A Call to Deny Communion to Cuomo

The New York Times ^ | 2/22/11 | Thomas Kaplan

[marshmallow]

ALBANY — A consultant to the Vatican’s highest court is calling for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to be denied holy communion because he lives with his girlfriend without being married to her.

Edward N. Peters, a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, who last year was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant to the Vatican court, the Apostolic Signatura, called the governor’s living situation “public concubinage” in his blog on Jan. 4, and said in a recent interview that Mr. Cuomo, who is Roman Catholic, must refrain from taking communion under canon law.

“The governor, with complete freedom, is publicly acting in violation of a fundamental moral expectation of the church,” Dr. Peters wrote in response to written questions from Cybercast News Service, a conservative Web site, which published his remarks Monday.

“His taking holy communion,” Dr. Peters wrote, “is objectively sacrilegious.”

“If he approaches for holy communion,” he added, “he should be denied the august sacrament.”

Mr. Cuomo’s marriage to Kerry Kennedy ended in a bitter, highly public divorce in 2003. When he is not staying at the Executive Mansion in Albany, Mr. Cuomo lives with Sandra Lee, a Food Network celebrity, at her home in Westchester County.

A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo, Josh Vlasto, declined to comment.

In his written responses, Dr. Peters also criticized Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, who presided over the Mass that Mr. Cuomo attended with Ms. Lee and his three daughters on Jan. 2.

A spokesman for Bishop Hubbard could not be reached for comment.

[marshmallow]

A spokesman for Bishop Hubbard could not be reached for comment.

Old mother Hubbard is hiding in a cupboard...........probably with his boyfriend.

[basil]

I am not unhappy to see this.....the Church has, IMO, become corrupted about the same way our country has.........(or maybe I’m just getting old and don’t like to see anything change)

[Dr. Sivana]

Hubbard is among the very worst of the very worst in the U.S. hierarchy. He has been wreckovating Albany since 1977, and still has three years left. He was only 38 when made bishop.

[pnh102]

I totally agree that the Church needs to enforce the rules with regards to Gov. Cuomo. But I have to ask, and this in the broader context of Christianity... we're all sinners, and all of our sins are equal in the eyes of God. I am sure that when God looks at all of the things we do, that He could find many reasons that we are all to be denied communion.

I guess my question is, why single out Gov. Cuomo when we are all worthy of such a punishment?

[MichaelCorleone]

If anyone needs the Holy Ghost it’s Status Quomo.

[Alex Murphy]

Edward N. Peters, a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, who last year was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant to the Vatican court, the Apostolic Signatura, called the governor’s living situation “public concubinage” in his blog on Jan. 4, and said in a recent interview that Mr. Cuomo, who is Roman Catholic, must refrain from taking communion under canon law.

Canon 915 - Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Sadly, Archbishop Chaput has indicated that it is the responsibility of the communicant to stay away from the Communion Rail. This is not correct. Rather, it is the responsibility of the Minister of the Eucharist to deny Holy Communion. This is a huge difference that goes against the Church's teachings regarding canon 915 as well as recent statements from the Vatican stating that the manifest pro-abortion politicians must be denied, and the burden IS upon the Minister to deny, NOT upon the communicant to stay away
. -- from the thread Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?

[Archbishop Timothy Dolan] also does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is seen as an outspoken defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives.
-- from the thread US bishops elect NYC archbishop as head in upset (Catholic bloggers blamed)

"...there's a question about whether this canon'' – the relevant church law – "was ever intended to be used'' to bring politicians to heel. He thinks not. "I stand with the great majority of American bishops and bishops around the world in saying this canon was never intended to be used this way.'' -- from the thread [Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion

Related threads:
Pro-Abortion New York and Nevada Governors Get Catholic Mass
Vatican Archbishop Burke: Public Repentance is Required for Pro-Abort Politicians
New San Fran Bishop: Sanctions against Pro-Abort Pols Makes Church Too 'Republican'
Columnist Reflects on Kennedy Funeral, Recalls 2004 Letter from Card. Ratzinger to Card. McCarrick
Did Obama receive Holy Communion at Senator Kennedy's Funeral Mass?
The Bishops Who Speak... And Those Who Don't
[Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion
Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?
Rebuking Rudy Giuliani: Cardinal Egan’s Teaching Moment After Giuliani’s Communion
Did Catholic Archbishop Lose Internal Vote Over Abortion, Communion Debate?
A reflection on canon 915
At a glance: Duties of the Catholic church leaders
May the Laity be Critical of it's Pastor, Bishop, Pope, Church? (Catholic Caucus)
Pope Clarifies That Only He Can Criticize a Cardinal

[rbmillerjr]

“A consultant to the Vatican’s highest court is calling for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to be denied holy communion because he lives with his girlfriend without being married to her.”

