The bishop of San Diego on Monday accused “some bishops” of making the issue of abortion a “litmus test” for Catholic politicians during the Biden presidency.
With the inauguration of Joe Biden as just the second Catholic president in United States history, “some bishops want to recast the presence and tone of the conference in the public order,” said Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego at an online event on Monday.
These bishops, he said, “argue that abortion is not merely a ‘preeminent’ issue in Catholic Social Teaching, but rather constitutes the de facto litmus test for determining whether a Catholic public official is a faithful Catholic, and for determining whether the overall policy stances of non-Catholic officials can be considered morally legitimate.”
He added that “if adopted, such a position will reduce the common good to a single issue.”
Bishop McElroy spoke at an online event of Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life; the event focused on how new President Biden, the U.S. bishops, and Pope Francis might work to promote the teachings of the Church in public policy….
However, McElroy added, some bishops are advancing “an overall stance of confrontation” with the new president rather than the conference’s traditional strategy of “engagement, dialogue, and critique.”
In contrast to this confrontational approach, Pope Francis “has placed encounter, dialogue, honesty and collaboration at the heart of his approach to public conversation,” McElroy said, and is “unlikely to endorse” punitive actions such as withholding Communion from Biden because of his public abortion advocacy….
Under canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law, some bishops have previously withheld Holy Communion from publicly pro-abortion politicians because of their “obstinate” support for the grave evil of legal abortion, in the face of admonishment.
However, other bishops — including Bishop William Malooly of Wilmington and Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C. — have said recently or in the past that they would not withhold Holy Communion from a politician such as Biden.
As part of the USCCB’s “working group” on dealing with Biden, the group will be drafting a statement on “Eucharistic coherence” of Catholics who publicly oppose Church teaching on grave matters.
When asked by moderator Kim Daniels if teaching about “Eucharistic coherence” in the Biden presidency is a “good idea,” McElroy replied “No. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
The matter of Communion for Catholic politicians is a pastoral concern, he said, and should be addressed by Biden’s bishops in D.C. and in his home diocese of Wilmington, Delaware.
“The conference has no pastoral relationship with President Biden,” he said.
“I do not see how depriving the president or other political leaders the Eucharist, based on their public policy stance, can be interpreted in our society as anything other than a weaponization of the Eucharist and an effort not to convince people by argument, and by dialogue and reason, but rather, to pummel them into submission on the issue [of abortion],” he said….
The above comes from a Feb. 1 story on the site of the Catholic News Agency.
Some issues are so morally repugnant that they disqualify one from holding public office. Killing the unborn is one of them: killing Jews is another.
It’s simply irrelevant how good a politician is on more minor issues.
I don’t think Biden has performed or procured an abortion.
Anonymous,
That only matters for his personal life. As a government official, he refuses to protect the lives of the unborn.
Thank You!!
Anonymous, you do not know if Biden has done either of those things. That’s figment of your imagination and is irrelevant to the discussion.
FYI: He also has refused to protect religious liberty, even for Catholic nuns; has done nothing for human trafficking; and is for same sex marriage.
Plus: Has he ever spoken against these Governors who made unfair restrictions on our Churches? Not documented anywhere I can find. So it is never a single issue “problem” with Biden. He goes out of his way to promote abortion in the US and Mexico and even demands his “fellow” Catholics pay for it.. Many of his lists of donors are enemies of the Church. The list goes on. Christ never would of behaved such.
One one before I sign off. Biden likes to call others “racist” among other things.
But imagine I said “I am personally not racist, but I’m not opposed to others being racist”
That’s the Democratic Party latest stance. They say I would personally never have an abortion, but I’m not opposed to others having one. If we said that about racism like I did above, or even theft they would disagree. I personally would not steal, but am not opposed to others stealing.
Opps they are not opposed to rioting, unless it’s people they do not like.
I would like to ask the Bishop why is it that there are very few prelates who are active in the pro-life movement. Why is it entirely the laity that does the heavy lifting in this regard? but when it comes to immigration certain prelates will offer mass at the Mexican border. When was the last time a major prelate protested the crime of abortion? I think I know the answer and it has to do with government $$ for their pet projects.
His Excellency is right. “Weaponization” of the Eucharist for political goals is not and must not be accepted.
Weaponization of false claims of weaponization in order to advance a liberal view of the church must not be accepted. Bishop McElroy is repugnantly weaponizing respect for the Eucharist as a weapon against faithful Catholics to beat them back and get them off Biden’s back. He’s using compassion and tolerance as weapons to protect Biden and to avoid having to say that abortion is gravely evil for a Catholic politician to support. Such weaponization of Catholicism is repugnant for a bishop to do.
