Posted on 04/30/2014 9:32:45 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
The question of whether Catholic politicians who support abortion should receive or be denied Holy Communion has been a source of contentious debate amongst many bishops and theologians. But according to one of the Vatican’s most senior cardinals, the answer to the question is so simple that even schoolchildren intuitively know it.
In an exclusive video interview with LifeSiteNews.com this week, Cardinal Francis Arinze observed that he is often asked about pro-abortion Catholic politicians and Holy Communion. “Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that?” the cardinal said he tells his questioners. “Is that really a difficult question?”
Instead, says Arinze, he suggests that people who are confused about the issue should go ask a class of children preparing for their First Communion.
“Explain it to them,” he said. “They will ask you, ‘What is abortion?’ Don’t use euphemism. Tell them what it is. It is killing a child not yet born in the mother’s womb. And then tell them if a person is for that, and says that he will continue to support the killing of such children, should such a person receive Holy Communion?”
-Snip-
Canon 915 of the Church’s Code of Canon Law states that those who are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”
Though some bishops and cardinals have opposed the use of the canon, the Vatican has been clear in upholding it. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then-head of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, wrote a letter to the U.S. bishops exhorting them to deny Communion to pro-abortion politicians after attempting to reach out to them.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
Why is he obsessing on this peripheral issue when there’s inequality to confront?
Wooo-ooo!
Good.More movement in the right direction by the church.Prety soon Nancy,the truth is catching up.
Unless you become like little children, you will not see the Kingdom of God.
Abortion is PERIPHERAL? Peripheral to what?
thought you were supposed to go to Confession before you go to Communion. Would a priest ask a pro-abort politician about that in confession? Or is this just for whatever the congregant offers up to the priest? I have seen an Episcopal priest, back in the 1990s deny communion to someone at the altar who had punched out someone in front of everyone at a church festival.
Tongue in cheek. Pope Francis said the Church is obsessed with abortion and sent a Tweet that “inequality is the root of social evil”. Pro-life, anti-marxist Catholics are free to disagree.
How likely is it that those who go around “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin” even bother with Confession?
I haven’t heard from Cdl Arinze for a long while. Is he retired now, or does Pope Francis simply not like him? Or maybe the press doesn’t like him? (But they never did...)
That puts it back on the priests then- as I understand it Communion is only for those who have gone to confession. “Go and sin no more....” so saith the Lord.
Regardless of what these men dressed in holy garb say, God is keeping the only record that counts. And nobody cons Him, He knows what we are thinking.
Should be... isn't. Apparently talking equates to living and setting an example for the faithful... pathetic.
Some here need to see a sarcasm tag. Not a bad idea. :)
Chuckle. Nice comment.
Very true.
Those who are paying attention know it is sarcasm. Those who are not provide entertainment.
This reminds me of Dianne Feinstein who was SUCH an anti-gun person.
THEN it was discovered that SHE packed. I LOVE it when the chickens come home to roost! ;o)
===========================================
From SF GATE:
Debra J. Saunders
Feinstein’s gun-packing history
Posted on Thursday, March 21 at 4:18am | By Debra J. Saunders
Gun enthusiasts love to point to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s history with guns as evidence of the Senator’s hypocrisy. Feinstein used to have a concealed weapon permit. She said in 1995 that she used to carry a gun — a .38 5-shot, according to her office – when she walked to the hospital to visit her (now late) ailing husband. The Hill ran a story about DiFi’s gun history which you can read here.
LOL or unemployment.
Too bad Francis allows them to receive communion.
What a farce.
CATHOLICS:
Confession isn't needed before communion every day because some people DON'T sin every day.
Mortal sins require confession before communion.
Venial sins require a good act of confession, if one even remembers the venial sin. I suppose God does have mercy on those souls whose memories falter when recalling a venial sin from two months ago.
As one ages and matures, one realizes that sin in not only wrong but stupid, foolish and not a good thing for anyone. One then stops sinning so much because one IS more mature and in control of him/herself. That's the theory.
It HAS easier to be a better person as I age.
QUESTIONS:
--How did that Episcopal priest know that the guy who did the punching wasn't sorry for his sin?
--How did he know that he didn't apologize and "make it right" with the guy he punched?
--How did he know that he didn't make it right with God?
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