The Archbishop of San Francisco said this week there must be a “major effort” to “re-catechize” Catholics on the Eucharist and worthiness to receive Communion.
In an interview which aired on Thursday on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said that the matter of “Eucharistic coherence” applies to all Catholics, not just Catholic public officials. The bishops are scheduled to discuss the topic at their upcoming spring meeting from June 16-18, and vote on whether or not to begin drafting a teaching document on the Eucharist.
Regarding the worthiness of Catholics to receive Communion – including politicians who publicly support permissive legislation on grave evils such as abortion – “we’ve been debating this and discussing it for a very long time, at least 20 years now,” Archbishop Cordileone said on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.
“And I remember as a new bishop this issue coming up – and the realization that the problem is our people don’t understand what the act of Communion really means, in that sense of worthiness to receive Holy Communion,” he said.
“So, certainly, Eucharistic coherence applies to every single Catholic,” Cordileone said. “Catholics prominent in public life have an additional responsibility, in terms of the public witness that they give,” he added, “but it applies to all Catholics. So, we do need to have a very major effort in re-catechizing our people about this.”
At their upcoming virtual spring meeting, the U.S. bishops are scheduled to deliberate and vote on whether to begin drafting a document on Eucharistic coherence.
The term “Eucharistic coherence,” used in the 2007 Aparecida document of the Latin American and Caribbean bishops, refers to the “consistency between the way we receive the Holy Eucharist, and the way that we live our life, that we need to be properly disposed to receive the Eucharist,” Cordileone explained.
That document, which then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio contributed to the development of, also noted the role of public officials in defending the sanctity of life on issues such as abortion and euthanasia. When Catholic officials support these and “other grave crimes against life and the family,” they are not to present themselves for Communion, the bishops said in the Aparecida.
Some bishops, led by Cardinal Blasé Cupich of Chicago, wrote Archbishop Gomez in an effort to delay the discussions on the Eucharist by the U.S. bishops. The gravity of the topic requires an in-person deliberation, he argued.
Gomez replied in a May 22 memo that that the agenda item to consider the document on the Eucharist was approved by the conference’s administrative committee, and will occur as planned at the upcoming meeting.
“There will be a debate,” Cordileone confirmed. If the bishops move forward with drafting a document, the Doctrine Committee would write the document, the full text of which would be debated and voted on at the bishops’ fall meeting in November….
The above comes from a June 4 story on the site of Catholic News Agency.
True, Cdl. Bergoglio contributed to the development of Aparecida, but he also leaves open the possibility for Protestants — who reject the Catholic religion — to receive Holy Communion. Here’s a clip from CNS:
“Communion for Lutherans”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dv_HvNuumI
Now, seriously: How in the world is that ‘Eucharistically coherent’?
They’re going to vote on whether to begin drafting a document? HO HO HA HA
Just get’r done already.
Today is Corpus Christi.. Good day for it.
I have heard people say “if the Church says I can’t do so-and-so, then I will leave the Church.”
I say if the Church says that I can’t do so-and-so, I will not do it.
That there even needs to be a debate shows how far from Church teaching many bishops actually are.
Do the bishops want to demonstrate that they really believe in transparency?
Why not live-stream the debate or at least produce a written transcript?
It would be an opportunity for them to exercise their roles as teachers of the Faith.
There is no need for secrecy or darkness in this matter. (They don’t need to mention Mr. B. or Ms P. by name, although they might use that as an excuse to debate in secret. They could simply refer to public figures who remain obstinate in their grave public sins yet still approach for Holy Communion.)
Let us walk in the light.
Ephesians 5:8 and 1 John 1:7
Please pray for all bishops.
Pope Francis is going to meet with Joe Biden just prior to the USCCB meeting. That’s probably intended to deflate any chance of getting a document started. There will be photos of the pope and Joe smiling and shaking hands, the pope will say how proud he is that a good Catholic is POTUS, and that will be that. The USCCB will not want to vote in favor of a document that would criticize someone though of so highly and fondly by the pope.
What’s he drinking or smoking in the pic?
Yerba Mate … an herbal tea drunk all over So America
The Kool-Aid.
It’s a spray can of Jesuit graffiti.
Pachamama Potion
It’s really pathetic, and just straight embarrassing. The Girl Scouts are even more fearsome than the bishops these days.
In reply to Anonymous, it looks as if he is holding a yerba mate gourd, for drinking, what else, yerba mate tea (for more, just Google!).
Most Catholics that I know go to communion each time they go to Mass. In their minds, they meet the ArchBishop’s coherence definition. While we may not agree with their beliefs, most believe they live good lives and are worthy of communion. Here is why; all of the sins that we once confessed on a weekly or monthly basis are no longer considered sins. Sex outside of marriage is not considered a sin anymore. Neither is living together. Being against same-sex marriage, hating LGBT, transgendered, etc. is considered a sin. Young people don’t want anything to do with a church that isn’t open to everyone, or that discriminates against a chosen lifestyle. Opposing a woman’s right to choose an abortion isn’t a sin anymore, it is a male-dominated hierarchy aimed at controlling women; keeping them down in their place, sexism if you will. The church has lost the young people to the culture.
Well Bob, I remember you being proud of your womenfolk for participating in one of those hellacious Women’s Marches, so take a good chunk of blame for yourself!!
