Catholic Church and excommunication

[JamesG]

Most people here know that excommunication is rarely a formal event. It is usually something that people inflict on themselves.

Has anyone here ever seen a Priest deny a public official communion at church?

Regardless, I think the church needs to define a new method for publically denouncing high profile individuals.

It would be great to see a video of a Priest denying these pro abortionist public officials communion. The looks on their faces would be priceless.

 

[Oscarthecat]

Most people here know that excommunication is rarely a formal event. It is usually something that people inflict on themselves.

Has anyone here ever seen a Priest deny a public official communion at church?

Regardless, I think the church needs to define a new method for publically denouncing high profile individuals.

It would be great to see a video of a Priest denying these pro abortionist public officials communion. The looks on their faces would be priceless.

I haven’t seen any public officials denied communion at church, but I have heard of bishops who have specifically stated that they, and every priest in their diocese, must refuse communion to particular politicians.

For example, the Bishop of Scranton, PA, was very public with his intent to refuse communion to Joe Biden should he ever go to mass in the Scranton diocese. I don’t know if Biden ever tested the bishop on this, though- probably not, since that’s not Biden’s diocese. In my understanding, these kinds of politicians approach the sacrament as a political event- most of them aren’t going to attempt to receive communion from a priest they don’t know because they don’t want to risk being publicly humiliated- so they do their research ahead of time and only go to diocese or parishes where they know the priest won’t take a stand.

There are other methods for publicly denouncing high profile individuals- we don’t need “new” ones, because this authority already belongs to the Bishops.

For example, Biden’s Bishop, while he didn’t refuse communion, did publicly state that Biden was not to present himself for communion, and refused to allow biden to speak in any catholic venue in the diocese.

Still, I think the best way for the Church to denounce high profile catholics is already in place… The Pope needs to hold Bishops accountable for how they manage their dioceses, Bishops need to hold their clergy accountable for how they manage their parishes, and the faithful need to be outspoken when they see things like this happening.

 

[rpp]

Most people here know that excommunication is rarely a formal event. It is usually something that people inflict on themselves.

Has anyone here ever seen a Priest deny a public official communion at church?

I have not personally seen this, but I have heard of cases.

Regardless, I think the church needs to define a new method for publically denouncing high profile individuals.

It would be great to see a video of a Priest denying these pro abortionist public officials communion. The looks on their faces would be priceless.
Personally, I do not think it would be great to see this. I think it would be very sad. I say this not because I do not think the priest should refuse communion, I think he should Rather it is sad that it had to get to the point where the person had to be denied.

 

[Dale_M]

I have not personally seen this, but I have heard of cases.

Yes, a case happened on Christmas Eve, but it was in Australia (so I didn’t see it personally). And the politician was able to receive the Eucharist from another person.

ATTORNEY-General Rob Hulls was refused communion in a Catholic church over the State Government’s Bill to legalise abortion.

A minister assisting the priest refused to serve communion to Mr Hulls, placing his hand over the communion cup during a children’s mass, the Herald Sun has been told.

The incident happened at St Monica’s Church in Moonee Ponds on Christmas Eve.

Churchgoers said Mr Hulls walked up to the altar with his children in his arms, but was refused communion.

An embarrassing stand-off lasted more than a minute until Mr Hulls moved to a second queue, where parish priest Fr Peter Kenny gave him the sacrament.

news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24857947-2862,00.html

 

[elts1956]

I haven’t seen any public officials denied communion at church, but I have heard of bishops who have specifically stated that they, and every priest in their diocese, must refuse communion to particular politicians.

For example, the Bishop of Scranton, PA, was very public with his intent to refuse communion to Joe Biden should he ever go to mass in the Scranton diocese. I don’t know if Biden ever tested the bishop on this, though- probably not, since that’s not Biden’s diocese. In my understanding, these kinds of politicians approach the sacrament as a political event- most of them aren’t going to attempt to receive communion from a priest they don’t know because they don’t want to risk being publicly humiliated- so they do their research ahead of time and only go to diocese or parishes where they know the priest won’t take a stand.

There are other methods for publicly denouncing high profile individuals- we don’t need “new” ones, because this authority already belongs to the Bishops.

For example, Biden’s Bishop, while he didn’t refuse communion, did publicly state that Biden was not to present himself for communion, and refused to allow biden to speak in any catholic venue in the diocese.

Still, I think the best way for the Church to denounce high profile catholics is already in place… The Pope needs to hold Bishops accountable for how they manage their dioceses, Bishops need to hold their clergy accountable for how they manage their parishes, and the faithful need to be outspoken when they see things like this happening.

Yeah, like Biden receiving a standing ovartion from the congregation when he went to communion at one church (hearsay, haven’t read it) But Bishop Malooley of DE? Biden’s home state, said he would rather “save” Biden or other pro abort pols through charity rather than condemming them and refusing them communion. Not to worry the host is only the Body and Blood of Christ. Malooley needs RCIA. And if you see any action from Wuerl I’ll flip.