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Eucharist denial to Catholic politicians over abortion

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Because the Catholic Church opposes abortion as a matter of doctrine, some Catholic bishops have refused or threatened to refuse communion, or threatened to declare excommunication upon Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. In some cases, officials have stated that ministers should refuse communion to such politicians per canon 915 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law; elsewhere, that the politicians should, on their own, refrain from receiving communion ad normam canon 916; and in other cases, excommunication has been suggested.

United States

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Further information: Catholic Church and politics in the United States

General statements

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In 2004, there was discussion of whether communion should be refused to American Catholic politicians who voted against laws banning abortion.[1] With a few American bishops in favor of withholding communion from politicians and the majority against, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decided that such matters should be decided on a case-by-case basis by the individual bishops.[2] In 2005, Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh said no individual bishop should on his own deny communion to politicians because of "national ramifications", and suggested that such an action should be taken only on the basis of a two-thirds majority of all of the bishops or as mandated by the Vatican, while bishops Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix and Charles J. Chaput of Denver stated they would act on their own initiative and apply the sanctions put forward by a 2004 USCCB document entitled "Catholics in Political Life",[3] though only, Chaput declared, in "extraordinary cases of public scandal".[4] In 2008, Raymond Burke, former archbishop of St. Louis and assigned in that year to the Vatican, said communion should not be given to such politicians, arguing that support for abortion rights is a mortal sin that makes a person unfit for communion, and denial of communion would prevent other Catholics from thinking, because they see that pro-abortion rights politicians can receive communion, that being pro-abortion rights is an acceptable political position.[2]

In 2008, a minority of American bishops supported denying communion to pro-abortion rights Catholic legislators, interpreting canon 915 as justifying such action.[5][6] In 2009, Wuerl argued that communion was not intended to be used as a weapon and that a pastoral approach would be more effective for changing minds than a canonical one.[7]

These statements of intent from church authorities have sometimes led American Catholic voters to vote for candidates who wish to ban abortion, rather than pro-abortion rights candidates who support other Catholic Church positions on issues such as war, health care, immigration, or lowering the abortion rate.[8] Penalties of this kind from bishops have generally targeted Democrats, possibly because pro-abortion rights Catholic Democrats are more vocal in their support for abortion rights than the few pro-abortion rights Catholic Republicans.[9]

Proposals to deny communion to pro-abortion rights politicians are more common in the United States. Suggested reasons for this are a politicization of pastoral practice.[1][2]

While there was thus disagreement among the bishops about the opportuneness of refusing the Eucharist to Catholic politicians promoting legalization of abortion, there was unanimity regarding the moral obligation of Catholic politicians who participate in what their Church considers a seriously sinful action to refrain from going to Communion, an obligation stated on several occasions.[2][4][10][11][12][13][14]

Main instances

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20th century

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The first instance of a pro-abortion rights politician being censured via denial of communion was in 1989.[15] During a special election for the California Senate, Pro-abortion rights Catholic Lucy Killea was barred from communion by Leo Thomas Maher, then bishop of San Diego.[9] She received communion in Sacramento with the consent of Bishop Francis Quinn.[16] The incident brought publicity to Killea's candidacy and gained her the voters' sympathy, helping her to win the election.[17][18]

In 1984, Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor, then archbishop of New York, considered excommunicating New York Governor Mario Cuomo.[19][20] He also condemned Cuomo's statements that support for abortion rights did not contradict Catholic teaching, but did not suggest that Cuomo should stop receiving communion.[21]

21st century

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In January 2003, Bishop William Weigand of Sacramento said Governor of California Gray Davis, a Catholic who supported abortion rights, should stop receiving communion.[9]

In 2004, then-Archbishop Burke said he would not give communion to 2004 presidential candidate and Senator John Kerry, in part because of his position on abortion. According to religion experts, such a denial of communion would have been unprecedented.[14][22] Kerry's own Archbishop Sean O'Malley refused to specify the applicability of his earlier statement that such Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot properly receive communion.[14] The issue led to comparisons between Kerry's presidential campaign and that of John F. Kennedy in 1960. While Kennedy had to demonstrate his independence from the Roman Catholic Church due to public fear that a Catholic president would make decisions based on the Holy See's agenda, it seemed that Kerry, in contrast, had to show obedience to Catholic authorities in order to win votes.[9][23][24][25] According to Margaret Ross Sammons, Kerry's campaign was sufficiently damaged by the threat to withhold communion that it may have cost him the election. Sammons argues that President George W. Bush was able to win 53% of the Catholic vote because he appealed to "traditional" Catholics.[26]

