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Catholic Politicians, Abortion, And Communion

The Director, at the invitation of Dr. Tony Levatino, a former abortionist but now a stalwart pro-life activist, will be speaking in Las Cruces, New Mexico Monday and Tuesday After that we travel to Jackson, Michigan, St. Louis, MO and Seattle Washington, spreading the message of Life across the nation.

Countering the March for Death

We tip our hat to those pro-lifers who will be facing pro-aborts in Washington D.C. next Sunday. The media are already announcing a massive pro-abort turn out even though the event hasn’t even occurred. But they’re the guys who say both sides are represented in Washington when a quarter of a million pro-lifers march and six or eight pro-aborts have a meeting in a hotel room.

Roeser on Pro-Abort Catholic Pols

A major issue is brewing in America over abortion and Catholic Politicians and the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Tom Roeser put his finger on it last Saturday with an insightful column, “Catholic lawmakers face choice.” Roeser asked Cardinal Francis George if Sen. Dick Durbin presented himself before George to receive Holy Communion, would George give him the Sacrament?

It took guts just to ask the question, but gustiness is a Roeser trademark. Roeser was not satisfied with Cardinal George’s response. “George,” Roeser reports, “indicated he’s not sure. The question assumes that Durbin remains unrepentant in his pro-abortion stand.”

But George’s hesitation, Roeser says, spells trouble, not only for Durbin but for a whole flock of Illinois Roman Catholic Democrats who support abortion. Roeser says that while in the past most bishops have skirted the issue, some are now facing it squarely.

Archbishop Raymond Burke told Sen. John Kerry he would not give him Communion. George, Roeser writes, is awaiting a decision from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops that is studying the question hoping to come up with a common policy. George hopes the committee will announce its decision before the November Elections. Roeser says while the decision would be only advisory, pressure is growing from ordinary Catholics to get a clear answer to this question.

Church/State Separation Not at Issue

“The issue does not involve separation of church and state,” Roeser writes, since Durbin and others will not be told how to vote. But if they want to remain practicing Catholics and receive Communion — the body and blood of Christ — they may have to make a decision.

It is the right thing for Bishops to direct priests to withhold Communion from those who flout church teaching. Abortion, Roeser reminds us, has been regarded as a mortal sin for two thousand years and anyone who facilitates it is forbidden to receive Communion. Roeser trots out a bevy of Catholics who fall in this category.

Communion Decision Forthcoming?

Roeser says George discusses problems with qualifications, nuances and mini-distinctions, but is clearly firming up his position on this issue, which accepts no nuances, escape clauses, or micro-distinctions, but a firm declaration of right and wrong.

Is Roeser right in believing the issue of Catholic Pro-abortion politicians being denied Holy communion is coming to a head? We get that question every day, and agree with Roeser and all serious Catholics, that the answer should be forthcoming, clear and unequivocal. And if not now, when? Isn’t thirty-one years long enough?

Scripture says that if anyone eats and drinks the body and blood of Christ unworthily he eats and drinks condemnation to himself. The kindest thing a Bishop can do is deny such a person Communion, and hasten his repentance. Anyway, stay tuned. And thanks, Tom, we all needed that.

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