{"id":4568,"date":"2009-03-02T15:38:11","date_gmt":"2009-03-02T15:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2009\/03\/would-you-serve-sebelius.html"},"modified":"2009-03-02T15:38:11","modified_gmt":"2009-03-02T15:38:11","slug":"would-you-serve-sebelius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2009\/03\/would-you-serve-sebelius.html","title":{"rendered":"Would you serve Sebelius?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Catholic authorities say no<\/a>. What about you? Is support of abortion grounds not to permit the eucharist?<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

\nQ. When should a Catholic refrain from receiving holy Communion?\n<\/p>\n

\nA. In November 2006, the bishops of the United States issued a pastoral
\ndocument entitled “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper” which
\naddressed this question as follows: “In order to receive Holy Communion
\nwe must be in communion with God and with the Church. Mortal sin
\nconstitutes a rejection of communion with God and destroys the life of
\ngrace within us. Mortal sin is an act violating God’s law that involves
\ngrave matter and that is performed with both full knowledge and
\ncomplete consent of the will. If we are no longer in the state of grace
\nbecause of mortal sin, we are seriously obliged to refrain from
\nreceiving Holy Communion until we are reconciled with God and the
\nChurch” (no. 4)\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Q. Is it not the responsibility of the individual Catholic to judge
\ntheir worthiness to receive holy Communion? Why would a bishop ask
\nsomeone to refrain from presenting himself for reception of holy
\nCommunion?\n<\/p>\n

A. Normally, it is the responsibility of the individual Catholic to
\nmake the judgment of whether he or she is able to receive holy
\nCommunion. It is also the responsibility of the individual Catholic to
\nhave a well-formed conscience that is informed by the teachings of the
\nchurch. However, if an individual persistently acts publicly in a
\nmanner that is inconsistent with fundamental moral teachings of the
\nchurch and continues to receive holy Communion, a bishop may feel
\nobliged to intervene for the good of the individual and to protect
\nothers from being misled. “Happy Are Those Called to His Supper”
\naddresses this issue: “If a Catholic in his or her personal or
\nprofessional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined
\ndoctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her
\ndefinitive teachings on moral issues, however, he or she would
\nseriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of
\nHoly Communion, in such a situation, would not accord with the nature
\nof the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain.” [4]\n<\/p>\n

\nQ. Is a priest or another minister of Communion ever required to deny someone Communion?\n<\/p>\n

A. Canon 915 of the church’s law states: “Those upon whom the
\npenalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared,
\nand others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be
\nadmitted to holy communion.” In my request to Gov. Sebelius, I have
\nmade clear that it is her responsibility not to present herself for
\nreception of holy Communion. I am hopeful that she will comply with
\nthis request.\n<\/p>\n

Pastorally, it is certainly preferable not to burden ministers of
\nthe Eucharist with the responsibility to refuse Communion to someone.
\nMinisters of Communion do have an obligation to protect the sacrament
\nfrom misuse or abuse. I have, at this moment, not asked the ministers
\nof the Eucharist not to give holy Communion to the governor.\n<\/p>\n

\nQ. What is meant when it is said that Gov. Sebelius’ actions were scandalous?\n<\/p>\n

A. To answer this question, I again refer to “Happy Are Those Who
\nAre Called to His Supper,” which references the Catechism of the
\nCatholic Church: “To give scandal means more than to cause other people
\nto be shocked or upset by what one does. Rather, one’s action leads
\nsomeone else to sin. Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads
\nanother to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s
\ntempter. To lead others into sin is indeed a very serious matter.
\nAnyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads
\nothers to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the
\nevil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged” (no. 4).\n<\/p>\n

Governor Sebelius’ public support for legalized abortion, as a
\nCatholic, naturally leads others to question the moral gravity of
\nabortion. In effect, her actions and advocacy for legalized abortion,
\ncoupled with her reception of holy Communion, have said to other
\nCatholics: “I am a good Catholic and I support legalized abortion. You
\ncan be a good Catholic and support legalized abortion.”\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Catholic authorities say no. What about you? Is support of abortion grounds not to permit the eucharist? Q. When should a Catholic refrain from receiving holy Communion? A. 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