H
HagiaSophia
Guest
When Archbishop William Levada, the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog, urged a synod of bishops to weigh in on how the Roman Catholic Church should confront politicians who profess the faith but defy its moral teachings, many expected a chorus of (name removed by moderator)ut to ring through the assembly hall.
What Levada heard instead was the echo of a few Vatican officials accompanied by the sound of silence from bishops around the world. But the issue seems remote to the hundreds of bishops gathered in Rome to advise Pope Benedict XVI. Lately their focus has been less on withholding Communion than on finding ways to broaden its distribution despite a continuing priest shortage.
“This is a time of sharing problems and situations, so there is no time to discuss it,” said Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo of Ranchi, India, describing the Communion debate as “a problem for the episcopal conferences to discuss in detail.”
According to Toppo, the policy of the universal church is unambiguous: Deny Communion to no one, even public figures who contradict church teaching.
“The church’s position is clear. Whatever position a politician takes, he takes at his own risk,” Toppo said in an interview. “Who is in a state of holy grace to receive Communion? Only the person knows. If he considers himself worthy, I don’t think anyone can refuse him.”
journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Common%2FMGArticle%2FPrintVersion&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767547230&image=wsj80x60.gif&oasDN=journalnow.com&oasPN=%21localnews%21article
What Levada heard instead was the echo of a few Vatican officials accompanied by the sound of silence from bishops around the world. But the issue seems remote to the hundreds of bishops gathered in Rome to advise Pope Benedict XVI. Lately their focus has been less on withholding Communion than on finding ways to broaden its distribution despite a continuing priest shortage.
“This is a time of sharing problems and situations, so there is no time to discuss it,” said Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo of Ranchi, India, describing the Communion debate as “a problem for the episcopal conferences to discuss in detail.”
According to Toppo, the policy of the universal church is unambiguous: Deny Communion to no one, even public figures who contradict church teaching.
“The church’s position is clear. Whatever position a politician takes, he takes at his own risk,” Toppo said in an interview. “Who is in a state of holy grace to receive Communion? Only the person knows. If he considers himself worthy, I don’t think anyone can refuse him.”
journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Common%2FMGArticle%2FPrintVersion&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767547230&image=wsj80x60.gif&oasDN=journalnow.com&oasPN=%21localnews%21article