Posted on 10/06/2005 5:06:11 PM PDT by Coleus
Code: ZE05100401
Date: 2005-10-04
Question Raised on Communion and Abortion
Prefect of Doctrinal Congregation Presses the Issue
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is urging the Synod of Bishops to discuss whether voters who support pro-abortion candidates should be receiving Communion.
Archbishop William Levada, who succeeded Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as prefect of the dicastery, quoted No. 73 of the working document of the Synod on the Eucharist, in which reference is made to the relationship between the Eucharist, morality and public life.
The archbishop today suggested that the experience of other countries be heard, after noting that the issue has divided the Church in his country, the United States.
No. 73 states that "too many receive the sacrament without having sufficiently reflected on their moral state in life," and adds that "[s]ome receive Communion while denying the teachings of the Church or publicly supporting immoral choices in life, such as abortion, without thinking that they are committing an act of grave personal dishonesty and causing scandal."
Archbishop Levada suggested that the synod, in its small-group discussions, debate the problem of Catholics "who do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favor of abortion or other serious acts against life."
Crisis in meaning
No. 73 of the "instrumentum laboris," or working document, warns that "[s]uch attitudes lead to, among other things, a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the Church and in a clouding of the distinction between venial and mortal sin."
According to Isidro Catela, the Spanish reporter on the Synod of Bishops, the synodal fathers are especially interested in reflecting further on the "horizontal dimension" of the Eucharist, which has been "neglected."
This dimension is the one that links the Eucharist with social transformation. "One cannot come out of the Eucharist the same as one entered it," a phrase heard repeatedly in the Synod Hall, said Catela. "From the Eucharist must flow a certain
"No. 73 of the "instrumentum laboris," or working document, warns that "[s]uch attitudes lead to, among other things, a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the Church and in a clouding of the distinction between venial and mortal sin."
As an Orthodox Christian, I can ascribe 100% to His Eminence's concern about a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the Church, but to go on to make the legalistic distinction between moratl and venial sins merely, in my opinion, compounds the problem presented.
**discuss whether voters who support pro-abortion candidates should be receiving Communion.**
Getting down to the voters!! This is good!
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Salvation,Bump.
It's a good thing to put up for church discussion. I think we know where the Pope stands on this!
The only thing that bothers me is that this should be across the board. This means school teachers, pundits, administrators etc. It shouldn't sound just political.
Wish they would speak English.
Agree!
There should be no debate on this, just openly tell your sheep not to support such a candidate. People do not understand because they hear NOTHING from their bishops and in some cases their parish priest. I often feel the bishops do not say anything because they are more concerned about offending someone.
"I often feel the bishops do not say anything because they are more concerned about offending someone"
Hey, if they start telling their parishoners not to vote for pro-aborts, they won't get invited to all those open-buffet, open-bar parties.
When are we going to get back to the fact that church is not a social club, but a life changing decision? And how about "you follow the rules or you don't play the game."
People want to know that someone is in control and command. It's time the church stepped up to the plate on this one and let people know the rules will be enforced.
As each day goes by I am heartened a little more.
8mm
Sounds like there needs to be some serious sermonizing on the matter before such a decision could be enforced. People need to decide in their hearts what they should do. If they are pro-abortion, and decide to continue receiving, they need to know what they are doing to their own souls in the process.
We actually had people walk out during a homily by a transitional Deacon before the 2004 elections. The Deacon basically said that as Catholics we cannot support pro-abortion politicians, regardless of our party affiliation or personal preference. I know Abp. Raymond Burke would've approved.
I often feel the bishops do not say anything because they are more concerned about offending someone.
&&
Amen! When was the last time you heard a homily that condemned abortion? I don't think I have heard one in 20 years.
They walked away from Jesus when he said "hard things."
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