DNP–It is my understanding that there is no political goal but the goal of conversion of an unrepentant sinner and saving human life.
Was St Paul weaponizing the Eucharist? I believe he was trying to help souls get to heaven by insisting Christ be received in a worthy manner. Recall the Virgin is pure for a reason. To be a vessel for Almighty God. The Bible and the Catechism are clear. I pray the Bishop will reread and meditate on St Paul words. As his own soul is in jeopardy with Biden’s..
FYI: One of the spiritual works of mercy is to admonish the sinner.
It is supposed to keep him out of hell by having him repent. But they do use it to glamorize themselves. David vs. Goliath, you know.
The headline is so misleading and has nothing to do with the topic of the article
Original headline was
Bishop McElroy: Some bishops making abortion a political ‘litmus test’
Would Bishop McElroy give Communion to Hitler? Would he seek common ground? Would he not want to weaponize the Eucharist by denying Communion to Hitler?
What pomposity. He’s right—and the vast number of USA bishops who disagree are wrong and unenlightened.
Though he’s in the minority [along with the “usual gang of suspects”] he pontificates rather than attempting
to persuade. He’s failed so far. At least he’s not losing any weight over it.
None of Bishop McElroy’s brother bishops, nor anyone I know, for that matter, are proposing single-issue voting.
The headline is accurate. There are disqualifying issues. Abortion and racism are two examples.
Candidates publicly advocating for the expansion of abortion or racism should not demand to receive Holy Communion.
Nor would I, as a citizen and voter, vote for such a candidate or office holder, since those are disqualifying issues, not merely issues about which prudential judgments may differ.
The bishops and the Pope are giving preeminence to the issue of abortion (for various reasons). No one is saying it’s the only issue.
Can the bishop or anyone name one example where accompaniment, dialogue and engagement have may any pro-abortion Catholic politician any less pro-abortion?
I don’t think so. In fact, many, like Mr. Biden, have become more extremely pro-abortion after being friends with priests and receiving Holy Communion.
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a classic definition of insanity. It’s time for a better, more effective pastoral strategy.
“Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a classic definition of insanity.”
No, it’s not.
Can we please stop repeating Bill Clinton’s dumb comment?
Anonymous, that saying precedes any of Bill Clinton’s dumb comments.
So, in one sentence, how would you describe a half-century old pastoral practice that has failed every single time and that some church leaders are now saying we must continue because it’s the best (even though it’s failed every time it’s been tried)?
I’m open to learning a better way to describe such a situation.
Amen
It fails because (rhetorical) you are trying to manipulate them by using something that they don’t even care about. Biden said that the only time he has been refused Communion was by that priest in SC in 2019. He just used it to make himself look better to the pro-choice voter. (And those voters, including Catholics, who see refusing Communion as mean.)
They do not care about the babies. They don’t care about human life. They don’t care about Communion. They don’t care.
If you want to change them, work on changing Hollywood.
Deacon Craig, a true story from decades ago: a musician got a bad review on his album in a music magazine. He complained about it to a friend who worked at the magazine. His friend told him. “Reviewers are not writing for you or even for the readers. They are writing for the guy at the desk next to them.”
Sorry if that was random. Point is: if the pro-choice politicians cared what God or the Church thought, they would have changed long ago.
McElroy is a fool. Racism was never proven in the cases of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin
Candidates publicly advocating for the expansion of abortion (the democrat party) or racism (who are they ?)
should not be given Holy Communion)
Bishop McElroy states that “The matter of Communion for Catholic politicians is a pastoral concern and should be addressed by Biden’s bishops in D.C. and in his home diocese of Wilmington, Delaware”. President Biden is the leader of the United States, and the first Catholic president since abortion became legal, even at the state level. His actions impact the entire country, not just the people in his local church or diocese. There are 70 million Catholics watching as he actively uses his executive orders to promote and fund abortion here and abroad. This is unprecedented for a leader at this level who claims to be a practicing Catholic.
