The following comes from a Mar. 31 story on LifeSiteNews.com.
Speaking with LifeSiteNews about the matter of worthiness to receive Holy Communion last week, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said that Church teaching on the matter “has been very clear and consistent from literally the very beginning.”
The Church’s teaching goes “all the way back to St. Paul who writes in 1 Corinthians that anyone who does not receive the Eucharist worthily, that is if they are in a state of sin, blasphemes the body and blood of the Lord,” the archbishop explained.
The leader of San Francisco’s 444,000 Catholics noted that those who would dissent “from a defined Church teaching” and those who would violate the moral teaching of the Church in a serious way, “are not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion.”
“As St. Paul teaches, if they dare to approach knowing that they are in such a state of sin, they bring condemnation upon themselves,” he said. “This is not a harsh judgment of the Church, but our understanding of the Eucharist is that it is not simply a way of welcoming people, a way of affirming people.”
He concluded by noting that the sacrament of penance is there for all Catholics who find themselves in such situations so they can “confess their sins and receive sacramental absolution to be restored to a state of grace so they can worthily receive Holy Communion.”
To read original story, click here.
To watch the two-and-a-half-minute video of Archbishop Cordileone’s statement, click here.
The leader of San Francisco’s 444,000 Catholics noted that those who would dissent “from a defined Church teaching” and those who would violate the moral teaching of the Church in a serious way, “are not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion.”
WELL, I HOPE THIS APPLIES THIS SAME LOGIC TO THOSE UNDER HIS EMPLOY WHO HAVE BEEN MAKING SCANDALOUS HEADLINES FOR MONTHS AT THE SHRINE OF SAINT FRANCIS: MONSIGNOR TARANTINO, BILL MCLAUGHLIN, JONATHAN BASS, LARRY JANUZI, AND THE OTHER “BOYS NIGHT OUT” GANG WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE DIOCESE INTO A HUGE AND HORRIBLE LAWSUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been so deeply shocked and hurt, since reading of this scandal, I have not been able to go near the Shrine of St. Francis, in North Beach, which is so beautiful! I have also not been able to give to the Sunday collection! I just close my eyes, during the Offertory at Sunday Mass, in deep hurt and shock, letting the ushers pass me by with their collection baskets– and I pray, and ask God to please help our horrible Church!
What are you talking about?
Sandrad – Go to back issues of the SF Chronicle or use Google and you will see what has been going on in San Francisco since the AB took over a few months ago. Don’t believe everything these ‘religious leaders” tell you. I am in the Oakland Diocese and we are still trying to recover from his three years there.
Bill what you just said does not make sense. Recover??? Really? If San Francisco has been having moral issues way longer than this Archbishop was even a Bishop? All these claims I wonder if they are genuine or they can be from the “gay” mafia who want to discredit any good he is at least should be doing or is trying to accomplish.
Unless anyone has spoken personally to the Archbishop or is near the situation there, then don’t speak because it can lead to slander and gossip. I personally have met him, every time we saw him in the past, he was leading prayers at an abortion clinic, he was defending the true definition of marriage etc etc….
Any complaints with real concerns back them up with facts not hear say!
Abeca,
Do all evils come from these “gays” about which you so often write?
Straight talk is a beautiful thing. God bless, Archbishop Cordileone!
BRAVO for the Arch-Bishop. We are All Sinners, and sincere repentance is difficult for all, particularly those whose pride is greater than their conscience.
No one is forced to be Catholic, although many would try and force Catholics from following the Wise Moral Truth of the Faith.
Nobody ever said it would be easy, or free – save for the Grace of God, which is given for free out of His Love, and ours to use free will to follow or turn away from.
Even those who stray can return to the fold – but should never be allowed to force the flock on to paths of evil, such as the ‘Margaret Sanger’ Awardee (*Yes – Pelosi hyrself) for this year would un-wisely counsel.
*CNS: Planned Parenthood on Thursday will give House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) its Margaret Sanger Award, named for a woman who advocated eugenics and who wrote that large families would be doing what was “most merciful” if they killed one of their infants.
