A Chicago police chaplain says he is “mortified” that he mistakenly gave Holy Communion to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a non-Catholic Christian in a same-sex marriage, during Thursday’s funeral Mass for fallen city police officer Ella French.
In an interview Friday with CNA, Fr. Dan Brandt said just moments prior to Communion he was asked by Cardinal Blase Cupich, the main celebrant, to take his place distributing the Eucharist and became flustered when he saw the mayor step forward as the first in his line.
“You know something, I am to blame for that and I am mortified,” Fr. Brandt said.
“I actually gave her Communion, but she was the very first one up there and I wasn’t supposed to give out Communion, and at the last second Cardinal Cupich said, ‘I’m going to sit out Communion, you take my spot.’
“And so, I didn’t know where I was going. I mean I was totally, the whole weekend was a blur. I was going on very little sleep,” the Catholic police chaplain explained. “And anyways I’m making excuses but yes, she came up, and I put the sacred host in her hand and I was like ‘Oh!’ and of course it was too late at that point. And I was like, ‘Oh dear God, have mercy.’”
Fr. Brandt added that he is deeply apologetic toward those who were offended by the mayor receiving Communion.
“I apologize for any scandal that my absentmindedness may have caused. It was certainly not intentional and wish I had my wits about me. Or better yet I wish the Cardinal had just given out Communion because I was planning on going back and sitting for the next portion of the Mass and procession,” he said.
“I can’t apologize enough for anyone who’s upset by the fact that she received the Eucharist. That is totally on me and I own it,” he said. “And it was an honest mistake and I pray that your readers have the same mercy that I hope the Lord gives me.”
Full story at Catholic World Report.
The mayor should have known not to present herself for Holy Communion at a Catholic Mass. She showed huge disrespect for the Church and poked her finger in the eyes of the family of the slain police officer. Completely tone deaf and vindictive of her!
Deus Vult– I agree! I recall the days of long ago, before Vatican II, when the Holy Eucharist was well-respected. Catholics did not receive Communion unless truly well-prepared. It was not common for all Catholics to receive Communion at all Masses. It was mainly for the priest. Catholics assisted (as they called it, back then) at Mass, kneeling in prayer– it was extremely holy! Not a casual “Eucharistic religious service” with emphasis on secular-style, congregational “group participation” (as in “group psychology,” or some dumb thing.) The focus was on prayerful worship of God, with awe and wonder– Who actually came down to earth on the Altar, in the Holy Eucharist, as Christ Himself! No one dared approach the Communion rail without proper preparation! And no non-Catholic would dare approach, they would first respectfully inquire of the priest for lessons in becoming a Catholic! ((No RCIA, back then.)
A long time ago, before Vatican II, there were definite divisions between Catholics and Protestants. The main theological issues were well-known, and were sometimes debated, which could result in unfortunate quarrels. All Protestants knew that Catholics believed in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which they thought was not true. Christian morality, however, was never questioned by anyone– even derelicts in the gutter, and criminals, respected Christian Morality, although they led lives of sin. It was a horrible shock to me, after Vatican II, to see some Catholic clergy suddenly question Christian Morality. A long time ago, before the Council– a Protestant would not dare come to the altar rail, to receive our Catholic Communion.
This post of mine of Aug. 25th at 9:42pm, got edited. I meant to say, at the end– that before Vatican II, Catholics and Protestants used to have very definite divisions in their beliefs. For a Protestant to be interested in receiving Catholic Holy Communion at a Catholic Mass, would be unthinkable– they considered it as a fraud.
There are so many things sad and wrong about this. The police chaplain should not have been put in that position. And, Mayor Lightfoot’s disregard for our Catholic faith shouldn’t be surprising given her disregard for the police officers in the city she serves (it’s not her city, it’s their city collectively). (She is one who was promoting protests, except protests were not permitted in the neighborhood in which she lives.) I wouldn’t call her a “non-Catholic Christian.” Christians don’t engage in homosexual activity. Or, in fairness to her, maybe she thought it was okay. Some “churches” have “open communion,” where anyone may receive. She sees Joe trans Biden and others with the same beliefs as her receiving at Mass.
And, am I the only one troubled by a Cardinal saying “I’m going to sit out Communion?” Unless he had a serious reason (other than being seen giving Holy Communion to Ms. LIghtfoot himself), bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
Thank God for Father Dan and his service as a chaplain. Many Police and Fire Departments, as well as the armed forces, lack Catholic chaplains. Let’s pray for more.
This poor Chaplain got “set up”. It is quite evident that Cardinal Cupich knew Mayor Lightfoot was going to take Communion. Why did he not announce from the beginning that only Catholics should be taking Communion? Cardinal Cupich is the one who “blessed” the dragon and serves mass with a dragon on the altar. It is quite evident where his loyalties lie.