In February 2007, as emerged two and a half years later, Bishop Thomas Tobin asked Representative Patrick Kennedy not to take communion because of his position on abortion.[27] Kennedy told the Providence Journal that Tobin also instructed priests in the diocese not to give him communion; Tobin denied this.[27] In 2007, Burke said that he would deny communion to 2008 Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani because of his views on abortion, and that Giuliani should not seek the sacrament.[22] In May 2008, Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann said that then-Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius should stop receiving communion because of her support for abortion rights, and that she should not again take it unless she publicly stated that she opposed abortion rights.[28][29][30]

After Joe Biden was nominated as a vice presidential candidate in the 2008 presidential election, Bishop Joseph Francis Martino of Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, said Biden would be refused communion in that diocese because of his support for abortion.[8] Biden was not refused communion in his then-parish of Wilmington, Delaware.[31]

In October 2019, Biden was refused communion by a priest at a church in Florence, South Carolina.[32] The priest indicated that he had followed a diocesan policy enacted in 2004. The bishop of Biden's home diocese in Wilmington, Delaware, W. Francis Malooly, said that he would not refuse communion in cases such as this.[33] On January 21, 2021, one day after his inauguration as president, Biden received communion from the hands of the archbishop of Washington, DC, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory. The event was condemned by conservative activist Austin Ruse, in Crisis magazine.[34] In October of the same year, Biden stated that during a meeting with pope Francis, "We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving Communion".[35]

In July 2021, New Mexico state senator Joe Cervantes was denied communion. Cervantes had cosponsored legislation to repeal New Mexico's dormant ban on abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother was in danger.[36]

On 20 May 2022 Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the San Francisco archdiocese wrote in a public notice that Nancy Pelosi would be refused the Holy Communion due to her position on abortion.[37][38] Three Catholic bishops of the US supported Cordileone's decision.[39] In response to Cordileone's notice, Pelosi stated she supported the right of abortion, and added: "I wonder about the death penalty, which I am opposed to. So is the Church. But they take no action against people who may not share their view".[40]

Europe

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In Europe, Catholic bishops have less often raised the question of refusing communion to pro-abortion rights Catholic legislators: there "rigorous principles coexist with more flexible pastoral customs".[2] In January 2001, Pope John Paul II gave Communion to Mayor of Rome Francesco Rutelli, whose position is that of being "personally opposed to abortion, but not willing to impose his stance through law". Similar cases are found among parliamentarians in Austria, Belgium and Germany.[1] When the Spanish Parliament voted to liberalize that country's abortion laws in 2010, the Bishops Conference declared that the parliamentarians who chose to vote for the new law were not excommunicated, but that they "seriously separated themselves from the church and should not receive Communion." King Juan Carlos, who was constitutionally required to sign the law, did not fall under any church sanctions.[41]

Ireland

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While the Oireachtas was debating the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, which provided for abortion in limited cases, members of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference expressed differing positions. Eamon Martin, then coadjutor archbishop of Armagh, said that pro-abortion rights politicians should not seek communion and were excommunicated. Diarmuid Martin, archbishop of Dublin, was asked for comment on Martin's statements, and responded that communion should not be a site of debate or used for publicity reasons.[42] Cardinal Seán Brady remarked that, among the bishops, "there would be a great reluctance to politicize the Eucharist".[43]

In July 2024, Colm Burke was refused communion during the funeral Mass of a constituent in Whitechurch by a curate who cited Eamon Martin's statement on excommunication. Burke wrote to William Crean, the Bishop of Cloyne, for comment.[44] The Irish Association of Catholic Priests condemned the curate's action.[45]

Holy See

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Recent popes have presided over Masses at which pro-abortion rights politicians have been given communion on many occasions. Pope John Paul II gave communion to Tony Blair, at the time both a pro-abortion-rights politician and an Anglican,[46][47] as well as to Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli.[48] At a Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City in 2008 celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, pro-abortion-rights Catholic politicians Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Rudy Giuliani received the sacrament.[49] Italian politician Nichi Vendola has also taken the Eucharist at a Mass celebrated by Benedict.[50]

