Tens of thousands of clergy members will soon receive a copy of Cardinal Raymond Burke’s firm but clear instructions to Catholic priests and bishops on when to deny someone Holy Communion.
“The Church cannot remain silent and indifferent to a public offense against the Body and Blood of Christ,” that book says.
Catholic Action for Faith and Family, a group devoted to defending the principles of the Catholic faith, published Burke’s instructions in book form in Deny Holy Communion? The organization’s founder and president, Thomas McKenna, told The Daily Signal that he is mailing a copy to every Catholic clergy member as part of a campaign to inform American bishops, priests, and deacons on the biblical and theological basis of Church teaching.
“There is a great misunderstanding and many misconceptions about the issue,” McKenna said. “It is presented by some clergy, including members of the hierarchy, that there really is never a situation where Holy Communion should be denied to a public and unrepentant sinner who professes to be Catholic.”
“Most clergy have not studied the issue in a formal canonical way and only know what is presented in discussions and the media,” he added. “Cardinal Burke wrote this study to better explain the Church’s history and wisdom in having canon law that addresses the issue. This is not a position of Cardinal Burke followed by others of the same bent, so to say. But this is a position that the Church has upheld for 2000 years. Cardinal Burke bases the book on formal teachings and doctrine, not on an opinion.”
Cardinal Burke originally wrote the book in 2007, which was published in the Periodica de Re Canonica Roma: Pontificia Universita Gregoriana, volume 96….
“A point that Cardinal Burke shows in the book is that Canon (law) 915 is based on charity and not penal,” McKenna pointed out. “It is charity to correct someone who is going down a wrong and sinful path of perdition. And that is the role of the clergy.”
Original story via Life News from Daily Signal
“Most clergy have not studied the issue in a formal canonical way and only know what is presented in discussions and the media”
There is a lot of that going around lay people too.
I wonder how the bishops feel about this action by Burke – it certainly does not seem very collegial and is downright disrespectful to the bishops.
Bernard, what do you think about the Pope singly changing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, restricting the TLM, bringing McCarrick out of “retirement,” the secret deal with the Communist rulers of China or keeping the abuser Rupnik on Vatican staff; all without consulting the bishops?
That “certainly does not seem very collegial” and seems “downright disrespectful.”
And, did Cardinal Burke write anything that is untrue?
I trust Pope Francis is making decisions for the good of the Church…just as I trusted Pope Benedict XVI.
Do you think those decisions I asked you about are “for the good of the Church?”
I am loyal to the Pope, but bringing the predator McCarrick back into Church and public life and keeping the abuser Rupnik on the Vatican staff are indefensible. My promise of obedience does not obligate me to deny the truth. Those were, and are, wrong decisions and are not for the good of the Church or the world.
And, why do you distrust Cardinal Burke’s writings?
Do you trust the decisions of Pope Alexander VI (an infamous Borgia)?
Historically, have not some popes been more trustworthy than others?
We are Catholics, not ultramontane subjects of a monarch.
Christ is our only King. (It is His kingdom we’re about.) Viva Cristo Rey.
It is being done by a group called Catholic Action for Faith and Family, not by the Cardinal himself.
Its Canon Law, it can’t be held responsible for offending.
Its just “the Law”
Burke is acting in fraternal charity and should not be ashamed of who it offends.
Everyone accepts Canon Law.
There are differences on how it should be applied.
I have not seen this booklet, but based on what he has said in the past, he would favor denying communion to pro-choice politicians.
““There is a great misunderstanding and many misconceptions about the issue,” McKenna said. “It is presented by some clergy, including members of the hierarchy, that there really is never a situation where Holy Communion should be denied to a public and unrepentant sinner who professes to be Catholic.””
Pope Francis: “”No, I have never denied the Eucharist to anyone, to anyone!” he said. “I don’t know if someone came to me under these conditions, but I have never refused them the Eucharist, since the time I was a priest.”” — ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM BRATISLAVA — September 15, 2021
And he said he was never aware of anyone presenting themselves for communion that was in that state.
A half truth is a half lie.
You appear to be intentionally trying to harm the reputation of the Pope, which I remind you is a mortal sin.
“You appear to be intentionally trying to harm the reputation of the Pope, which I remind you is a mortal sin.” The Pope’s reputation stands or falls on his own words and actions. There is no sin in reporting his words, viz. that he never denied communion to anyone. That is not a half-truth, it is the full truth. I leave it to you to verify that this is so. What this says about the man is another matter. Obviously there is a conflict between Burke and Francis, and, also, Benedict and Francis. Beyond stating the obvious, I will go no further.
You neglected to put in the whole quote and juxtaposed it with a quote which said something similar (straw man).
Don’t play games here.
Now you are lying about Benedict and Burke as well.
I have given you the benefit of the doubt that you were a confused convert.
I no longer give you that.
Please do your own research on Francis– I will not do it for you. I am using much more than the Sept 15th quote. You will find I am not lying.
What you did is not defensible. Sorry. No.
Research on Francis means going to the ultra trad news sources and blogs.
This is an amendment to a previous post. In 2013 Cal Catholic had a segment on why Pope Francis does not ordinarily give out communion. One of the reasons he gave: Because unrepentant public sinners could slip in among the faithful, and he does not want to back up their hypocrisy. So in theory he might deny communion were known scoundrels to approach him, but in practice he never denies communion (that is,when he gives it out), and gave evidence of this by having Biden and Pelosi, known inveterate sinners, receive communion at a papal Mass, though not receiving from him. When practice trumps theory this much, it is accurate to say Francis never denies communion to anyone approaching him, and why he said as much on the plane ride Sept. 15. It is also part of his theology of not “politicizing” the eucharist and also of the eucharist as medicine for the sick.
I believe it’s a waste of time and money to send this booklet to the Bishops. Their minds are already made up on this issue.
Now, sending it to seminarians just might have the desired effect in forming their consciences.
The Lord said to me (and, by extension to you):
Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
(Ezekiel 33:7-9)
Suzanne, most bishops are very capable of reading someone’s presentation of their ideas (or the Lord’s) and mulling it over.
I doubt there are any that will circle file it.
Cardinal Burke is not manipulative.
Maybe those in the organization who are sending it to priests are manipulative.
But the quotes here seem like they are trying to educate.
I was just watching someone on the YouTube talking about life, mistakes, perfection etc and i realized how much being Catholic and being faithfully Catholic protects from yourself, the world, and of course the devil.
We take too much for granted.