A sage comment, Bob One. It is true that many youth do not listen to the Church any longer but quite obviously the playing field is uneven. With all facets of popular culture pushing hard for sexual libertinism with the concomitant claim of holding the moral high ground and with Church dithering, yes, I would say you are right that the battle at present is mostly lost. The Church’s voice is badly compromised by the sex abuse crises. If clergy cannot control themselves it just goes to show that concupiscence is normal and healthy, or so the thinking goes, so why should youth think otherwise? It is a diabolical deception, a real Faustian bargain, whose fruits are only slowly appearing, as predicted by Paul VI in Humanae Vitae. And because the Church has squandered her moral capital, bishops find it easier to talk about migration and climate over sexual purity.
Bob one has thoroughly listed serious issues confronting out Church but as usual he gives no solution.
Should we just all become protestant unitarians, Bob? How’se that workin’ out?
“THE WHOLE WORLD GROANED, AND WAS ASTONISHED TO FIND ITSELF BOBONE”
So Bob One, should the Church now conform to degeneracy of the world so we can attract the “youth”?
bohemond — NO! Of course not. But let’s be realistic in our pursuit of younger people. Too many for sure consider the Church a hate group hel-l bent on keeping women down- pregnant in the summer and barefoot in the winter as the old saying goes. It will be hard to swing the pendulum in our direction.
Standing up for unborn women would be a good start Bob, instead of praising your female kin who attended a Women’s March that was just a pro abortion rally.
Bob One, you remain curiously uninterested in responding to me.
Duh? Sorry, I didn’t know you wanted a reply.
So, the Women’s March, held in most cities across the country a long time ago, was as I remember a protest against Trump’s election.
But hey, that was years ago. Let’s catch up with today.
No Bob, it was held just 4 years ago as Donald Trump, our 45th President was inaugurated. The march was seen by most as a rage of vulgarity and abortion fanatics wearing crude pink hats.
That’s what you were happy about your womenfolk attending. You and they, have contributed to the problems you cite, but refuse to take responsibility for it. Too bad there are more Catholics like you who also deny any part in the cultural decline of the Church and the nation.
Own it Bob, and repent.
Bob One, please watch the Pope’s video for June, maybe share it with whoever you know that thinks like that.
It is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GUs0ZHmlvc&t=10s
Bob One the opinion of the idiotic misinformed “young people” is irrelevant, if the Church shrinks so what, it will purified, smaller but holier…
Those young people would resent being called idiots. Many of them are making bank and living it up.
I could care less what they resent, I hope they are offended and them making bank will not get them to heaven… remember that? the reason the Church was founded, not to provide distraction to the “resentful youth” on a Sunday morning
I think your post was confusing so to make sure there is not a misunderstanding:
Sex outside of marriage is a grave sin. Living together is a grave sin.
Being against same sex marriage is not a sin. Hating anybody is a sin, could be a grave sin.
Opposing a legal right to abortion is not a sin.
I know a lot of young people who still attend Church and Church is extremely important to them. It is the only voice of truth left in the world.
And yet the people who live as if God doesn’t exist and Christian morality is inapplicable don’t seem to be any worse off for it. The world is getting along pretty well while denying God and objective moral truth. The Church seems irrelevant at best; a hindrance is more like what it seems to these people. How can you persuade them they’re wrong? Really, what would you say to secular young adults who make bank in their jobs, shack up and would rather go to the beach or ATV riding in the mountains on Sundays than go to Mass? What are they missing out on, in terms that they can relate to?
Don’t be too sure of that. From what I have heard from healthcare workers, there are epidemics of STD’s, especially in the homosexual community. God is never mocked. As the old saying goes, “You play, you pay.” They are more sexually related cancers also. They can keep creating vaccines, but new disease will always pop up.
That’s all you’ve got? The big C? The claim that God is never mocked? Maybe I’d believe that if Jeff Bezos’ rocket explodes while he’s on it next month, but what does Jeff Bezos have to fear?
Anonymous, you never know what someone else is going through in his life. You have no idea if Jeff Bezos is happy or not, or miserable with all his money. Buy from other sources if you must. Do what is right, and let the rest go. Stop tearing yourself apart.
I tell you that because I need to hear it myself.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”
You have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. You might say something that you don’t know why you said, but God does.
So God controls you?
No. Although I would be a better person if He did.
Hey, Anonymous– read the Bible, and find out exactly what happens to a sinful, irresponsible group of people that turns away from God! Anyone can tell you– sinfulness, corruption, and selfish irresponsibility causes the complete downfall of a nation! And next?? When there is complete corruption, sinfulness and chaos, a lot of terrible things do result! Nasty competitors are always waiting, like the wolf at the door– to come and conquer that stupid nation. Or else, the sinful people will simply not survive, and will die off, and another group will occupy the land. Worse, a Communist-type totalitarian regime might restore order, and be horribly cruel when doing so. “What goes around, cones around.” And in the end, you always have to face God, with all your sins– and a ruined soul.
If you are devout and have someone or several in your home who follow some aspects of the faith halfheartedly, or are about to leave, or who cannot grasp the Eucharist as anything but symbolic b cause they do not ( yet?) have the eyes of faith, then a teaching document from the Bishops could be very helpful. But how do you word such a document so you bring the disaffected, the lukewarm, the poorly catechized, the weak willed, the troubled etc IN to the life of Christ, not push them out. This document may be pivotal, so words and tone have to be discerned with prayer and chosen carefully, as I have to be careful trying to model and teach in my own home. I do not just cite scripture and verse or quote the catechism, of course those aspects are necessary, but you have to invite love for Jesus. It is not so easy, and the drafting of the document will reflect this difficulty, and be carefullly in discernment, and I hope and pray it will be fruitful for the Church, particularly through the next efforts of the most faithful among our bishops. Pray for them ?