Anne TE you are spot on Cupich knows exactly what he was doing he is part and parcel of the whole Novus Ordo mess, Cupich many years ago as Bishop of Rapid City South Dakota closed the doors to a TLM Parish and locked them out. Is is ok to give out Holy Communion to non Catholic lesbians but heaven forbid let Roman Catholics pray in the Traditional Rite.
RA, Father Brandt celebrates the Novus Ordo Mass (and, likely, very reverently). Not everything wrong in the world can be attributed to the Novus Ordo Mass.
When your hemorrhoids bother you (or mine me) or something goes bad in your pantry, is that because of the Novus Ordo Mass too? Or when your slacks or toga wear out, yep, sure enough, NO is to blame.
Some blame Trump for everything. You seem to blame the Ordinary Form of the Mass for everything. You make some valid points, but would have more credibility if you’re default wasn’t blame the NO Mass. (If you’re married, do you do that around the house?)
First the mayor gets this officer’s name wrong and then she makes a spectacle of herself at the young woman’s funeral. What breath taking tone deafness….this characterizes the progressive ideologues that have taken pathological narcissism to a new low…
Thank you for serving. You are appreciated by many men and women, some of whom are not even believers.
Hate to say but Cardinal knew she should not receive communion and cowardly stepped back and put this poor chaplain in a situation at a moments notice. Shame on the Cardinal.
So I get the paradigm that only good Catholics should take communion at a Catholic event where communion is offered. Every time I hear the Mass, though I am not Catholic, it is usually in support of someone, be it a deceased friend or family member. If I see others who are not of the faith but going up to receive communion, rarely have I seen any priest pull the eucharist away. I’m not going to comment on whether going up or withholding Holy Communion is right or wrong, especially in this case, though I do take umbrage that one commenter suggested that by taking Communion the Mayor is spitting in the eye of police. Really? Perhaps it’s to honor the deceased (Yes, I know, there probably is a better way). So is the precious Catholic-only wafer somehow diminished by this act? I don’t think so, and I’m pretty sure that if there is some Godly punishment, the person who partakes without being Catholic will face the judgment when they pass. However, I point out two important things: not once did Jesus himself make communion only for the faithful, being defined as Catholic, and did he not state that this eucharistic feast creates a new and everlasting covenant, that we should NOT be using old Old Testament paradigms to justify exclusions or punishments, lest we become the Pharisees who proclaim to all how holy they are by virtue of their adherence to old church scenarios. Perhaps being a little less pious and judging is the order of the day when taking communion, lest we be judged…
Time for you to get a properly informed conscience and join the Catholic Church. There is no salvation outside the Church. Now you know.
It is not an event, it is a prayer. (The Mass part of the funeral.) Ideally, only Catholics in a state of grace would approach to receive Communion. However, if someone else approaches, most priests will not refuse, unless they are sure that the person should not receive. If you at a Mass where someone you think should not receive is receiving, pray for them and make an intercession or reparation prayer.
Usually at funerals, a priest will give an explanation before Communion. A person who is ignorant is not sinful. Those who consciously defy are sinful,however the gravity of the sin is known only to God.
Mike Dremel– it is important to be respectful when visiting a strange church. I have gone to several non-Catholic churches, synagogues, and even visited a mosque once, with friends, in the past. The Muslims highly value modesty, which is great! When visiting the mosque, I was invited to first try on a beautiful Muslim outfit, to dress like the other ladies. The Muslims separate women from men. (Some orthodox Jewish synagogues do that, too.) Everyone removes their shoes before entering the mosque. I tried on a beautiful outfit (no face covering, only the head)– and just loved wearing it for the mosque service, and for a big feast afterwards, to celebrate one of their feast days. I even joined in to help the ladies with the cooking! They taught me some Muslim prayers and chants, some Arabic, and showed me how to write my name in Arabic. There were big families, with lots of children– delightful! They showed me in the Quron, passages all about Jesus and Mary. But the information was all wrong! I just pointed out our Catholic beliefs, without criticism of their religion. I always carry a Rosary, and have worn a Miraculous Medal lifelong, along with the blessed Brown Scapular– so I showed them these religious items, and explained our beliefs. Quite a nice cultural experience! Had a good time! When taking off my pretty Muslim outfit, I thought of how many of today’s Christians have forgotten the virtue of Modesty– how sad!
Before Jews and Muslims were expelled from Spain (Jews in 1492, and Muslims between 1609-1614) people of the three Abrahamic religions (Christians, Jews, and Muslims) co-existed there, built a thriving culture, and sometimes inter-married. St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross (who both lived in the 1500s) were both of Jewish ancestry, of “conversos” (Jews who converted to Catholicism). They did not acknowledge this publicly, for fear of persecution. The 1492 Alhambra Decree was formally revoked by Spain in 1968, and the descendants of the Sephardic Jews (Spanish exiled Jews) were invited to return to Spain.
These experiences all occured over 45-50 years ago, long before the ISIS problems! Much has changed in the world, since then.
This article is hard to believe. I hope it is true the chaplain made a mistake. It’s just a little too convienent by half.