Posted on 09/17/2014 12:30:31 PM PDT by BlatherNaut
LOL....yes, real ones aren’t so good for you.
I don’t dispute anything you have said. However, is a priest to assume a person presenting himself for Holy Communion is free of mortal sin? If that is so, then how can a priest know if politician so-and-so hasn’t gone to confession and reformed their life?
While past behavior suggests Nancy Pelosi will never repent of supporting abortion, is it the duty of the Church to assume such?
I am asking this as Devil’s Advocate.
A priest would know because the politician would make it public that he/she has reformed their life. If they go to confession and remain pro-choice, then that confession is invalid. A notable public sinner requires a public confession.
“If that is so, then how can a priest know if politician so-and-so hasn’t gone to confession and reformed their life?”
That's easy.
A politician who has publicly proclaimed support for abortion is still giving scandal, is still sinning, mortally, until he has publicly repented.
He sins twice. First, he commits himself to baby-murder. Second, by publicly supporting baby-murder and proclaiming himself a good Catholic and receiving communion, he leads others to Hell by his evil example.
The sin of being a pro-abort may be gone, but the sin of leading others to damnation is not yet corrected. Without making his repentance public, he does not cease leading others to Hell.
“While past behavior suggests Nancy Pelosi will never repent of supporting abortion, is it the duty of the Church to assume such?”
Of course it is. We see Franky over there in Rome saying that mafiosi can't be buried in the Church. But what if they privately had a deathbed conversion, and the priest who would otherwise celebrate the funeral Mass is unaware?
Too bad. The public nature of the sin remains until the sinner repudiates it.
I understand the pope's view, here. This fellow may have murdered some folks during his long, criminal career. It would give scandal if he had not publicly repudiated his evil.
The pope is right, here.
A fortiori with pro-abort politicians, who are morally drowned in the blood of tens of millions of innocents.
In fact, in something a little less serious than baby-murder, we know that the Church teaches that those who find themselves in a second, putative "marriage" without the benefit of a declaration of nullity (while the spouse still lives) may live together if they live together chastely, if it is necessary to fulfill family obligations. But the Church ALSO teaches that if it will give scandal to others in the parish, that they still should not approach for the Blessed Sacrament.
The issue of scandal, of not leading others to Hell by one's own bad example, is so important, that the Church BARS from reception of communion those WHO ARE NOT ANY LONGER IN SIN, but where many might misconstrue the circumstances, and be led into sin.
Again, all the more reason to apply the same moral theology to baby-murderers who have not publicly repented of their red, bloody crimes against God, humanity, and innocent babies.
It is disgusting to defend bishops who permit the crime of giving communion to notorious pro-aborts. It is disgusting to have to actually make arguments to show that it is gravely criminal. I need a shower.
sitetest
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.