A California bishop defended President Joe Biden receiving Holy Eucharist, arguing that those who would deny pro-abortion politicians Communion are overlooking racism.
Bishop Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego decried calls to deny Communion to abortion promoters in an essay at the Jesuit publication America on Wednesday. “The proposal to exclude pro-choice Catholic political leaders from the Eucharist is the wrong step,” McElroy wrote. “It will bring tremendously destructive consequences.”
McElroy suggested denying Communion to all Catholic politicians who reject Church teaching on grave moral matters would exclude far too many. “How many Catholic political leaders of either party could pass that test?”
“It is the moral obligation of Catholics to embrace all the teachings of the church in their entirety,” McElroy admitted. “But failure in fulfilling that obligation in its fullness cannot be the measure of eucharistic worthiness in a church of sinners and questioners….”
McElroy also complained that the idea of denying Communion to pro-choice politicians “applies sanctions very selectively and inconsistently.”
“Proposals to exclude pro-choice Catholic political leaders from the Eucharist have focused on abortion, and at times euthanasia,” McElroy explained.
“Their logic is that abortion and euthanasia are particularly grave evils … and they involve threats to human life,” he wrote. “But why hasn’t racism been included in the call for eucharistic sanctions against political leaders?”
McElroy went on to point out that St. John Paul II and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have preached against racism. “[Racism] is not merely one sin among many,” wrote the latter. It “is a radical evil that divides the human family and denies the new creation of a redeemed world.”
“As to whether racism is a sin that threatens human life,” McElroy wrote, “anyone with doubts should talk with the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Trayvon Martin.”
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be dealing a great blow to that integral unity if it passes a national policy of eucharistic exclusion aimed at abortion but not at racism,” the bishop added.
Background and Analysis
Bishop McElroy’s essay comes after reports circulated last month that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops may issue a document at their Assembly in June clarifying the Church’s stance on reception of the Eucharist by public figures who make themselves enemies of Catholic teachings on grave moral matters.
In his article this week, Bishop McElroy argued against “their [his opponents’] logic” that abortion is particularly grave and threatens human life,” and cited a 2020 document from the U. S bishops which described the uniqueness and gravity of racism. Another statement from the same assembly that produced that condemnation also stated “the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority,” because it is grave and threatens human life.
McElroy described proposals to bar pro-choice politicians from Communion as “unprecedented.” In fact, as CatholicVote President Brian Burch has recently pointed out, a number of Catholic politicians were denied Communion during the Civil Rights era — a time when racism was enshrined in law in many Southern states through state-mandated segregation.
Many will likely view McElroy’s arguments as an intervention against the bishops similarly correcting President Biden for his radical abortion advocacy.
Biden attends Mass on a regular basis, and presents himself for Holy Communion.
The above comes from a May 5 story on the Catholic Vote website.
This sly attempt at deflection is just a variant of what Fr. James Martin does regarding terminating employees at Catholic churches and schools who enter same-sex “marriages”. Martin says that to be consistent, the church should also fire employees who fornicate or contracept. “Why aren’t those employees being fired?” asks Martin. To treat “LGBT people” differently is unjust discrimination.
“Why aren’t we talking about racists being denied Communion?” asks Bishop McElroy? To consider withholding the Eucharist from pro-abort politicians but not from racists is unjust discrimination that threatens the integral unity of the Church.
It’s intellectually dishonest because both of those men know full well the distinction they are hiding. People who enter same-sex “marriages” and people who openly promote and legislatively enact laws favoring abortion are manifestly persisting in objectively grave sin. “Manifestly” is the operative and key word. If a Catholic school teacher were to openly promote contraception, she could and should be fired; that would be manifest advocacy of something gravely contrary to Catholic morality. If a Catholic politician were to openly promote racist laws, she could and should be rebuked by her ordinary, for that too would be manifest.
McElroy is a shill for the leftists.
Those employees should be fired. Racism is a mortal sin. You should not take communion before confession.
The devil has brought the false narrative of racism to the forefront at just the convenient time for his servants to use it against those who would live and proclaim the Gospel. Just as the devil brought the church’s clerical homosexual abuse scandal to the forefront at just the time it would could conveniently undercut the church’s authority to speak against advancing LGBT ideology in America.
