Archbishop Chaput
…This Eucharistic discipline, the coherence of Catholic belief and the behavior it requires, is rooted both in Scripture and constant Church practice. It applies to all Catholics, not merely public officials, and it applies all the time and everywhere. There is nothing intentionally “political” about it. Claiming that it weaponizes the Eucharist for political ends is both misleading and, when advanced by anyone in Church leadership, inexcusable. No bishop eagerly seeks to punish or publicly humiliate anyone by denying a person Communion. Such an action is always a last resort for the salvation of the sinner’s soul. Additionally, in today’s thoroughly cynical media environment, any such action invites a storm of faux outrage over the “martyrdom” of the wounded public figure. But the obligation of “eucharistic coherence” — i.e., conforming our private and public lives to what the Church teaches and what we claim to believe as Catholics — remains as a matter of personal integrity. And Denver’s Archbishop Samuel Aquila and San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone have articulated that fact very well….
It is Rome’s Cardinal Luis Ladaria that now counsels a more patient approach on the matter of Communion and politicians, with more dialogue and discussion — as if that strategy hadn’t already been tried and failed, repeatedly, for the last four decades. There’s a reason Nancy Pelosi was “pleased” (her word) with the recent letter from the CDF’s prefect Ladaria to USCCB president Archbishop José Gomez. It can only provide her with cover, assuming she even bothers with such details. The letter also fleshes out what Rome may actually mean by that ambiguous word “synodality….”
The above comes from a May 20 posting in First Things.
Bishop Paprocki
….Bishop Paprocki noted in his Wednesday statement that the phrase “Eucharistic coherence” appeared in the 2007 Aparecida Document of the Latin American and Caribbean bishops – which then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, had a “crucial role” in developing.
In that 2007 document, the bishops noted the role of public officials in defending the sanctity of life on issues such as abortion and euthanasia. When Catholic officials support these “grave crimes against life and the family,” they are not to present themselves for Communion, the bishops said.
“We must adhere to ‘eucharistic coherence,’ that is, be conscious that they cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and the family are encouraged,” the document stated….
“I fully support the decision of Archbishop Gomez and the Executive Committee of the USCCB to proceed with discussion of the topic of Eucharistic coherence at our June meeting to authorize the Committee on Doctrine to draft a document on this important subject for debate, amendment, and vote at our November meeting,” the bishop said…..
The above comes from a May 26 story on the site of the National Catholic Register.
What a farce. Our clerical leaders honestly have no interest in correcting sacrilegious Communions nor saving souls. Only a few are truly devout, faithful Catholics.
Now the bishops will dig in and argue that not only Biden and Pelosi, but all Catholics who voted democratic are automatically excommunicated. But they will reassure us that it is in no any way political or an endorsement of the republican party. However, Trump IS the most Catholic friendly president in history ….
Is killing the unborn more evil than soul murdering a child’s faith and trust and hope and psyche – Jesus uses very harsh words for anyone who harms or scandalizes children.
I find it much harder, to forgive the child molester, especially one in a Roman collar, who abuses a position of sacred trust — and who defiles his “sacred hands” that consecrate the Eucharist and is allowed to continue saying Mass for years and years and years despite his sickness and his sins. How come he never gets excommunicated?
I accidentally gave you a thumbs down and did not mean to do so. I understand what you are saying, but as far as I see it, McCarrick, Pelosi, Biden and some others, even some Republicans all fall in the same category. If they are profiting from abortion, the selling of children’s body parts, pornography, etc., they ARE killing the bodies and souls of children, and that is what Planned Parenthood is all about. That organization does nothing to keep the bodies of women and their children healthy and safe. Many think prostitution is a victimless crime. It is not. Many of those people started underaged.
I’m really tired of this ecclesial soap opera. Republican infighting turned me against the party. Bishop infighting and trad/Vatican II infighting are turning me against the institutional church.
You and Steve Skojec too.
If it is sacrilegious to receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin, my question is it sacrilegious for a Priest to give the Eucharist to a person who is mortal sin and the Priest knows this person in a state of mortal sin.
By Canon 915, a priest is obligated to withhold the Eucharist from anyone persisting in manifest grave sin.