Mexico

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In May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI expressed support for the Mexican bishops' envisaged excommunication of politicians who had voted to legalize abortion in Mexico City. Responding to a journalist's question, "Do you agree with the excommunications given to legislators in Mexico City on the question?" the Pope said, "Yes. The excommunication was not something arbitrary. It is part of the (canon law) code. It is based simply on the principle that the killing of an innocent human child is incompatible with going in Communion with the body of Christ. Thus, they (the bishops) didn't do anything new or anything surprising. Or arbitrary."[51]

According to Der Spiegel, many journalists were wondering if that support could be interpreted as a wish to excommunicate such politicians.[52] Time magazine reported that it was in fact such a declaration.[53] However, church officials said that it was not a declaration but appeared to be a misunderstanding.[51] Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, clarified that the Pope was not excommunicating anyone since the Mexican bishops had not in fact declared an excommunication. However, Lombardi said that "politicians who vote in favor of abortion should not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion" because their action is "incompatible with participation in the Eucharist."[54]

Uruguay

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In 2012, various news outlets reported that all of the Catholic legislators who supported the decriminalization of abortion in Uruguay had been excommunicated by the country's conference of bishops.[55][56][57] That was the result of a misunderstanding and the secretary-general of the conference of bishops later said that the penalty of automatic excommunication applies to those who are directly involved in an abortion, "which does not include those who vote for a law that allows it."[58]

View of Church Leaders

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Individual church leaders have given differing views on denial. Cardinal Francis Arinze supports doing so saying:

...somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time and these babies are killed, not one or two, but in millions, and that person says I am a practicing Catholic, should that person receive communion next Sunday... The children for first communion will answer that at the drop of a hat. You don’t need a cardinal to answer that.”[59][60]

