[Polycarp IV]

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.

[Polycarp IV]

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.

[Siobhan]

"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.

[Siobhan]

ABOLISH THE USCCB NOW!

[Integrityrocks]

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.

[Ravens70]

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....

[BlessedBeGod]

What's to discuss?

[Coleus]

What's there to talk about? Just excommunicate them already and be done with it.

And NO task force for the democrats' acceptance of homosexuality, immorality, no: 10 commandments in schools and courts, prayer in school, school vouchers and so on.

[Coleus]

`

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[cpforlife.org]

This cannot be just about John Kerry. That would not be correct and would rightly be perceived as taking sides.

EVERY Catholic politician (national, state, local) who has been supportive of ANY of the following: abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem-cell research, OR sodomite “marriage” should be the recipient of formal communication from his/her bishop.

Whatever the proper course is, like what the great Archbishop Burke (now of St. Louis) did.

Those who persist after the proper canonical steps would then be publicly excommunicated.

They could all be given the justice and merciful medicine of excommunication by July 1 and we could have an awesome Independence From Satanic Tyranny Day on The Fourth.

At the same time there should be a series of homilies nationwide and a series of inserts in every parish bulletin and diocesan paper on what the Church teaches about these subjects and teachings on Catholic civic responsibility.

IMO—the culture is so far gone it would take something this radical to turn it around—regardless of the elections.

The Church does not “kick people out”, it is a loving Mother. The sinner excommunicates himself, HE abandons his Savior. The Church -- just like a good parent -- here is trying to wake the person’s conscience, before they die, so that they may repent and avoid eternal hell.

[BlackElk]

Ping for later

[ThomasMore]

"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,"

Bishop-speak for..."We aint doin nuttin".

The Bishops in this country and around the world have lost their spine. In the process, they have forsaken the truth for worldly matters.

Deacon Francis

PS: I wrote to my own boss and told him I would be sending my Catholic Charities donation to the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign because they are doing a better job of fighting the abomination of abortion in the country than the USCCB is.

[cpforlife.org]

I saw where Card. Arinze is coming to U.S. (CA ?) for commencement speeches in mere weeks.

Do y'all suspect he will be privately hammering our linguini spine bishops on this?

I suspect the bishops will do nothing if left alone.

[hinckley buzzard]

"To assist us in our common discernment, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has established a task force to discuss issues..."

Translation: "We will deal with this unpleasantness by talking it to death in obscurity, issuing a report at some point in the future which will sink without a trace into the depths of the USCCB archives, unnoticed and unmourned. We could, I suppose, make a decision and take action, but...it's so much simpler this way."