Time to start referring to BINOs: bishops in name only.
I suspect this juvenile obfuscation of McElroy, this diversion, has the backing of prelates very high in the church, who value Biden as much for his socialism as they hated Trump for his capitalism.
I think you are conflating things.
In answer to Bishop McElroy’s public question, “why hasn’t racism been included in the call for eucharistic sanctions against political leaders?”:
Any public figure advocating and funding racism should be subject to what he calls “eucharistic sanctions.”
Can the bishop or any readers name one Catholic public figure advocating racism?
That is why such hasn’t been included in discussions of public figures receiving Holy Communion.
(In the 1960’s, Democrat politician Leander Perez was excommunicated by the archbishop of New Orleans for his overt opposition to the teachings of the Church regarding race.)
What if the president’s dementia may be so advanced that he’s no longer culpable for what he says or does? Nobody seriously believes that Joe is running the White House. He can’t even answer questions or read a teleprompter fluently and cogently.
He got over 80 million votes, and don’t you ever question that.
We question it all the time, don’t know how you could have missed it!
If Biden’s dementia has reached the point where he cannot commit a mortal sin, he should no longer be given Communion.
It actually would work the opposite way.
Public scandal. That’s the point. Anyone in a state of grave sin should refrain from comm until they repent and are reconciled. If a racist is a public figure, well known for their evil, yes the priest should forbid them. Biden publicly holds an evil position. He publicly endorses, supports and funds the genocide of children in the womb, it is well known. He and his cohorts should be publicly denied comm until the repent and reverse their evil policies.
Our Lord spoke about scandal. Woe, scripture says about those who cause scandal.
McElroy’s aim is to rid the Church of the plague of traditionalism and reorder it according to his own modernistic design.
“McElroy’s aim is to rid the Church of the plague of
traditionalismCatholicism”Good for you. Juan! LOVE this comment!
It is really just a cheap shot. We need people who know Catholicism well enough that they can really explain it and whose devotion to Christ is strong enough that they don’t insult bishops and whose personal holiness is advanced enough that they don’t feel the need to do immature things like that.
In Christianity, if you say something like that in an argument, you automatically disqualify yourself as Christian.
He’s a bishop of the church. The Holy Spirit chose him. God wants him there and he wants you to listen to him. That’s what the magisterium means. And if the magisterium is hooey then the whole religion collapses. The Holy Spirit is leading German bishops to speak out, and the same is going on with bishops in the U.S. “He who hears you, hears me,” is what Jesus said. Read the signs of the times, as they said at Vatican II.
Martin says, “The Holy Spirit is leading German bishops to speak out.”
I get it. This is Fr. James Martin? Shouldn’t you be at an LGBTQ conference or something?
If you go against the bishops teachings, you are in danger territory as far as communion with the church.
Martin, you should look up the word magisterium.
If you are against the Church’s teaching, when you know it and know that you are bound to believe it, then you would be guilty of error which could damage your communion with the Church.
And those bishops who oppose McElroy on this very issue: are they out of communion with the Church?
Going against the “teachings” of Bishop McElroy or one or two other bishops is not the same as going against the teachings of “the bishops.”
Some heresies were started by bishops. And, at the time of the Arian heresy, most of the bishops went Arian for a while.
As St. Jerome said of the time, “The whole world groaned to find itself Arian.” Thanks be to God for the Pope, the lay faithful and a few orthodox bishops, most notably Saint Athanasius.
Cardinal Cupich and some German bishops want “blessings” for homosexual “couples” engaging in mortal sin. That should be opposed.
I’m willing to stand before the judgment seat of Christ taking that position.
(And, I believe I’m in no more danger than Cardinal Cupich and those German bishops.)
Anon Clergyman: every heresy was started by a cleric.
Bo, certainly most heresies were started by clergy. I don’t think all were. I’d have to do the research, but I think a few were started by influential lay persons. John Calvin (Jean Cauvin), given his prominence and the continued nature of his heresy, comes readily to mind. His father had hoped that he would become a priest, but he was never a Catholic clergyman.
