The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life official at the Catholic Church says pro-abortion Health Secretary nominee Kathleen Sebelius should refrain from taking communion. The call comes after Sebelius' own bishop asked her to voluntarily not present herself for the sacrament because of her own pro-abortion views.

President Barack Obama nominated Sebelius for the top health post and pro-life organizations strongly oppose her nomination because of her lengthy pro-abortion voting record.

The reaction from the Catholic Church to Sebelius' pro-abortion record has been anything but pococurante.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City last year called on Sebelius to take the "necessary steps for amendment of her life."

"I hope that my request of the governor, not to present herself for Holy Communion, will provoke her to reconsider the serious spiritual and moral consequences of her past and present actions," the Archbishop wrote.

Now, Archbishop Raymond Burke, the prefect of the Apostolic Signature, is calling on her to refrain from taking the sacrament until she reforms her views.

"She is well known for her support of the right to procured abortion and for her public association with some of the more notorious agents of the culture of death. She has also favored other anti-life legislation, especially legislation which denies the right to life to the innocent and defenseless unborn," Burke said in an interview with Catholic Action.

Burke said Naumann was right in his actions in terms of both Catholic teachings and Canon Law.

He went on to say that Sebelius, no matter where she lives or is visiting, needs to refrain from receiving communion until she changes her abortion views.

"Whether Governor Sebelius is in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, or in any other diocese, she should not present herself for Holy Communion because, after pastoral admonition, she obstinately persists in serious sin," he said.

Burke indicated he is opposed to Sebelius' nomination.

"It is sad for our nation to have a person who favors the right to kill the unborn in the womb placed in charge of the federal office with responsibility for health and human services," he said.

"No matter how good Governor Sebelius’ record regarding other human life concerns may be, if she is not committed to the safeguarding of human life from its very inception, she should not be entrusted with the questions of health and human services for our nation," he told Catholic Action.

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