Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion

Catholic News Service ^ | July 31, 2003

[NYer]

BOSTON (CNS) -- Boston Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has stated that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion should not receive Communion of their own volition, but the church does not deny Communion to people approaching the altar, presuming they do so in "good faith." The Boston Archdiocese issued a July 29 statement outlining the new archbishop's position in response to a Boston Globe article. A July 27 Globe article discussed a 1992 controversy involving a Catholic politician who backed legal abortion when Archbishop O'Malley headed the Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

[sitetest]

Dear St.Chuck,

"That's a nice sentiment, but I guess it doesn't apply to 'Chappaquiddick Ted and Comrade Kerry.'"

It certainly does apply to them. I certainly denounce what they have done. In calling him by this moniker, I remind all what Chappaquiddick Ted did - murder. It is relevant, because what he most ardently works to protect in law is murder. Chappaquiddick Ted continues his murderous actions. I denounce it. I denounce it.

As for Comrade Kerry, perhaps you haven't read his totalitarian remarks about the appropriate nature of Church/State relations. He has denounced the pope for saying that Catholic politicans who work for creating legal homosexual "marriages" sin gravely. He has said that the pope has violated the principle of separation of Church and State. That is the totalitarian point of view. It elevates State to the highest place in the society, to the position of privilege. All else must fall under it. Church is merely tolerated as long as Church doesn't get uppity, and disagree with the party line. That is the totalitarian impulse. I denounce it. I denounce it.

But read what I've posted. As much as I revile all they do and stand for, I fear for their souls, and do not wish for them to be damned. I regret Archbishop O'Malley's inaction as well because it was a missed opportunity to try to draw these men to repentance.

Their actions are evil and perverse beyond description. They share the guilt for the blood of forty million innocent victims. They have shown by their actions that they embrace the sacrament of death, the sacrament of abortion. They have shown by their actions that they worship at the altar of Baal, the high places once torn down, now rebuilt, sacrificing anew to the pagan lusts of infanticide.

The evil they do is beyond any words I can muster. And they proclaim their filthy works, they proclaim their filthy love of their sacrament as the good, as the moral, as the sacred and holy.

Yet, God wishes all men to be saved, even these two. So do I. I am disappointed with Archbishop O'Malley's failure as well because these men, drowning in evil, at ease, comfortable with their horrible evil, need someone to shake them up, to say, "Repent before it's too late!"

I haven't said that it would be necessary to publicly call these men out and hold them up for humiliation. I've said that Archbishop O'Malley could have done this privately, a private call to each man, to say.

He could have said something like, "Your actions are those of a public sinner. You ought not approach for Holy Communion. You will be refused. The reason why I am doing is this is because your insistence on protecting in law the slaughter of innocents is gravely evil, and you likely are in mortal sin, and in danger of losing your soul. I encourage you to repent, to confess, to amend your life. The time for salvation is now."

I'm sure that Archbishop O'Malley could have said it ten times more elegantly, gracefully, and persuasively than that.

THAT's what I wished for these men. Perhaps it may have fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps not.

But that is one of the tasks of a bishop.


sitetest

[Barnacle]

AS I see it, the arrival of Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley in Boston is a reason for celebration. Let’s not foul it up by focusing on the sins of Kerry and Kennedy.

In the context of history, things are changing rapidly for the better. For the sake of all that is good, let’s have patience.

[Land of the Irish]

“Those who…obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Communion.” Canon Law 915

[Barnacle]

I know, I know, the law is the law. But there must be room for discretion. Let’s keep things in perspective. If not, we’d all get speeding tickets on a daily basis.

I believe Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley is a good and wise man. And, I’m certainly willing to give his rationale the benefit of the doubt.

[Tantumergo]

"He could have said something like, "Your actions are those of a public sinner. You ought not approach for Holy Communion. You will be refused. The reason why I am doing is this is because your insistence on protecting in law the slaughter of innocents is gravely evil, and you likely are in mortal sin, and in danger of losing your soul. I encourage you to repent, to confess, to amend your life. The time for salvation is now." "

Living across the pond, I am not that familiar with K&K, but do you think that he might indeed have contacted them privately about this?

If Kennedy left without receiving communion, then this may indicate that words have been spoken. Is he known to have attended Mass without receiving communion before?

[sitetest]

Dear Tantumergo,

I think it is reasonable to believe that he told them this:

http://www.rcab.org/News/ForTheRecord/ftr030729.html


sitetest

[american colleen]

Just as a general observation, I don't believe Kennedy and Kerry attend Mass except when it is "high profile." I remember that John Kerry married Teresa Heinz after he was divorced and before he had an annulment from his first marriage (which he applied for two years after the second marriage). I'm sure the annulment was granted (hey, we're in Massachusetts!) although I don't remember reading about it in the papers.

[sitetest]

Dear american colleen,

I can't say that it is still the case, but I seem to recall that Mr. Kennedy has been for many years a regular church-goer at Holy Trinity in Washington, DC.


sitetest

[american colleen]

Could be... I am only going by what happens in Massachusetts.

[Aquinasfan]

Love those signs. I've seen Bill Kotter holding those signs at a lot of pro-life marches.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I read an article on Canon Law 915, it argued that an Extraordinary EM has an obligation to deny communion, if the priest does not. What do you think?

[Aquinasfan]

The bishop OWES THEM THE OBLIGATION of calling them out, publicly, to turn away from their sin.

Yes. You're right. It's a charitable act.

[sitetest]

Dear presidio9,


Regarding what Archbishop O'Malley tolerates, he has posted his policy on the Archdiocese of Boston website.

http://www.rcab.org/News/ForTheRecord/ftr030729.html

Here is what it says:

"July 29, 20033 - Response to the Boston Sunday Globe, July 27, 2003, pp.B10-11, “For roiled parish, uneasy compromise,” by Jack Thomas.

"In the story, Shirley Gomes, a then pro-choice candidate for the office of state representative recalls a conversation that she had with Bishop Sean: 'he assured me that if my position on abortion was an act of conscience, then I would not be denied Communion.'”

"Archbishop O’Malley wishes to make clear that there was much more to the conversation with now state representative Gomes. In particular, Archbishop O’Malley made it clear to her that a Catholic politician who holds a public, pro-choice position should not be receiving Communion and should on their own volition refrain from doing so. The Church presumes that each person is receiving in good faith. It is not our policy to deny Communion. It is up to the individual."

There it is. Though the archbishop believes the person ought not receive Holy Communion, the archbishop will not order that he or she be refused.

You may wish to look over this thread, which is largely about the dispute about this question.


sitetest

[Land of the Irish]

I am not familiar with the article you mentioned, but from what you say about it, I think I would be inclined to agree with it.

[St.Chuck]

I suggest you study your own religion, before you continue your feeble attempts to be an internet preacher.

How do you square Luke:15 with Luke 9:5?

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

[St.Chuck]

#135 was meant for you.

[Salvation]

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