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U.S. Bishops' Task Force to Discuss Pro-Abortion Politicians In Wake of Card. Arinze's Comments
zenit.org ^
| 4/26/04
| zenit.org
Posted on 04/26/2004 4:30:38 PM PDT by Polycarp IV
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ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome
Date: 2004-04-23
No Communion for Pro-Abortion Politicians, Says Cardinal Arinze
Clarifies That Priests Must Refuse Them the Eucharist
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Politicians who support abortion must not go to Communion and priests must deny them the sacrament, says Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The cardinal clarified this position of the Church today at a press conference called to present the instruction "'Redemptionis Sacramentum': On Certain Matters to Be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy Eucharist."
In response to a journalist's question, Cardinal Arinze said: "If the person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively, the answer is there."
The cardinal explained that a priest must not give Communion unless it is a surprise occasion and "he does not have the time to reflect."
One of the journalists asked the cardinal if he could give his judgment on the concrete application of this norm in the case of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, who says he is a Catholic but supports abortion.
"The norm of the Church is clear," he said. "The Catholic Church exists in the U.S.A. and there are bishops there. Let them interpret."
Kerry supports abortion and has said he would nominate only U.S. Supreme Court justices who support his position. Pro-life groups in the United States say Kerry has a "perfect record" of voting for legislation that allows abortion.
To: .45MAN; AAABEST; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; Annie03; Antoninus; ...
Cardinal Arinze:
"If the person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively, the answer is there."
Bishop Gregory:
"The establishment of this task force is a clear sign of the seriousness with which we take these issues and continue to consider how best to interpret and apply the norms of the Church in their regard,"
Dear Bishop gregory,
There is nothing to interpret and no need for a task force, unless your sole objective is to remain silent till after election to aid your boy Kerry.
Follow Rome or resign, you spineless jerk.
2
posted on
04/26/2004 4:34:48 PM PDT
by
Polycarp IV
(PRO-LIFE orthodox Catholic--without exception, without compromise, without apology. Any questions?)
To: Polycarp IV
"The establishment of this task force is a clear sign of the seriousness with which we take these issues and continue to consider how best to interpret and apply the norms of the Church in their regard," said the bishop of Belleville, Illinois. Yes, a toad can be consecrated to the episcopate.
3
posted on
04/26/2004 4:38:30 PM PDT
by
Siobhan
(+Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet+)
To: Polycarp IV
If you are interested, Arinze will be in California in approx 3 weeks for a college graduation ceremony. Hopefully he will have a pocketful of Blank Anathemas for me to take home with.
4
posted on
04/26/2004 4:41:54 PM PDT
by
m4629
To: Polycarp IV; NYer; sandyeggo; Desdemona; ELS; maryz; Pyro7480; Canticle_of_Deborah; nickcarraway; ..
ABOLISH THE USCCB NOW!
5
posted on
04/26/2004 4:42:52 PM PDT
by
Siobhan
(+Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet+)
To: Polycarp IV
Its about time... I certainly hope that the Bishops really put some meat into our Doctrine. Its just not fair to the "dumbed down" Catholics that they continue to believe that "abortion and communion" are compatible. They are not. Support of abortion is a "grave/mortal sin" and you cannot receive the Body and Blood of Christ with mortal sin on your soul. Period. Catholics need to either get it or get out --- go be Episcopalian.
To: Polycarp IV
It appears the old saying applies in this case,
K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple Stupid
7
posted on
04/26/2004 4:50:20 PM PDT
by
TYVets
("An armed society is a polite society." - Robert A. Heinlein & me)
To: Integrityrocks
I think this falls under the "be careful what you ask for" category. What happens when some bishop somewhere in the world expands on this to forbid communion to politicians who support the war in Iraq? ...or to anyone speaking ill of their bishop? Will you be as supportive? Will you stop receiving communion? Not long ago to was almost impossible for a Catholic to get elected in this country because of the fear that they would be "taking orders from Rome." If the Vatican wins on this issue, it won't be the last marching order to elected officials. Do we really want some bishop in Italy or France or Germany tell our officials how to vote? On a separate topic---what Bible are these people reading to get these ideas? Jesus made a point of welcoming sinners; Judas was invited to the Last Supper. Using communion as a weapon is about as unchristian as you can get.
To: Polycarp IV
You know, I have tried to think of a charitable interpretation of these bishops' actions, but one does not easily come to mind.
This seems like about as clear-cut as it gets: either they are in union with Rome, or they aren't.
9
posted on
04/26/2004 5:29:14 PM PDT
by
B Knotts
(Just another medieval Catholic)
To: lnbjohnson
What happens when some bishop somewhere in the world expands on this to forbid communion to politicians who support the war in Iraq? Opposing war in Iraq is not, has never been, and will never be Church doctrine.