– See more at: https://cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/pelosi-getting-award-named-woman-who-said-most-merciful-kill-infant#sthash.KEcywn3r.dpuf
Confession is wonderful for the soul. The sacrament of Penance is like taking the soul for a bath or shower. When we are dirty, and even if we are not, we usually bathe several times a week,, if not daily. When our automobiles are full of road grime or salt, we take them to a car wash. We also bathe our dogs when they start to smell. Well, the Bible says the just man sins SEVEN times a day. The sins are probably not mortal; they may be only venial sins or just imperfections, but they do damage the soul. By receiving the refreshing sacramental graces that Penance gives, a person is spiritually renewed, and is once again a friend of God. I used to hear many hours of confessions during Lent, and in Holy Week, it was like a marathon being in the confessional practically the entire day. But today, over 35 years later, it seems there are no sinners, because there is no sense of sin. Everyone has set themselves up as their own god, and they judge themselves to be perfect, without sin, and without the need for conversion or repentance. There is therefore no sin. The devil loves this, because he has increased his demonic following, with many anonymous members who do not even realize they are under his spell. Catholics are still obligated to go to confession at least one a year, but many have not confessed for several decades , or even longer. Under the patronage of Saint Padre Pio, whose feast day is September 23rd, let more priests preach about confession, and be more willing to hear them, and may the hearts of the faithful realize they need the tremendous grace and peace that only the sacrament of Penance can give.
well, i am 75, i have seen people coming from confession badly shaken by harh words, it was a nightmare for many people in 1945, i had one refuse to give me absolution for really nothing i told him i did not break any vivil law, i was so angrry i almost opened the door and told him where to go where it iswarm
While I honor the realities of what you experienced, Thomas Nawn,you were six years old back in ’45. Was it your first confession you’re describing? If your recollections are of others who appeared shaken, could it be that they were young too? Or that your parish had one or two very tough priests?
Either that or you may well have mistook ‘shaken up’ for pensive and repentant. I know I did as repentant didn’t ever cross my mind back in the day.
One of my relatives came back crying from a confessional one time because she got scolded by an older priest, but it really made a change in her — for the good. Most priests are easy on a person the first time they confess after a long time, but on occasion a good scolding does work. Perhaps that priest was experienced enough to know just exactly what needed to me said to her.
Well said, Ann T.
Thank you, Ann Malley, and of course that “me” in the last line of my previous post should have been “be”, but I am sure you already figured that one out.
The sex-abuse scandals that erupted in the church during the 1980s and ’90s made it less appealing to confess sins to priests, whose own sins and flaws were being exposed, especially amid reports that confession was used in some cases to groom victims.
“I think that does play into it. It’s what broke the image that priests are infallible,”
Bishops or Priests have never been ‘infallible” by any teaching of the Catholic Church – ever.
Less than 2% (although still too many) were involved in abuse.
There has never been one case where anyone reported use of Confession for evil purposes.
So stop spreading your garbage.
Nancy Pelosi helps to murder babies, via dismemberment and burning with chemicals.
Do you deny, and order other priests in your diocese to deny, communion to Ms. Pelosi, Excellency, per Canon 915? If so, do you also deny communion to known homosexual sexual advocates, Excellency? If not, please let us know the reasons for not enforcing this Canon, so that we might understand why Church laws do not mean what they appear to say.
Why not deny communion to these Italy’s bishops that will not turn in catholic child abusers to the police. Forget communion and just arrest, prosecute, and throw them in jail where they belong. With the blessing of the Vatican, Italy’s bishops have formally declared they have no duty to call police if they suspect that a child is being sodomized or raped. The stunning, depressing and irresponsible contradiction between what Vatican officials say about abuse and do about abuse continues. And the tragic consequences for kids continue too. This policy – which codifies the long-standing and heartless practice of most Catholic bishops on the plan – will mean that more innocent children will be sexually assaulted. The Italian Bishops’ Conference said the policy reflected suggestions from the Vatican’s office that handles sex abuse investigations. Any “suggestion” coming out of the Vatican has the Pope’s stamp of approval. So less than a week after Pope Francis appointed a new commission to help the Catholic Church put an end to clerical sexual abuse and a few weeks after the United Nation’s report blasted what it called the Vatican’s code of silence” around abusive priests – the church is right back to its old criminal tricks.
People who abuse children – whether Catholic cleric, Baptist preacher or secular school teacher – ought to be punished to the full extent of the law.
People who murder babies – like Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Planned Parenthood liberal Democrats – merit like-manner punishment except that the law (while punishing child abusers) extolls child murderers.
Both child abuse and child murdering are evil. BOTH. And those who do them and fail to repent will go to hell, whether they are Planned Parenthood doctors or Baptist ministers.
The same is true of those who persist in homosexual behavior, or fornication, or adultery, or thievery, or lying. Mortal sin is – well, mortal!
How about bishops of the Catholic Church? What price do they pay for aiding and abetting priest catholic child abusers. What about the Vatican that say’s bishops should do it. Why does the Church have to be taken to task to protect the Catholic children in it’s care. Why is the child abuse victims of the Catholic Church treated like the enemy of the Church and the Church portrays itself as the victim of Priest child abuse? WHY?
