… might have to be declared if the US Conference of Catholic Bishops follows through on their recent vote to draft a new teaching document on the Blessed Sacrament.
U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights.
The decision, vehemently opposed by a minority of bishops, came despite appeals from the Vatican for a more cautious and collegial approach to the divisive issue. And it raises questions of how closely the bishops will be able to cooperate with the Biden administration on issues such as immigration and racial injustice.
The result of the vote — 168 in favor and 55 against — was announced Friday near the end of a three-day meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was held virtually. The bishops had cast their votes privately on Thursday after several hours of impassioned debate.
The large majority by which the vote passed is reassuring. It should have been unanimous, though. Canon 915, which binds even bishops, should have made this a slam-dunk decision.
Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
Objections that appeal to alleged contradictions, re: Catholic politicians not being denied Communion for opposing illegal immigration and due to accusations of racism, are brazen copouts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms nations’ obligation to seek the good of their own people first and to limit immigration. It also obliges immigrants to respect their host country’s heritage and laws.
Following the Catechism obviously does not constitute grave sin. Going against it, on the other hand …
From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a “criminal” practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.
Sorry, pols. It’s no use trying to weasel out of the excommunication penalty by claiming different “public and private” stances on abortion, as St. John Paul II infallibly taught in Evangelium Vitae:
In light of that Magisterial teaching, it’s encouraging to hear this take from the Communion document’s supporting majority:
Supporters of the measure said a strong rebuke of Biden is needed because of his recent actions protecting and expanding abortion access, while opponents warned that such action would portray the bishops as a partisan force during a time of bitter political divisions across the country.
Black-letter canon law, the clear teaching of the Catechism, and infallible acts of the papal Magisterium all argue for rebuking pro-infanticide politicians. All the arguments against a rebuke boil down to fear of public opinion, which is spurning God to please the World out of cowardice.
We’ll see what the bishops’ document says in November.
Until then, don’t give money to people–including politicians–who hate you.
Excellent. Indeed, none of the arguments against rebuking Biden and Co. have any moral basis – at best they have a pragmatic basis, and a shoddy one at that. On the aside, where is that image at the top from?
Naju, Korea
Killing babies, much like owning slaves, is not a “personal” choice. In both cases there is another person involved. Using language to distort that truth doesn’t alter the moral reality.
Praise God!
Amen!
And amen.
I’ve been reminded again how few Protestants understand the remedial, disciplinary aspects of excommunication. I used to think of it as punishment as well, but actually trying to understand the Catholic view of the Sacraments has clarified a lot, including the fact that Communicate is a verb.
Of course, every Protestant up in arms about this is a liberal. Few seem to grasp the issue, that discipline is love, not rejection, and that receiving Communion is not an entitlement. They don’t know how unqualified they are to have an opinion.
Praise God that U.S. bishops should have the courage to chastise and admonish politicians advocating for the murder of babies. On top of denial of the Eucharist, I wonder if lovingly beating them over the head with a shoe to correct them would also be warranted.
As Andrew pointed out above, we should pray that the bishops correct Catholics in persistent, manifest, grave sin–if only for the sake of their souls.
It might be funny, and make some folks feel better, but I don’t think it would be well received or effective in the long run. Church discipline only works the way it’s supposed to when folks start from the knowledge that they are loved and understand they are being corrected because they are loved. That takes some grace, working in the life of the sinner. Otherwise, they just get angry and leave. That can also happen, I think, when the sinner identifies too strongly with the sin and thus takes the correction personally, or at some fundamental level rejects the moral authority of the church.
People who wear the skin of Christianity being torn between the world and church doctrine is the best development of 2021 so far.
Exactly. The bishops may not have intended it, but their meeting has been a massive Witch Test.