Abortion is an unqualified evil. That is Church doctrine.
10
posted on
04/26/2004 5:30:58 PM PDT
by
B Knotts
(Just another medieval Catholic)
To: Polycarp IV
The people of Belleville really like Bishop Gregory.
That doesn't say much for Belleville, does it? They can always cross the great divide and come over here where Burke has actually followed Rome.
11
posted on
04/26/2004 5:32:30 PM PDT
by
Desdemona
(Evil attacks good. Never forget.)
To: B Knotts; Polycarp IV
Opposing war in Iraq is not, has never been, and will never be Church doctrine. But, if a particular bishop thinks it is, or thinks that politicians supporting capital punishment (which has been pretty well condemned by JP II) should be refused the Eucharist, he will point to this "policy" as his pretext.
I don't think Gregory is trying to give the election to Kerry; I think he's trying to avoid giving the election to Kerry.
This kind of thing, if not handled deftly, has a way of backfiring.
12
posted on
04/26/2004 5:42:42 PM PDT
by
sinkspur
(Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
To: Polycarp IV
I would love to see Cardinal Arinze as the next pope...His first order of busines would be to rename Georgetown University as Bob Jones University-North....
13
posted on
04/26/2004 5:49:12 PM PDT
by
Ravens70
To: sinkspur
This kind of thing, if not handled deftly, has a way of backfiring Balderdash. The truth divides and the Bishops had the duty to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify.
MORE DIVISION, LESS DEFTNESS.
14
posted on
04/26/2004 5:59:31 PM PDT
by
Catholicguy
(MT1618 Church of Peter remains pure and spotless from all leading into error, or heretical fraud)
To: Catholicguy
MORE DIVISION, LESS DEFTNESS. No. The Greater Good is the guiding principle here.
And John Kerry as President is the least good, that must be avoided at all costs.
15
posted on
04/26/2004 6:05:39 PM PDT
by
sinkspur
(Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
To: sinkspur
And John Kerry as President is the least good, that must be avoided at all costs. Sink, do you thing the Bishops should zip the lip on the issue of Kerry amd the Eucharist?
16
posted on
04/26/2004 6:10:35 PM PDT
by
don-o
(Stop Freeploading. Do the right thing and sign up for a monthly donation.)
To: lnbjohnson
think this falls under the "be careful what you ask for" category. What happens when some bishop somewhere in the world expands on this to forbid communion to politicians who support the war in Iraq? Good food for thought. Would be a good debate on Just War.
But here on 26 Apr 04, we are talking about Catholic elected officials who vote in favor of killing babies.
17
posted on
04/26/2004 6:15:37 PM PDT
by
don-o
(Stop Freeploading. Do the right thing and sign up for a monthly donation.)
To: don-o
Sink, do you thing the Bishops should zip the lip on the issue of Kerry amd the Eucharist? I think the bishops should continue to put the onus on Kerry; to insist that he should examine his support of abortion in light of the teaching of the Church.
I don't want the Church to influence the election in Kerry's favor, and I fear a photo-op of Kerry being refused could do just that.
That may sound pragmatic, but much more than the Church's policy is at stake in this election.
18
posted on
04/26/2004 6:22:38 PM PDT
by
sinkspur
(Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
To: Ravens70
I would love to see Cardinal Arinze as the next pope...He's 70. That's likely too old.
19
posted on
04/26/2004 6:23:49 PM PDT
by
sinkspur
(Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
To: lnbjohnson; .45MAN; AAABEST; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; Annie03; ...
expands on this to forbid communion to politicians who support the war in Iraq? ...That bishop will be slapped down immediately on canon law grounds. Nothing to worry about here.
Jesus made a point of welcoming sinners; Judas was invited to the Last Supper.
That was BEFORE Judas betrayed Him, NOT after.
Using communion as a weapon is about as unchristian as you can get.
Refusing to apply the spritual work of Mercy that is the refusal of the Eucharist to the hardened public sinner is as unchristian as you can get.
It leaves them with the false hope that they can continue their public grave sin without fear of temporal punishment (excommunication) or spiritual punishment, Eternal Damnation.
It is NOT an act of charity to contyinue to allow Kerry to receive. It is a statement by the USCCB that they don't give a damn if Kerry dies and goes to hell, just so long as their candidate and ideology wins and they aren't forced to make uncomfortable decisions and apply Church law as Rome instructs.
20
posted on
04/26/2004 6:42:14 PM PDT
by
Polycarp IV
(PRO-LIFE orthodox Catholic--without exception, without compromise, without apology. Any questions?)
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