John, aiding and abetting child abuse is a crime, and all those CONVICTED (not merely accused – which can be true or false)) should be jailed regardless of position in society.
If you do not like the ‘statute of limitation’ laws in your State, you need to work with your State Legislators to have them changed.
Don’t complain, get off your rear end and do something about it.
You are very mistaken, and several years behind on events.
2002 Blessed John Paul II on child abuse: https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/april/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020423_usa-cardinals_en.html
2011 under Pope Benedict on child abuse:
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20110503_abuso-minori_en.html
2005 and updated in 2011 USCCB on child abuse:
https://usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm
Read the full page charter.
God bless Archbishop Cordileone!
” Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”
” Can. 1399 In addition to the cases established here or in other laws, the external violation of a divine or canonical law can be punished by a just penalty only when the special gravity of the violation demands punishment and there is an urgent need to prevent or repair scandals. ”
1 Cor 11:27.
“The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin”
https://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/denial.htm
Raymond Burke – Cardinal and Vatican’s top Canon Lawyer.
Let’s start caring about the Eucharist, and public Scandal.
Start pubically excommunicating those Catholics who are obstinately heretical and schismatic.
Sorry– but this is simply NOT GOOD ENOGH!! Very naïve! Where is the solid, strong and true Church leadership?? Everyone knows what must be done! Just quote Canon Law, as so many of us know! People with hearts so deeply and habitually hardened, need proper punishment! You break God’s Laws, you pay for it! You must accept your punishment! Like a BIG GIRL, Mrs. Pelosi! Everyone thinks they are all a bunch of babies, who can do as they please, in America, and in the Catholic world. But NO!! God says– NO!! You are all old enough, to KNOW BETTER!! You sin– YOU PAY THE PRICE!! And GROW UP!! Do your PENANCE! REFORM YOUR LIFE!! Tell her, Archbishop! Send her your letter of EXCOMMUNICATION!! That is your JOB, for Christ!!
Linda Maria great conviction to be expressed to a letter to his excellency. Please write it as you have here. The more we encourage and pray for the Archbishop, the more we will know then. But for now….
But how can she be forgiven for her sins and receive communion, when she from her heart does not feel remorse for her sins! !!!
Yes, she very well may have killed her conscience, and others too. God can only forgive if the person wants his forgiveness. There is a great article on line called “Seven Ways to Kill a Conscience”. It is by a Catholic priest. Let us hope she has not committed the unpardonable sin.
The actual article is “Killing a Conscience in Seven Steps” by Rev. Philip E. Dion, C.M. The last part– the seven steps — are from a sermon given by St. John Fisher, Martyr.
Isn’t it clear that Christ put His Church on earth with guide lines and we as the Laity are to follow as well as the Clergy who have the authority of Christ to enforce and see to the implementation of these guide lines with Love and Compassion. Thank God for these Bishops who look out for the Souls of these lost politicians who call themselves Catholic’s who have forgotten these guide lines as we all are in need to be reminded of them so as to stay on that narrow path.
Having listened several times, to the bishop’s video I am not impressed. These are, so far, only meaningless words with zero results when it comes to the likes of Nancy Pelosi. He does the talk now its way past time for the walk. Can anyone with a sense of justice, rationally explain, after decades of public sinful scandal by Pelosi and others why Canon Law has not been applied for corrective discipline and, importantly, to save her endangered soul? Do the bishops care about her soul and other scandalous politicians? I don’t think they do because if they did actions would have been applied years ago regardless of the secular press. The real scandal in all of this is the bishops themselves who allow these situations to go on and on and lack of pressure by us on them to do something.
Idaho Pete, I do not understand it either. I once saw two priests refuse Communion to a young woman at a Catholic Church. She got in one line, and the priest refused her. She went to the other and that priest refused her. My husband and I thought, “Well they must know something we do not know, and it was never well publicized. If that can be done to a common, ordinary person, why is it not done to the infamous who have caused so much scandal, not only to good Catholics but those of other faiths, including non Christians.
Idaho please write to his excellency. Thus you may get a better view then. I was blessed to have met him and he is very approachable and humble too.
This intense crusade against civil gay marriage calls to mind the cautionary words of the great American Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr: “Frantic orthodoxy is never rooted in faith, but in doubt. It is when we are unsure that we are doubly sure.”
Some American bishops seem to realize that they’ve lost the battle of civil gay marriage, that it’s time to move on from a harsh, critical stance and begin instead to develop a more pastoral approach to gays and lesbians. These are the bishops we need to hear from, not the culture warriors who don’t seem to know that this particular war is over.