Martin says, “If you go against the bishops teachings, you are in danger territory as far as communion with the church.”
Which bishop?
What McElroy says is one thing; Cordileone, another. What Cupich says is one thing; Strickland, another.
Cathlics are supposed to follow the Truth before any bishop. Remember Galatians 1:8?
Then what’s the point of having bishops?
Anonymous– “what’s the point of having bishops?” Did Christ say, “what’s the point of having Apostles,” when Judas betrayed Him? I am older than most Church clerical leaders of today, including McElroy. I remember well, when the Catholic Church always presented her teachings correctly. As an adult, you could always argue and disagree with the Church’s teachings– and go elsewhere, if you like– but at least you would have the correct teachings given to you. The world respected the Catholic Church for standing by her religious and moral teachings!
Martin, this is an article in which one bishop expresses his thoughts on an issue that is being considered by the bishops. There is nothing to obey yet. Perhaps in June.
So how would this apply with the Dubai that Francis has avoided for almost 1700 days ? Common sense, Martin. Diluting the Faith as some have about intercourse serves no purpose.
I’m sure the Pope wants to visit Dubai
Hi jon.
This is too important to just read the headline and comment. This is too important to just throw it under the :I don’t like Bishop McElroy” umbrella and comment. You need to read the essay, not just this response to it.
This is serious. Please take it seriously.
Anonymous– Take what seriously? Everyone must take Abortion– Baby Murder– very, very seriously. Yes, racism is also a sin. Baby Murder is not an issue to be cast aside, by a liberal bishop. He has a huge responsibility to God and to God’s precious unborn children.
Did you read the essay?
Bishop McElroy is undermining Church teaching on reception of the Eucharist.
It is OK for pro-choice politicians to be given the Eucharist because so many Catholics reject or question Church teachings.
It is OK for pro-choice politicians to be given the Eucharist because half the Church will think it is political, against the Democrats.
Republicans are racists. (Not President “you ain’t black.” Ok he apologized.)
So in other words, it is ok to commit sacrilege if other people do or if other people will misunderstand protecting a erring soul from doing so.
He is not saying that pro-choice politicians aren’t in mortal sin; he is saying “so what if they are?”
may such a one as mcelroy stayed locked llocally and never venture to rome with a red hat in hand and be kept far from all conclaves, P: we pray to the Lord. R: Lord,hear our prayer
I embrace all the teachings of the Church in their entirety. If they put in a narrow gate, I won’t fit in. Because of my sins and failings. I repent of my sins. I do not say it is ok if I sin. I do not say make the gate larger.
I receive Communion because I do not commit mortal sin. If I am unsure if something I have done is a grave sin, I go to Confession before receiving Communion.
I know Catholics who think the Church is wrong on some things. I do not. I docilely accept the Church’s teaching. If I am ever struggling with something, I read what was written. If I do not understand it, I accept it. Usually, that is the key to understanding.
Anonymous, Christ taught correctly. His “narrow gate” analogy means, to do things correctly. A good sports coach would teach you correctly, how to do certain things, and achieve what you thought to be “impossible,” and cheer you on. Christ does the same, as our religious Master, the Divive Son of God. And He loves you very much! With His help, we all can make it through the “Narrow Gate.”
We have long needed a re-catechization on sin and mortal sin, the consequences of sin and mortal sin, the punishments for sin and mortal sin.
Confession is needed when these politicians are publicly supporting sin and not abiding by church teaching.
We are not obligated to listen to bad bishops especially bishops like this non believing In God so called bishops.
This bishop is only interested in the money they get from taxpayers via the Democrat party to fulfill their so called Social Justice wars. It’s a phony useless social justice war he embarks on, while ignoring their first responsibility as bishops to teach the Gospel in its entirety.
Bishop McElroy has multiple advanced degrees, one of which is in moral theology. Such a poorly reasoned argument from a bishop is an embarrassment. His liberal politics have taken over.
Bishop McElroy’s column is a corollary of his theology of universal salvation. Since everyone is saved, nothing in this life matters. Oh maybe, maybe the sacraments will help someone become a little more holy and enjoy a higher level of beatitude in heaven if that’s even a thing, but that’s not all that important since everyone will enjoy beatitude anyway.
