A handful of American bishops have already made public statements of their support for Archbishop Cordileone’s communion ban for Nancy Pelosi, and others no doubt will follow. Archbishop Robert Vasa of Santa Rosa, California, was quick to announce that Speaker Pelosi would also be barred from Communion in his diocese, where she owns a vacation home. But all eyes will now shift toward Washington, DC, where Pelosi spends most of her time (and does most of her abortion advocacy), and where Cardinal Wilton Gregory has indicated that he would not withhold Communion from pro-abortion politicians. Archbishop Cordileone’s disciplinary action forces Cardinal Gregory to decide whether or not he will uphold his brother bishop’s ban.
A critical question here—one on which canon lawyers disagree—is whether the ban travels with the Speaker. Archbishop Cordileone is her pastor, and he has determined that she is not qualified to receive the Eucharist. But does that determination apply only within the geographical limits of his own archdiocese? When she is in Washington, can Cardinal Gregory (who is not her pastor) make a different judgment?
From Speaker Pelosi’s perspective the problem seems simpler—at least at first glance. John Allen of Crux reasons:
Unless a large contingent of other bishops impose similar bans in their dioceses, almost everywhere Pelosi may go, good advance work probably will be able to identify a sympathetic pastor willing to administer communion should she want to attend Mass.
But wait. If he gives Communion to Pelosi in violation of the ban, that “sympathetic pastor” could face severe sanctions himself. A new provision (1379§4) of the Church’s canon law, signed into force by Pope Francis just last year, stipulates:
A person who deliberately administers a sacrament to those who are prohibited from receiving it is to be punished with suspension.
So again the issue hinges on the question of whether the ban imposed by Archbishop Cordileone is in force in other dioceses. The Vatican, which handles canonical debates at a leisurely pace, is not very likely to resolve that question any time soon. And Pope Francis has avoided taking a clear stand on the issue, one way or another. While it is true that the Pope has said he never denied the Eucharist to anyone, it is also true that he said that Catholics who support abortion are “outside the community” and therefore should not receive Communion.
Yet beyond the questions of canonical jurisdiction and Vatican authority, there is a question of conscience, which Archbishop Cordileone addressed in that pastoral letter last May. He explained that he could not, in conscience, remain silent while prominent Catholics joined in public campaigns for abortion. “I tremble,” he wrote, “that if I do not forthrightly challenge Catholics under my pastoral care who advocate for abortion, both they and I have to answer to God for innocent blood.” The same logic that prompted Archbishop Cordileone to act—the same demand of conscience—should prompt every other American prelate to support him.
Full story at Catholic Culture.
Exactly, what’s stopping her from receiving in Palo Alto?
So far, nothing it appears.
Only a harridan such as Pelosi would think of presenting herself at the altar to receive the Eucharist. She has not one whit of decency … or mortification, for that matter.
Legally the ban stops at the edge of the diocese.
Ask God about the Legality.
As the article points out, there’s no mention in Canon Law that an interdict applied to a person, once declared publicly, is only in effect within the diocese of the bishop who declared the penalty. An argument can be made that the interdict applies universally and that all other ministers of Holy Communion, even those outside the diocese, are bound by Canon Law to enforce it, otherwise they can be penalized with a just penalty.
I have read that last Sunday Pelosi received communion at a Jesuit parish in Washington D.C. and nary a word from C. Gregory. If the report is true this comes as no surprise. The legacy of Robert Drinan SJ lives on. I would not be surprised to read she received a standing ovation for this sacrilege.
Yes, Ms. Pelosi cannot receive Holy Communion anywhere. She may come up and grab a host from someone without permission. She may even get that on a video and show everyone how she can “fool” the Church. But that isn’t Communion, that’s her CONDEMNATION.
Good heavens this women is flirting with hellfire. I would never defy a bishop, nor should one bishop defy the decisions of another bishop exercising his duty.
She might ba able receive Washingto D C with that liberal Democrat Archbishop. But she will not be in D. C forever. She banned in San Fran and in the diocese of Oakland and where She has her summer home in Napa.
Area9
She is an old woman. He time is becoming extremely limited.
She has no fear of God. In fact she mocks God by her defiant actions.
It is so public and blatant that I am somewhat stunned.
Palo Alto – Tall Tree
she’s not legit – even if she receives at the top of a tall tree
“Does the ban travel with the Speaker?”
maybe … maybe not
BUT: no matter where she goes,
Nancy travels with the ban.
Maybe she could just keep her mask on and her mouth closed. She and our nation would be safer.
I grew up Catholic and was educated by the Jesuits. I know pretty much everything.
Tony, your downfall began at Regis High School.
Xavi, downfall? You gotta be kidding. Who else makes $434,000 a year and will get a $380,000 a year pension when retired? Thanks for paying for that, by the way. I’m the second highest paid civil servant in the country. It’s a matter of social justice, you know? I’m a doctor, I care about people. You know, “civil servant” is about being a servant as much as the Jesuit vow of poverty is about poverty. Illud audiamus pro educatione catholica.
Upon your death, your bucks and Title will not buy your way in to Heaven.
You are but a flake of dust in God’s Eternity.
who knew the esteemed Tony Fauci read Cal-Catholic?
we’re all honored, I’m sure!
Phony, Do you think I’m the only Jesuit-educated lapsed Catholic to read Cal-Catholic?
Tony – you is beautiful.
Keep up the good work!
we need MORE Jesuit-educated(sic) lapsed catholics such as you & me!
make the world a mo’ betta place.
Any baptized Catholic aware of mortal sin even if the mortal sin is private must first repent of the sin, confess the sin in the confessional, have a firm resolve to avoid at all possible the ocasión to sin again before receiving the graces bestowed on us through communion.
Nancy’s mortal sin of supporting abortion is very public, hence, the Churches teaching and Christs teaching to fraternal correction. Her Archbishop is going easy on her what her Archbishop needs to do next is totally excommunicate her for her obstinate desire to remain publicly in Mortal Sin