It’s about time. It will take time but orthodoxy will go stronger. In the end, they are better off being corrected now.

Those who are in public capacity and represent themselves as Catholics must be Catholic. They are deceiving fellow Catholics.

[rbmillerjr]

“...grow stronger...”

[Dr. Sivana]

all of our sins are equal in the eyes of God.

The Scriptures make a distinction about those sins against the Holy Ghost, which will neither be forgiven in this world or the next. (Matthew 12:32)

[nina0113]

I don’t think any Kennedy is capable of entering a sacramentally-valid marriage, so Cuomo should have no trouble getting an annulment, but he shouldn’t be receiving as long as he’s living in open adultery.

[pnh102]

The Scriptures make a distinction about those sins against the Holy Ghost, which will neither be forgiven in this world or the next. (Matthew 12:32)

Thank you for the reminder.

But is Gov. Cuomo's cohabitation with his girlfriend this level of sin?

[armydoc]

Old mother Hubbard is hiding in a cupboard...........probably with his boyfriend.

Is it proper for a Catholic to bash the heirarchy like this? Does a bishop not demand a modicum of respect by virtue of his position? If this heirarchy is indeed ordained by God as you all claim, I am shocked by the disrespect shown by professing Catholics.

[the invisib1e hand]

Again I ask, did cuomo receive communion during the Mass at St Patricks when bloomy, the Archbishop, and assorted other hotshots were strutting about?

[the invisib1e hand]

Geez you otta have made this a C thread to keep the detritus out.

[the invisib1e hand]

You otta click away, then.

[Celtic Cross]

This guy Hubbard shows far more disrespect to the position with his own actions. He is not worthy of being a Bishop, and he should be removed.

[marshmallow]

Is it proper for a Catholic to bash the heirarchy like this? Does a bishop not demand a modicum of respect by virtue of his position? If this heirarchy is indeed ordained by God as you all claim, I am shocked by the disrespect shown by professing Catholics.

What sort of "respect" would you show to the Apostle Judas if, by some strange circumstance, you were to meet him in the street?

Called and chosen by Christ, yes,........but a betrayer.

Please advise.

[Lazamataz]

Deny Cuomo communion? Eh, not very effective.

If you want to get his attention, deny Cuomo COMMUNISM.

[Dr. Sivana]

But is Gov. Cuomo's cohabitation with his girlfriend this level of sin?

Not particularly, as your typical sin against the Holy Ghost would be things like despair, blasphemy, presumption, etc.

In Cuomo's case, the main problem is the public and ongoing nature of the sin. In the old days, guys like this would apply (and typically get) an annulment. For once, someone challenged a Kennedy on an annulment (Sheila Rausch Kennedy), wrote a book, waited for the whole issue to wend its way to the Rota, and got it overturned.

Cuomo, as a divorced man, doesn't want to give up his Catholic status, and apparently doesn't want to risk an annulment not being approved. Hence, he is not free to marry in the Church.

With other sins, (e.g. lying in a serious matter), the priest would presume that you went to Confession, and were therefore cleared to receive Commununion. But if Cuomo is there with his shackup, and it is known by all that they are sharing quarters not as brother and sister, it is a cause of grave scandal, as he could not have gone to confession as there was not even a hint of penance of any kind.

Adultery is considered grave matter by the Catholic Church, though it is not a sin against the Holy Ghost. (In Catholic theology, besides the sin against the Holy Ghost is also Mortal vs. Venial Sin. In Sciptures this is also called Deadly Sin.

"If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and He will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly."(John 5:16-17)

[Iscool]

The Scriptures make a distinction about those sins against the Holy Ghost, which will neither be forgiven in this world or the next. (Matthew 12:32)

What are the sins against the Holy Ghost???