Biden is not merely standing in the background, staying out of the abortion fray. Nor is he a young, uninformed Catholic. He has been a Catholic for 78 years, and even a 13-year old knows that abortion is an intrinsic evil. What becomes legal, quickly becomes publicly moral, and our “practicing Catholic” president is openly promoting abortion in direct contradiction to church teaching. How many years of “engagement, dialogue, and critique” does it take before the church realizes that the world is watching, and publicly giving him communion gives tacit approval of his obstinate denial of church teaching. Does this not open the door for all Catholics who are in a state of grave sin to openly receive communion? What message is this sending to Catholics throughout our country?
There are no ambiguities here. Biden proactively, with his unique authority, signed the death warrants of countless unborn babies, and proudly brags about it. Bishops have had plenty of time for “engagement, dialogue, and critique.” Refusal to deny him communion is a public embarrassment for the entire church. If the weak-kneed local Bishops refuse to deny Biden communion, then the church bureaucracy should get off its hands and unite to stand up with one voice and do what is right, before canon law and the catechism of the Catholic Church become merely suggestions with no consequences.
Well said….. A good leader, leads by example. We Catholics get the message he’s sending.
I’m personally opposed to racism, but who am I to tell others that they shouldn’t treat others in a racist way. My catholic moral beliefs shouldn’t influence me to enact laws that restrict others from treating others in a racist manner. Who am I to judge?
You know beyond doubt if you have had a abortion.
People don’t even realize they are racists. And a lot of racism is ignorance. And it is subjective.
I am sure that every priest has given communion to a racist.
I am racist
You are racist.
My refrigerator is racist.
My dog is racist.
That word has been bandied about so often that it has become meaningless. It’s a common slur that doesn’t mean anything. But those who use it as a slur to shame or embarrass others makes those who use the word feel better about their selves.
Exactly like the Democrat party in NYC where more Black babies are aborted than are born alive. Cuomo & all the other Democrat governors who support & fund these racist programs of funding abortion sure sound like racists to me! That’s why these pro-abortion racists should be denied Holy Communion.
For over 40 years politicians like Biden have done nothing to help these poor Black families stay together get good jobs, educate and raise their children. Biden is still not for school choice, but he is clearly for abortion. He makes sure you can kill your child and now demands we pay for and promote abortions in poorer countries like Mexico .Of course Biden’s racist. He also has done nothing for human trafficking victims, except make sure they can get abortions. Which only sends them back to be abused more.
“Weaponizing the Eucharist” and “litmus test” are red herrings, argument fallacies redirecting the argument away from the basic truth. In doing evil, the agents are the perpetrator who actually destroys the life of the child, and those who cooperate materially by making it possible in assisting the killer in the operating room, the pharmacy, and those who make it legal through politics to allow and to fund the killing. Joseph Biden materially cooperates with his votes as senator and now his orders as president. For the sake of his soul, Biden needs to repent and reverse his orders. He should not receive Eucharist and commit sacrilege. Too many churchmen are at the trough of the government dole and invested in socialism, so they will not only fail to correct, they will run interference for Biden so that their other goals be achieved.
Thank You!! Fr. Richard Perozich
I have been coming here for over a decade but I just don’t want the negativity and lack of charity in my life anymore.
God bless everybody.
The world is full of negativity and lack of charity. It’s a fact of life. Deal with it like a grown adult. Good luck finding the Nirvana you are looking for.
I am a different “Anon.” The world treated poor Jesus Christ in the very worst way– far worse than any daily evils we must ever face! Many today, believe that the secular world is “the greatest era ever,” full of “fantastic modern science, medicine, and enlightening knowledge in every field, and vast modern progress,” which our forebears were “deprived” of. But the truth, found in the Bible– is that the secular world is very dark, ignorant, fallen and sinful, ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve– and it does not know or understand Christ.We must turn away from the sinful world, follow Christ, and do what we can, to shine His Light and Love for others. It is a terrible thing, our tax dollars going to support President Biden’s sinful agenda of “Baby Killer” Abortion programs. Plus, much more! And as Our Lady warned, “more souls go to Hell for sins of the flesh, than for any other.” (Sins of the flesh are very common mortal sins, destroying the soul.) But If the whole world is racing stupidly to the fires of Hell– well, all we can do is pray, and do all we can, to stop evils. Our post-Conciliar Church has fallen, too, so we have to live with that, and move on, move forward, with Christ. But in the end, everything is in God’s hands. He knows best. And someday– to live eternally with Christ in Heaven, that will be the very, very best! That is what we were originally created for– Heaven!
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I know. I can’t stand Bishop McElroy either.