Cardinal Peter Turkson opposes denial saying, "The Eucharist should not in any way become a weapon.”[61]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Word from Rome", John L. Allen Jr. in National Catholic Reporter, 28 May 2004
  2. ^ a b c d e Internet, Elemedia S.p.A. - Area. "Obama's Pick for Vice President Is Catholic. But the Bishops Deny Him Communion". chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ^ Major, Richard (August 27, 2005), "Communion for pro-choice politicians splits Church", The Tablet
  4. ^ a b "Library : It's a Matter of Honesty: To Receive Communion, We Need to Be in Communion". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. ^ Allen Jr., John L. (Oct 31, 2008). "Antiabortion imperative more complex than acknowledged". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  6. ^ Michael Sean Winters, "Chaput Cites Disunity Among Bishops on Canon 915" in National Catholic Reporter, 12 April 2011
  7. ^ Henneberger, Melinda (11 May 2009). "Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion". Politics Daily. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  8. ^ a b Kirkpatrick, David (2008-09-16). "Abortion Issue Again Dividing Catholic Votes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  9. ^ a b c d Ainsworth, Bill (2004-06-09). "Catholics giving governor a pass on abortion". The San-Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  10. ^ Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, "The Obligations of Catholics and the Rights of Unborn Children" Archived June 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion". www.ewtn.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Reactions to Sen. Obama's Selection of Sen. Biden as His Running Mate". www.gwu.edu. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  13. ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 916 Archived February 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ a b c Hancock, David (2004-04-06). "Kerry's Communion Controversy". CBS News. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  15. ^ "A Bishop Says No". Time. November 27, 1989. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008.
  16. ^ Lundstrom, Marjie (February 1, 2003). "Abortion foes cross line with attacks on elected officials". Sacramento Bee.
  17. ^ "Abortion and Religion Put Focus on Election". New York Times. December 3, 1989.
  18. ^ "Bishop Leo Maher, 75; Led San Diego Diocese". New York Times. February 25, 1991.
  19. ^ Beltramini, Enrico (September 12, 2009). "Il cattolicesimo politico in America". Limes (in Italian). Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  20. ^ West, John G.; MacLean, Iain S. (1999). Encyclopedia of religion in American politics, Volume 2. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 98. ISBN 9781573561303. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  21. ^ Mike Dorning, "Catholic politicians feel church heat on abortion" in Chicago Tribune, 26 April 2003
  22. ^ a b "Outspoken Catholic Archbishop Raymond Burke Says He'd Deny Rudy Giuliani Communion". Fox News. AP. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  23. ^ McAteer, Michael (June 26, 2004). "Questioning Catholic hierarchy's priorities". Toronto Star.
  24. ^ Balz, Dan; Cooperman, Alan (June 4, 2004). "Bush, Pope to Meet Today at the Vatican". Washington Post.
  25. ^ Gibson, David (2007). The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World. HarperCollins. p. 42. ISBN 9780061753367.
  26. ^ Heyer, Kristin E.; Rozell, Mark J.; Genovese, Michael A. (2008). Catholics and politics: the dynamic tension between faith and power. Georgetown University Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-58901-215-8. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Bishop bars Patrick Kennedy from Communion over abortion". CNN. November 22, 2009. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
  28. ^ "For Sebelius, More Opposition from KC's Archbishop". The Atlantic. 5 March 2009.
  29. ^ "Rigid bishops one-up the popes". National Catholic Reporter. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  30. ^ Burke, Daniel (May 13, 2008). "Kansas Gov. Sebelius told not to take Communion". Religion News Service.
  31. ^ Memoli, Mike (2008-12-24). "Abortion politics: Biden never refused communion". msnbc.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  32. ^ Christian, Matthew (2019-10-28). "Joe Biden denied Holy Communion at Florence church". SCNow. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  33. ^ CNA. "Biden communion denial over abortion was required by diocesan policy". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  34. ^ "Joe Biden Eats and Drinks His Own Spiritual Death". Crisis Magazine. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  35. ^ "Biden: Pope told me that I should 'keep receiving Communion'". AP NEWS. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  36. ^ "Diocese responds after state senator says he was denied Communion".
  37. ^ Coppen, Luke (20 May 2022). "Archbishop Cordileone bars Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  38. ^ Kopan, Tal (2022-05-20). "S.F. archbishop says Pelosi will be denied Communion over abortion rights". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  39. ^ CNA (27 May 2022). "These Catholic bishops support Cordileone's Nancy Pelosi ban on Holy Communion". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  40. ^ "Nancy Pelosi responds to Communion ban". Catholic News Agency. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  41. ^ "No Sanction for Spanish King Signing Abortion Law". National Catholic Reporter. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  42. ^ Black, Fergus; Cunningham, Grainne (20 May 2013). "Top clerics divided on penalty for pro-choice Catholics". Irish Independent.
  43. ^ Dalby, Douglas (3 May 2013). "Irish Catholic Church Condemns Abortion Legislation". International Herald Tribune.
  44. ^ Roche, Barry (13 July 2024). "Minister refused communion at Cork funeral Mass over 'his support for abortion', says priest". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  45. ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (14 July 2024). "Association of Catholic Priests condemn communion refusal to TD". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Tony Blair shares his faith journey". America Magazine. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  47. ^ "Editorial: Is John Paul II the model for abortion debate?". National Catholic Reporter. 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  48. ^ "Return of the 'Communion Wars' Bishops continue to struggle over dilemma of pro-choice Catholic politicians". 2018-12-24. Archived from the original on 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  49. ^ "No hard line from pope on communion for pro-choice pols". 20 April 2008.
  50. ^ "Catholic, communist and gay". Haaretz.
  51. ^ a b "Pope arrives in Brazil with tough abortion stance". USA Today (Associated Press service). 10 May 2007.
  52. ^ Der Spiegel. Pope Attacks Mexico City Politicians. May 10, 2007.
  53. ^ Israely, Jeff (May 9, 2007). "Pope Rejects Pro-Choice Politicians". Time. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007.
  54. ^ "Pope condemns abortion on Latin America trip". Associated Press. May 9, 2007.
  55. ^ "Iglesia dice que legisladores que votaron despenalización quedan excomulgados". El Observador. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  56. ^ "1er medida de la Iglesia tras la despenalización del aborto" (in Spanish). Urgente24. 2012-10-18.
  57. ^ "Iglesia Católica excomulgó a quienes incentivaron la despenalización del aborto". El País. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22.
  58. ^ "Uruguay's bishops clarify: pro-abortion lawmakers not excommunicated". Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  59. ^ "Cardinal: No Communion for Pro-Abortion Catholics".
  60. ^ "Vatican cardinal weighs in on pro-abortion politicians and Communion".
  61. ^ "Top Vatican Cardinal: Joe Biden should not be denied Communion".
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