10.com\/news\/politics\/ap-chicago-archbishops-decision-to-honor-us-senator-stirs-catholic-abortion-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025<\/a>, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced plans to bestow a lifetime achievement award on Catholic Sen. Dick Durbin for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/illinois\/article_4ff0f311-1df1-43d5-bd64-0f2da23dedfd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">open borders<\/a> advocacy. Bishop Paprocki, who had barred Durbin from communion in his diocese, objected once again, pointing out Durbin\u2019s decades-long support of abortion. Durbin later <a href=\"https:\/\/dio.org\/catholic-times\/the-lessons-of-a-declined-award\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">declined<\/a> to receive the award. <\/p>\n<p>CatholicVote, founded by Brian Burch, who is currently U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, has now called for Healey\u2019s excommunication. On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewtnnews.com\/world\/us\/massachusetts-abortion-law-horrendous-top-catholic-bishop-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">August 13<\/a>, Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, called Healey\u2019s action \u201cshocking\u201d and \u201chorrendous.\u201d He further stated the USCCB had no excommunication authority and called on the Massachusetts bishop to address the matter.<\/p>\n<p>Excommunication would not mean that Healey would be thrown out of the church. That\u2019s a common misunderstanding. Nor is <a href=\"https:\/\/ewtnvatican.com\/articles\/what-are-schism-and-excommunication-in-the-catholic-church\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">excommunication<\/a> designed to be punitive. The intent is medicinal in order to correct and encourage repentance and restoration to the faith. There\u2019s another important <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news10.com\/news\/politics\/ap-chicago-archbishops-decision-to-honor-us-senator-stirs-catholic-abortion-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">purpose<\/a>, which is to avoid scandal and confusion among Catholics and others regarding the church\u2019s teaching on the sanctity of human life.  <\/p>\n<p>Lt. Gov. Kim <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/news\/governor-healey-signs-legislation-strengthening-abortion-protections-in-massachusetts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Driscoll<\/a> said, \u201cFamilies facing devastating pregnancy complications deserve compassion, support and the ability to receive care from the doctors they know and trust.\u201d But not one iota of that is incompatible with also preserving life and avoiding savagery. <\/p>\n<p>The position of the Catholic Church on abortion is clear and unequivocal. It always has been. Yet according to a 2026 Pew Research study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/religion\/fact-sheet\/public-opinion-on-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">56 percent<\/a> of Catholics support the legality of abortion. Let\u2019s hope Healey\u2019s censure comes soon, and that it\u2019s not too late for a course correction on the confused minds of American Catholics, including other so-called Catholic politicians such as New York Gov. Kathy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityandstateny.com\/politics\/2022\/11\/where-do-hochul-and-zeldin-stand-big-policy-issues-affecting-new-york\/379376\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hochul<\/a>. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beverly Willett\u2019s legal thriller <i>Nobody\u2019s Fault<\/i> will be published by Old Fort Press in October 2027. A former New York City litigator and copyright attorney, Willett is also the author of <i>Disassembly Required: A Memoir of Midlife Resurrection<\/i> (Post Hill Press, 2019). She has written for The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner, First Things, The National Catholic Register, and more. She also co-founded the Coalition for Divorce Reform. Contact her at <a href=\"https:\/\/beverlywillett.com\/\">beverlywillett.com<\/a> and follow her on X <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BeverlyWillett\">@BeverlyWillett<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CatholicVote urges excommunication of Gov. Healey over abortion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2799,"featured_media":2647261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-19-at-16.11.11.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[43743,33551,34208,84427,84426],"class_list":["post-2647260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abortion-law","tag-catholic-church","tag-excommunication","tag-moral-doctrine","tag-religious-authority"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-19-at-16.11.11.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2799"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647260"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647264,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647260\/revisions\/2647264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}