Nationwide Petition Launched To Withhold Communion From Pelosi, Biden and Others

Pewsitter ^ | Feburary 17, 2009

[NYer]

Pewsitter.com

February 17, 2009 – As Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi prepares to meet with Pope Benedict tomorrow in Rome, stateside, a nationwide petition project has been launched requesting the Catholic Bishops of the United States to withhold Communion from her and other prominent Catholics in public life that obstinately persist in their dissent from Catholic teaching on serious moral issues.

This nationwide Withholding Communion petition is being launched by Pewsitter.com, a Catholic News Portal. The goal of the petition drive is to gather a least 1 million petitions for presentation to the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican.

The basis for withholding communion is Canon 915, which stipulates that those "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion." Archbishop Burke, the head of the Church's highest court reiterated his view on this subject in a recent interview with LifeSite News dated January 30, 2009, in which he stated, "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."

Most Catholics don’t know that in addition to Canon 915, Canon law also compels Catholics to take action." Canon 212 S3, states that the Catholic faithful have " ..the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church."

While the Catholic faithful understand and support the behind-the-scenes dialogue and diplomacy that goes on with prominent Catholics, by the Bishops, to reconcile them with the Church -- when such dissent continues for years and in some cases decades - - in spite of the actions and activities that have been undertaken by past and present Bishops - - then it becomes necessary for a Bishop to take a formal public stand to prevent further scandal.

Unfortunately what has happened is that prominent, dissenting Catholics, in public life have continued to receive communion with impunity—and this has led to the false impression that the Church condones or at least tolerates such dissenting opinions on serious moral issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research to name a few.

Not only do these prominent Catholics disregard the Church’s teachings, but in many cases they actively and publicly promote policies and legislation that undermines, opposes and contradicts the Church’s teachings. Examples of such Catholics include Speaker of the House - Nancy Pelosi, Vice President - Joseph Biden, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Senator John Kerry, to name a few.

For more information or to complete the petition go to www.pewsitter.com/petition/

[NYer]

Ping!

[victim soul]

pro=life ping

[pillut48]

Forget withholding communion! These evil people who hide behind their 'ardent Catholicism' don't care!! They'll just keep on smiling those simpering arrogant smiles and talking out of both sides of their mouths, one side saying, "Oh, I'm such a good and faithful Catholic!" while the other said says, "KILL MORE BABIES!!!!" >:-(

Where's the petition to sign for their complete and total excommunication from the Church?? I'll sign that in a heartbeat!!!

[Melas]

Admittedly, I’m not a Catholic, but I don’t grasp the point of the the petition. Shouldn’t this be decided by bishops or cardinals or the Pope? A petition would seem to me to be the precursor of mob rule, which would seem to run counter the hierarchical structure of the Catholic church.

[PGR88]

I agree with everything printed here, but nonetheless, aren’t there better ways to show our massive displeasure with Pelosi and crew?

I didn’t realize that Holy Communion and the Sacraments were subject to a plebiscite. Kind of diminishes the power and majesty of the Sacraments, doesn’t it?

[Battle of Tours]

Pointless. So you punish Catholic politicians by enforcing Church doctrine. The problem for many years for Catholic Americans was convincing others that they were not Catholic first, American by happenstance. Punish them by un-electing them.

[svcw]

I am not Catholic so I am really not understanding the "withholding communion" deal. It has been my Christian upbringing and understand is that communion is between you and God. It is the condition of your heart before God that is what is important at communion. How can another person determine what the condition of ones heart is? Yes, I know we can see a demonstration of what that condition might be, but we are not God and can not know for certain.

Would a Catholic explain to me how you can call for this.

[thefrankbaum]

The Church has always taught that the Bread and Wine, during a true Mass, become the actual Body and Blood of Our Lord. In order to be worthy to receive this most sacred gift, one must be in a state of grace. Remaining in unrepentant sin removes you from grace, and thus, unworthy to eat His Body and drink His Blood.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

They should let other Christians have a say.

[Rumplemeyer]

When a million of the faithful express their opinion to the Catholic Church leaders they will listen for the same reason they listened to the outrage about the homosexual Priests molesting little boys, NO DONATIONS, money talks.

[dools007]

So where have these people been all these years? Better late than never I guess.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

More than merely unworthy - it’s a sacrilege.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[Salvation]

Their bishops already know this!

[Salvation]

Dascle needs to be included.

[svcw]

Good explanation. My understanding is the same with the difference is that we can not determine a repentant heart for another person. Oh, along with the bread and wine represents the Body and Blood of Christ.

[thefrankbaum]

It's a sacrilege only if they receive while unworthy. Not prior to that point.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Catholics, as other denominations do, practice “closed” communion (in Protestant terms). Being in a state of “grace” means being “one with the universal Church”. If you are out of agreement (i.e. grace), you should not receive the body and blood (communion in Protestant terms). That's the entire 9 yards so to speak. If you cannot in faith accept transubstantiation (as opposed to “remembrance”) of the sacramental elements, then you are not supposed to take communion, either.

If you are not one in the “body of Christ” then you take communion to your own detriment to the extent that you do not receive the fullness of the blessings that are associated with the sacrament.

That means that on matters of faith and morals, you'd better believe and faithfully observe all the commandments and Canon law, or you EXCOMMUNICATE YOURSELF through intractable behavior and being out of communion with the whole.

The pope doesn't bounce anybody out of the church (just as God doesn't bounce anybody out of heaven). They do it to themselves. When they return to the Church, like the prodigal son, they are welcomed with open arms. It isn't like being stood up against the wall with a firing squad.

[thefrankbaum]

We agree that you cannot truly know the heart of another, but clearly if someone consistently is in favor of abortion, they cannot have repented. Further, we believe that the Keys were given to Peter, and through him, to the Church. Thus, it is within the Church's power to excommunicate people. That all said, if any of them went to a priest for Communion, and the priest denied them, and they protested that, in fact, they were in a state of grace, it is likely the priest will relent and offer Communion. If it was a lie, the insult to God is on them.