Posted on 04/26/2004 4:30:38 PM PDT by Polycarp IV
ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome
Code: ZE04042623
Date: 2004-04-26
U.S. Bishops' Task Force to Discuss Pro-Abortion Politicians
In Wake of Cardinal Arinze's Comments
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 26, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A task force set up the U.S. bishops' conference will discuss the reception of sacraments by Catholics whose political advocacy directly contradicts Church teaching.
Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the episcopal conference, announced the task force in the wake of a Vatican press conference last week in which Cardinal Francis Arinze said that politicians who support abortion must not go to Communion. He also said that priests must deny such politicians the sacrament.
Cardinal Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, was presenting a new Vatican instruction, "Redemptionis Sacramentum" (The Sacrament of Redemption), aimed at ensuring the proper celebration and reception of the Eucharist.
Bishop Gregory noted that the prefect's comments extended to U.S. politicians and said: "Cardinal Arinze stated it is the responsibility of the bishops of the United States to deal pastorally with such situations as they exist here."
"Each diocesan bishop has the right and duty to address such issues of serious pastoral concern as he judges best in his local church, in accord with pastoral and canonical norms," Bishop Gregory said.
"To assist us in our common discernment, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has established a task force to discuss issues with regard to the participation of Catholics in political life, including reception of the sacraments, in the cases of those whose political advocacy is in direct contradiction to Church teaching," he said.
"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.
He added: "It has always been our hope and expectation as bishops that men and women in political life, whatever their religious convictions, would be guided by and live out the truth of the faith given them by God with integrity."
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.
"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.
Yes, a toad can be consecrated to the episcopate.
K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple Stupid
This seems like about as clear-cut as it gets: either they are in union with Rome, or they aren't.
Opposing war in Iraq is not, has never been, and will never be Church doctrine.
Abortion is an unqualified evil. That is 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.
Balderdash. The truth divides and the Bishops had the duty to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify.
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.
Sink, do you thing the Bishops should zip the lip on the issue of Kerry amd the Eucharist?
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.
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.
He's 70. That's likely too old.
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.
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