Liturgical Ministers

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mdcpensive1

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Are there any prohibitions for those Catholics who support abortion to participate in the Liturgy as Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist ?
 
Probably not. They could offer it up for all those babies whose deaths they supported.
 
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I knew someone who was pro legalized abortion and an EM at another parish, but I don’t know if anyone in their parish knew it, or if they kept their mouth shut.
 
mdcpensive1 said:
Are there any prohibitions for those Catholics who support abortion to participate in the Liturgy as Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist ?
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They serve at the discretion of the pastor. It is up to the pastor to select suitable people. The canon which governs his selection is:

Can. 228 §1. Lay persons who are found suitable are qualified to be admitted by the sacred pastors to those ecclesiastical offices and functions which they are able to exercise according to the precepts of the law.

§2. Lay persons who excel in necessary knowledge, prudence, and integrity are qualified to assist the pastors of the Church as experts and advisors, even in councils according to the norm of law.

If someone unsuitable is in such a role, it is incumbent on the pastor to make the necessary adjustment.
 
I actually caught it before you replied, and saw that, through sloppy reading, I was doing you an injustice.
 
I was wondering if there were any canons that concerned the issue. But if one promotes and believes in abortion does that not make them a less than full believing Catholic ? Is there not a danger that this belief may get mentioned in a Church setting and they are then perceived as an authority?
 
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I can endure as St. John of the Cross would say. Actually, Saint Faustina requested a number of penances be given to her. We must bear our crosses as a sign that God has something good in store for us.
 
mdcpensive1 said:
Are there any prohibitions for those Catholics who support abortion to participate in the Liturgy as Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist ?
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How would that work? A Catholic who supports abortion is in a state of mortal sin and may not receive Communion. EMHC’s receive Communion just before the faithful receive from them.
 
thistle said:
A Catholic who supports abortion is in a state of mortal sin
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This is an oversimplification of mortal sin.

Three things must happen, serious sin, the person must know it is sinful and do it of their own free will. Most of us are not able to read hearts, so, we cannot judge the state of someone else’s soul.
 
TheLittleLady said:
This is an oversimplification of mortal sin.

Three things must happen, serious sin, the person must know it is sinful and do it of their own free will. Most of us are not able to read hearts, so, we cannot judge the state of someone else’s soul.
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You certainly cannot tell me that an EMHC does not know the Church teaching on abortion. I would not believe an EHMC who said his rejection of the Church teaching on abortion did not fulfill the three conditions.
 
Again, I cannot read souls. I leave determining who is and who is not in mortal sin to the Holy Spirit.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Again, I cannot read souls. I leave determining who is and who is not in mortal sin to the Holy Spirit.
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However, we can talk objectively. Objectively I would say that an EMHC must know the teaching of the Church on abortion and would therefore be in a state of mortal sin.
Also, if the priest knows the position of such an EHMC then the person should be banned as an EMHC.
You seem to be looking for a way out for such a person.

It is also clear from the OP’s question that it is known the EMHC supports abortion and that the priest knows that.
 
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No parish is in such desperate need of (the typically overused) extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist that they need to rely on an abortion supporter to provide the service.
 
thistle said:
Objectively I would say that an EMHC must know the teaching of the Church on abortion and would therefore be in a state of mortal sin.
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“in a state of mortal sin”? I guess that that would depend on what actions “support” engenders, in this case…
 
I know of someone who says they support abortion yet say they have formed their conscience. But they are deceiving themselves that a formed conscience can go against the ten commandments of thou shalt not murder. I heard Fr. Groeshel on ETWN say that any Catholic that supports abortion is not a true catholic. So can it be proper for someone like this to be a lector or a EMHC ? And can the pastor permit it ?
 
Gorgias said:
“in a state of mortal sin”? I guess that that would depend on what actions “support” engenders, in this case…
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I have assumed from the OP’s question that the EMHC knows the Church teaching and has outright rejected it. The person does not have to drive a woman to the abortion clinic to define “support”. Rejection of the Church teaching is de facto “support” for abortion.
 
The Catholic Church regards abortion as a grave sin. Those who serve the Church in a particular role, as ordained clergy, commissioned ministers or other liturgical roles should be of good character. Open support for a sinful activity should preclude them from the role. In the past, the Church has been lacking in its checks on the suitability of individuals leading to major scandals. At present, in my diocese, the screening process for Extraordinary Ministers does not appear to be particularly rigorous and we don’t know if any of them support abortion or like to bite the heads off kittens.
 
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