Posted on 04/19/2008 12:30:24 PM PDT by BGHater
Twice-divorced former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani took Communion at a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict on Saturday, breaching rules that bar those who remarry outside the Church from doing so.
As he left New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral with his third wife, Judith, the failed presidential candidate confirmed to Reuters that he took Communion from a priest.
Asked if he was uncomfortable with having broken the Church ban on the divorced and remarried taking Communion, Giuliani said, "No."
The Church does not recognize divorce and teaches that divorced Catholics are still married to their earlier partner unless the Church grants them an annulment, or ruling that the initial marriage was invalid.
Giuliani unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the White House this year. As New York mayor, he rose to prominence after the September 11 attacks, when he was hailed for his leadership during the crisis.
Despite his Catholic faith, Giuliani has espoused socially liberal political positions such as backing a woman's right to choose an abortion and supporting gay rights.
Last year Pope Benedict reaffirmed that Catholics who divorce and remarry cannot receive Communion unless they abstain from sexual relations with their new partner.
But U.S. clergy tend to leave it up to individual parishioners who are divorced to refrain from taking Communion instead of excluding them from the sacred rite.
Catholics believe that during Mass, the Communion host and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ.
At Saturday's Mass, the pope consecrated bread and wine that was distributed to the congregation by other priests. Giuliani did not take Communion from the pope himself.
During the presidential campaign, Giuliani said he had some "very, very strong views on religion" that come from him having wanted to be a priest when he was younger and studying theology for four years in college.
Among other politicians who attended the Mass was current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is Jewish.
No, you’re not missing anything.
How would a random Priest at a mass Mass know for certain the disposition of the soul of a communicant?
How would a random Priest at a mass Mass know for certain the disposition of the soul of a communicant?
“Stupid article. Let’s single out Rudy once again.”
and people stuck on stupid?
He wouldn't; I'm not talking about this particular Mass but priests who KNOW their parishioners WOULD KNOW who are divorced and remarried without an annulment!
Now about my initial queston? Was Rudy not supposed to receive Holy Communion or have the rules changed? Or did Rudy commit a mortal sin?
So Rudy is another “Cafeteria Catholic” who commits a mortal sin every time he receives Holy Communion.
“brat?”
who are you calling a “brat”
FYI, I don’t NEED the number for a priest,
I have been a practicing Catholic for almost 60 years, thank you. I just wanted confirmation on what I understood the ruling was regarding divorcees & Holy Communion and whether or not the rule had been changed.
:)I am sorry.
This is not a question of judging him. It's merely stating the obvious the Julie Annie blatantly disregarded church teaching... Again.
He can't. However, in the case where he is aware of a potential problem, such as with Julie Annie's very public situation, the priest can ask if he's been squared away before offering it to him.
Your tagline is my favorite line from one of my favorite movies.
Not believe and go to church/believe and be really good/believe and take communion/ believe and be baptized. Yes, all those are not bad things but have NOTHING to do with salvation. Check it out, it's in the Bible.
In the case of Giuliani, there are two factors to be considered. The first one is his divorce and remarriage 3 times.
Communion of Divorced and Remarried (Catholics)
The second factor is his obstinate support for abortion. The following information dates to when then Cardinal Ratzinger addressed this question in his capacity as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Cardinal Ratzinger lays out principles on denying Communion, voting
Thank you for the information & the links!
I guess Rudy, Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi et al live by their own rules.
bump
Showing what a creep Clintoon is; I’ve got to find that pic where he takes Communion.
I am commenting on people, like Rudy, etc., who purport to be Catholic, and then openly, flagrantly, publicly break all the rules and demand to be SEEN as accepting communion in a very public way. Not only are they hypocrites, but also insistent on shoving it to the church while making a statement that no one misses.
Perhaps Rudy believes the Catholic church has "idiotic rules" as you do. Then why does he publicly pretend to be a practicing Catholic instead of finding another church that conforms to his beliefs instead of flaunting what the Catholic church stands for? The only reason I can think of is a NEED to stick it to the Catholic church and for all the world to take notice of HIM while he does it.
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