If you analyze his statements from the standpoint that he believes in universal salvation, nothing he says is surprising. Ultimately, these bishops need to realize that if universal salvation is true, then what are they, the bishops, needed for? Nothing. And the church is heading in that direction in which many so-called Catholics see the whole church, the bishops and priests and sacraments as insignificant. Joe Biden is that sort of Catholic. For Biden, being Catholic is part of his family history, not a matter of ultimate revealed truth. It’s an identity label, not a matter of ultimate significance. Like being Irish.
I read the article in America magazine. One of the things McElroy says there that isn’t reproduced here is he warns the USCCB that if they issue a document sanctioning pro-choice Catholic politicians it will bring political divisions into the church and into the liturgy. What a crafty fox he is. Those divisions are already present. McElroy doesn’t want a document that would define unity as adherence to the Apostolic faith because he and other leftist Catholics want to change the content of faith. The leftist Catholics like to talk about unity but they do everything they can to undermine that unity. They say that unless you accept LGBT ideology and pro-aborts, you exclude people and threaten the unity of the church. In reality, those people with views gravely contrary to Catholic faith are already threatening the unity of the church. When we insist on adhering to Catholic faith, they cry “exclusive” “lack of unity!” They want unity in a belief system that reverses Catholic doctrine in those areas they want reversed. They advocate a false unity, a unity on their terms, not true unity in the Apostolic faith.
If the bishops can’t agree to issue a letter about Eucharistic discipline, they should stop issuing letters altogether.
Lose the masks; you’re outside, for heavens sake; you look ridiculous with the face diapers. Enough already of race race race race; everything the left sees is about race. It is a mental disorder and that is all they can even think about.
Look… Bishop McElroy refused to fire an openly gay married parish employee in 2018. No surprise that he’s unwilling to enforce Catholic morality and sacramental discipline on pro-abortion Joey B.
Bishop McElroy, are you stating you agree that advocates of both abortion and racism are valid reasons to refuse reception of the Holy Eucharist? I don’t think you will find anyone that disagrees with that statement. The only issue would be where exactly are those devout faithful Catholics that are racist? I personally have never encountered a member of the KKK at any of my parish functions.
Exactly, it’s a smokescreen.
Yes Bishop McElroy politicized the faith. Remember when he gave a speech I think in Central Calif. He told the people go out and disrupt Trump. Bishop keep your politics out of the Church
McElroy has been a terrible cleric since the very day he ever mistakenly felt called to the Catholic priesthood, and entered minor seminary. He is actually a very radical extremist social activist, for all things liberal, and all things “gay.” A native San Franciscan, and a Harvard and Stanford grad, with an M A. in American History– he simply seeks to destroy our country and our Church and turn both into sick, radical, ignorant, filthy, lawless “hippievilles.” I simply could not stand to see his evil radicalism destroying our Church and society, when he was an SF Archdiocesan priest– and was sickened when Abp Niederauer ordained him as an Auxiliary Bishop in 2010. That is a Roman Catholic priest, outstanding enough to be ordained as a bishop? Oh, really? Complete idiots, today’s Church hierarchy– with a few exceptions, like Cardinals Burke, Sarah, etc. Thanks a whole lot, to dead SF Abps. Quinn, Levada, and Niederauer. Horrible.
McElroy’s essay reminds me of the way the Church treated the accusations of priest abuse for a long time.
They cared more about how the Church looked that the victims.
McElroy should register for the webinar this Friday at 1130 am put on by Catholic Vote. He might be enlightened. Subject is the pending case the U.S. Supreme CT agreed to take up
Does the bishop know 3 out 5 abortions are committed against black babies? Sounds pretty racist to me.
Today’s misfit bishops make the Keystone Cops look like they knew what they were doing.
Bishop McElroy talks how evil racism and I agree. I did not know if President Biden is a racist or even advocating thst. But I do know his friend colleague was Robert Kkk Byrd
He even went to his funeral. Seems if someone was a racist you would distance yourself from them