Yours would seem to be the very rational approach, Jason, if one were only dealing with teachings and/or doctrine that came from men. The teaching against sexual impurity comes from God, however, not men. So it is not a matter of trying to get along and then making nice, but rather continuing to teach and hold to the Truth. That sexual impurity of all kinds leads to death. The Catholic Church didn’t just make that up.
Or would you have Catholic Bishops embrace the ‘wisdom’ of Aaron and fashion the golden calf because, well, it looks like Moses must be dead and, hey, maybe he’s just about having people follow him. So saying this ‘intense’ crusade for homosexual everything and the quoting of so-called Protestant theologians rings very Old Testament to me. Been there done that!
George Pell, Cardinal Archbishop, sat there day after day, an image of King Lear, a broken man, weary, slow and incompetent, a man who had spent his life climbing the greasy clerical pole, now at the tail-end of his life, being forced to answer questions and to confront his conscience, summoning hollow logic to assist in his defence, thrashing about blaming others, constructing academic distinctions, trying to exculpate himself and deflect the load which will inevitably be heaped upon him…….the interplay between the secular and the sacred, to see a member of the judiciary and his foot-soldiers enforcing the values of compassion and justice on one of our religious leaders. The archbishop was insisting on the Church’s rights before the law, on proper legal process, on legally acceptable avoidance mechanisms, on forensic niceties, while the secular, judicial arm of government kept taking him back to the message of Jesus and the Temple money-changers. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world…..” A hard lesson to learn at the top-end of one’s life, confronted with a message you had preached for years from the pulpits of two major cities. The institution and the prelate in charge were on the rack, quizzed by the state’s Torquemada as he explored the implications of the message of Jesus and of a life well lived. The red slipper was supposed to be on the other foot.
I hope the Archbishop will extend his invitation to confession to the dozens of Church leaders, priests, bishops, and others who participated in the sex abuse scandal, criminally covered it up, then used our hard earned charity to pay out millions in legal damages to the victims from Church finds. The call to holiness should not simply focus on one person, but on all who in need of repentance.
God Bless our Church!
Just the tip of the Iceeberg – That without Confession & Repentance the Titanic Catholic Schools are headed directly for:
Ontario teacher exposes what parents don’t know is happening in Catholic schools
A teacher substituting in numerous Ontario Catholic schools over the last decade says parents have little to no idea about what their children are actually exposed to when they send them packing off to school every day.
“I often see things that aren’t appropriate or even remotely reflective of solid Catholic teachings,” the teacher told LifeSiteNews.com under condition of anonymity. “There are many situations I come into contact with while supplying in 10 different Catholic schools and some of them are pretty anti-Catholic and discouraging.”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-teacher-exposes-what-parents-dont-know-is-happening-in-catholic-sch?
While the Vatican blew off this U.N. mandate when it came to the sexual abuse of children, it took the agreement very seriously when it came to another matter. In 2003, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, issued an updated teaching against gay marriage. The teaching for the first time specifically prohibited same-sex couples from being adoptive parents, and cited the Convention on the Rights of the Child as support for the Roman prohibition. When it came to priests abusing vulnerable children, the agreement was ignored, but when it came to gay and lesbian couples adopting vulnerable children, it was run up the Roman flagpole. The irony is only exceeded by the hypocrisy
Hmmm! it does seem most of the abuse by priests were by homosexual men and homosexual acts on boys or teens, teens mostly, but you conveniently fail to mention that John. I wonder why.
There is so much hurt. I understand that pain.
How can we expect one man, who is new to this diocese to undue over night all the harm that has been allowed for so many years before him. This culture does not allow that miracle to happen. One man can not do it, especially since he is human just like all of us. His good work that he has already and continues on doing is little by little happening and will not go in vein but many still want to hang him for not being perfect. People give little recognition of how hard it is to change this culture. It will take many changed hearts to help this Archbishop to undue much harm that has been occurring before him. With the “gay” mafia being what it is, we need to pray for this Archbishop’s safety too. Even our own Pope is much in danger.
We all expect martyrs to be born over night but we forget that we too need changing of hearts in order to unite and be more powerful in Christ. If our church leadership screws up, then point it out but if our church leadership is doing their job, one person at a time, then by gosh jolly we better be by their side edifying and being grateful by encouraging those who are heading in the right direction.
Ms. Christian:
Could he be part of the problem? He contributed a great deal to the problems in Oakland and so far I don’t see what he has accomplished in San Francisco. Please let me know on this point. In one of your above comments you mentioned he was very approachable. I am sure that some of the Priests, Religious and faithful in Oakland would disagree with you regarding this.
Jake then what are the facts that you feel make him as you say?