LOL
Catholic faithful have absolutely no say as to which bishops we invite to lead our dioceses. If a bishop causes discord by straying from the authentic interpretation of the word of God, then the laity’s growing discontent with that bishop should warrant an investigation by the Holy See. However, it is apparent that Bishop McElroy is one of Pope Francis’s acolytes, so any protestations by the people of San Diego would likely be met with disdain. If we can’t have this bishop removed, then our only recourse is to stay vocal in our opposition to his arrogant and calculated dissemblance.
You may have a little say. You could always stop giving to the bishop’s annual diocesan appeal and tell them why.
As one of our former presidents and governors said, “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
If you are unwilling to follow the hierarchy, most Protestant groups would welcome you. Isn’t that what Henry VIII chose to do? Complaining on this site does not make you right.
Ah yes Tyquan another liberal who will tell us to obey the Hierarchy when it suits your needs, but you will dissent if your leftwing dogma is ever attacked or violated.
Bishop McElroy saying it’s okay for those in politics to do whatever and they don’t have to protect human life. So, not to judge that means why go to confession right? Why be forgiven right? Though, others are wrong for having an abortion and for fighting for Human Life!!! We are a Church of Charity and humanity! This ridiculous! Long time Catholic and very disappointed!!
Ah, the old racism canard: Moral exhibitionism, blame-shifting, infantilization, and oh, come to think of it, censorship, be it cowardly or just cold-footed.
Biden has already committed excommunicable offenses. At what point does Robert McElroy’s silent complicity with Biden’s grave moral offenses merit excommunication?
Yes, Biden the Roman Catholic, how insulting to our senses to even hear how devout he is, this man supports the killing of babies, has officiated at a wedding between two men while he was vice-president and he still gets Holy Communion? Yet the S.S.P.X., F.S.S.P. and Institute of Christ the King are treated like lepers and freaks. This Church needs a Pope to turn this shipwreck into the Holy Roman Catholic Church once again. And stop with the New Springtime of Vatican II garbage that brought us where we are today.
Hey, Vatican II was a valid council.
A valid Council, so they say
… for now. Looks like a disaster, no competent leadership, afterwards… And we cannot trust the ever-“creative,” “rule-breaking” Pope Francis! What will he do, next? More Pachamamas, women “deaconnesses,” or whatever he decides to do… LOL! “Who’s minding the store??”
Yes it was a valid Council yet it destroyed The Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Faith as we knew it. Mass attendance at 8%, closed churches, seminaries, convents, hospitals, schools, no belief in the Real Presence, dancing girls, altar girls, ripped out high altars, ripped out communion rails, ripped out statues, lay lectors, hand holding, kiss of peace, clapping, rock, folk, mariachi music, yes it was valid but look what it did!
Yes, Romulus Augustus– Yes! What do we do with a broken Church, that can no longer do her job very well, to lead us in Christ”s holy Teachings, and correctly bring to us His holy Sacraments?? It is a horrific mortal sin for a priest or bishop to publicly support, and also, give a “Joe Biden” or a “Nancy Pelosi” Holy Communion!! The dumb post-Conciliar Church is a “Church in Ruins,” and they all lie about that in Rome, refusing to cry out– “The Emperor has no clothes! The Emperor has no clothes!” So what do we do?? We are certainly not as Protestants, breaking away from a corrupted 16th century Church, going off on our own! The Devil has actually hijacked our Church in Rome, and lives there, in a “Satanic occupation.” Lots of people, Catholic and non-Catholic, know it. Christ’s Church “got in bed” with the dark, corrupt, sinful secular world, Satan’s corrupt realm– at the Council (although the Council also had some good, too). (Yet even before the Council, the Devil was always lurking around the corner– and many awful abuses existed, uncorrected!) That is the heart of the whole problem. Well, it’s hard– but a true, faithful Catholic has to just trudge on through the snow, like poor hermits deprived of many necessary things– hermits who never wanted nor chose to be one! And endure the darkness and cold, endure all things, and do our best, and ask God’s help from Heaven. Not an easy thing, but Our Lord knows well the situation, and He will provide for us! We will make it, with Him, all the way to our “Promised Land”– Heaven!
