Archbishop Burke, who is the head of the Vatican's equivalent to the Supreme Court, has come out again on the issue of pro-abortion politicians and reception of the Savior in the Holy Eucharist:
He told LifeSiteNews.com, "I don't understand the continual debate that goes on about it. There's not a question that a Catholic who publicly, and after admonition, supports pro-abortion legislation is not to receive Holy Communion and is not to be given Holy Communion."
"The Church's law is very clear," said Archbishop Burke, who was appointed last year by Pope Benedict XVI as the head of the Church's highest court, the Apostolic Signatura. "The person who persists publicly in grave sin is to be denied Holy Communion, and it [Canon Law] doesn't say that the bishop shall decide this. It's an absolute."
To the Archbishop's credit, he brings up the issue that most often gets ignored in this entire debate, namely, the denial of the Eucharist is done out of concern for the souls of the politicians in question.
"The Holy Eucharist, the most sacred reality of our life in the Church, has to be protected against sacrilege. At the same time, individuals have to be protected for the sake of their own salvation from committing one of the gravest sins, namely to receive Holy Communion unworthily."
This is meaningless talk to the Bidens/Pelosis of the world, but any priest who is really worried about the salvation of his parishioners' souls should be doing this and making no bones about why. It is the Year of St. Paul, after all.
Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:27
Monday, February 9, 2009
Speaking of Politicians and Abortions
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4 comments:
I get where you're going but no it is not right for anyone to deny communion to anyone. What would Jesus do? I think he invited sinners to the table -- And by saying that people who PUBLICLY support abortion should be denied but those who are "closet" supporters are ok you're encouraging secrecy and an underground catholicism --- and the last thing the catholic church needs right now is more secrecy.
(Lisa's Mom)
When you say it isn't right to deny communion, I'm not sure what you mean. The Church denies communion to Protestants, Jews, and excommunicants all the time.
I think Jesus would probably condemn the whole lot of such politicians as hypocrites and a brood of vipers. Or recommend action similar to what St. Paul did when he delivered Hymeneus and Alexander up to Satan.
There's also the problem of folks sinning in public creating scandal and wreaking devastation upon their own souls and those of others. Such a public sin wopuld seem to demand a public response so that others are not drawn in by their scandal. I understand that you have to be careful with the wheat and the tares, but as +Burke said, you aren't doing anyone much good by letting them commit sacrilege.
Thanks for the comments, and please keep them coming.
Will try -- and will try to be more precise in my language next time. (You MUST be a lawyer.) I think we have a fundamental difference in approach: I feel my religion provides my "moral compass" but has to have some room for interpretation (just like the law books) -- I don't think Jesus would condemn "such politians" I think he would be inclusive but continue to show why they should change their views. But who really knows, maybe you're right and I'm delusional.
Sadly, I am a lawyer. I apologize retroactively and in advance for all the negative things I do and say here. The legal industry corrupts.
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