The Catholic Church has struggled with problems, for many long centuries, both in the pre-Conciliar and post-Conciliar eras. It never will be perfect, on earth. Poor St. Mother Teresa and other recent Saints (and saintly Churchmen) also have struggled with the Church, in recent years, and even tried to “talk sense” to Pope St. John Paul II– who wouldn’t listen! Pope Francis won’t listen, either. Well, I am grateful, in today’s era, not to live in China, or in some Middle Eastern or African countries, hostile to our Faith — very dangerous for us! Glad to live in America! Also, the Papacy has really hurt devout Chinese Catholics and their clergy, which is horrible! Anyway– I just have to live by my Faith the best I can, at times feeling, sadly, “all by myself.” That is the way it is, and it’s okay with God, so– fine with me! I have to be strong, and do this– with God by my side! McElroy, Cupich, “Fr.” James Martin, (and the Pope, too!) etc. etc.– can all go jump in the lake! As per Christ’s parables– the wheat grows up together with the weeds (don’t like it!) — but at harvest time– the wheat and the weeds, the sheep and the goats– will all get separated. God is watching! God knows all! I hope to be amongst the “good wheat,” the “chosen sheep,” and the “Five Wise Virgins,” who prepared faithfully for their Bridegroom!
Praising God with dance is in Scripture and predates the Mass.
Roman altars have never been glued to the back wall.
Is there really much difference between a mariachi guitar and a lute?
There is tremendous belief in the real presence, though it could use some reinforcement.
Attendance at Mass was down during the great plague too.
Fear not. Just because things don’t look like they looked in 1951 doesn’t mean things aren’t good in 2021.
There is a great lack of reverence and respect for God, Anonymous– and too much highly inappropriate focus on “humanism” — instead of humble, respectful worship of God– in our churches of today. Also, there are way too many secular, worldly, silly, entertaining, useless novelties and gimmicks that do not belong in a church. Dancing girls are inappropriate for church– I bet you learned that, from your mom, growing up. Many church abuses that crept into Catholic worship (including use of secular songs from local pubs) were thrown out, after the Council of Trent. And yes, in 1951, people had lots of respect for God, when they went to church! Yes! Even non-believers! By contrast–many today, have no respect at all for God, when they enter His house— and are egocentric, too smart-aleck, full of themselves, and disobedient to authority of all kinds– including God’s Authority, in His house. Mariachi guitars for Spanish Masses are fine, but are essentially best used in traditional Hispanic secular venues, for worldly entertainment– there are lots of beautiful Spanish love songs, folk songs, with dances (etc.) accompanied by mariachi music! Lutes are lovely, but mainly for use in secular classical repertoire, outside of church– not generally suitable for liturgical use for our Mass– they are generally too soft to accompany singers. The organ is best suited for liturgical use for Mass. Except– for maybe an occasional lovely, appropriate religious work for singers and lutes, to be sung during Mass.
Anonymous, of course, you should attend the Mass of your choice.
RA, read the documents from Vatican II. It did not change the Faith. None of what you are talking about is in the Vatican II documents. Absolutely none of what you are complaining about it from Vatican II.
Yes, Anonymous. what RA is complaining about is a direct result of the Council! At the Council, the Mass changes were decided, and a New Mass was issued, with many changes, and many new “individial freedoms” were given to clergy and laity. The Vatican II Church is very different than the pre-Conciliar Church. You should read more widely about this, read all about the two Popes and clerics involved in the Council, and what they did, and why.
Anon. the Mass changes were not decided at the Council and a new Mass was not issued there. Is this something you read on the Internet? There is a lot of mis-information, especially from groups that call themselves Roman Catholic.
Anonymous, the Second Vatican Council specifically called for a new, “updated” Mass– with the original Ronan Missal in Latin— but to be translated and celebrated in vernacular languages, worldwide. Don’t you remember that?? A group of Protestant clergy, under the direction of Abp. Annibale Bugnini, wrote the actual text for the New Mass (Novus Ordinary Missae) and it was promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI in 1969. Remember the unforgettable first day of the New Mass?? Later, there were various revisions to the New Mass.
There was a misspelling of “Novus Ordo Missae” in my post of Feb 8, at 8:05pm.
Protestant clergy did not write the “New Mass”. That is a lie perpetuated by the sedevacantists.
Sacrosanctum Concilium did call for a revisal of the Mass and for greater use of the vernacular but it did not call for the list of things that Romulus Augustus gave which I was responding to.
The good bishop claims denial equals weaponization, but priests should be all about protecting the sanctity of the sacrament from sacrilege. In other words, it is Christ Whom we defend against insult and pillorying when we deny these reprobates access to the Holy Eucharist, not the reputations of mere men.
Denial prevents the sin. So it benefits us all.
FogBeltBoy–Great post!
If you refuse to donate to the bishops appeal you’re weaponizing charity.