Priests Told: Deny Communion to Politicians Who Support Abortion

[einna]

Could it be that politicians are not denied communion or reprimanded of their false beliefs because local churches prefer to keep the donations coming in? Seems like its wrong and everyone knows it but for some reason choose to do nothing about it other than a word here and there. Some debates go on forever when really there is no need. Time to take a stance and enforce it. Don’t let money talk but let Gods will talk.

It’s funny that in another thread people want Catholics to do more evangelizing and in this one some people want those who don’t follow everything the Church says to be thrown out of the Church. Isn’t it better to let them keep coming to church so others can try to remind them of the Truth. Of course, it may take a while, it may even be a lost cause, but I don’t believe God ever gives up on us.

 

[fix]

It’s funny that in another thread people want Catholics to do more evangelizing and in this one some people want those who don’t follow everything the Church says to be thrown out of the Church. Isn’t it better to let them keep coming to church so others can try to remind them of the Truth. Of course, it may take a while, it may even be a lost cause, but I don’t believe God ever gives up on us.

Being barred from communion is not being thrown out. One is welcome to attend mass.

 

[einna]

Being barred from communion is not being thrown out. One is welcome to attend mass.

Gee, how did I know you would be the one to respond. Aren’t you the one that kept bringing up scandal? Wouldn’t a public figure being seen attending a Mass at a local church not be considered a scandal? I am sure you will explain to me how it is not.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Wouldn’t a public figure being seen attending a Mass at a local church not be considered a scandal?

How is it “scandalous” to attend Mass? I believe the poster did not say anything about receiving Communion. Whatever state of grace we are in or are not, we are, as baptized Catholics, obliged to attend Sunday Mass. Not doing so is in fact sinful.

 

[fix]

Gee, how did I know you would be the one to respond. Aren’t you the one that kept bringing up scandal? Wouldn’t a public figure being seen attending a Mass at a local church not be considered a scandal? I am sure you will explain to me how it is not.

How is attending mass a scandal?

 

[einna]

How is it “scandalous” to attend Mass? I believe the poster did not say anything about receiving Communion. Whatever state of grace we are in or are not, we are, as baptized Catholics, obliged to attend Sunday Mass. Not doing so is in fact sinful.

Maybe you should read Fix’s other posts…scandalous is not my term. If you read mine, you would already know I think they should be at Mass.

 

[fix]

Respect for the souls of others: scandal

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."86 Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep’s clothing.87

2286 Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion.

Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to "social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible."88 This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger,89 or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.

2287 Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. "Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!"90

 

[fix]

The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy
Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering
in Manifest Grave Sin

Pope John Paul II made it clear that the norm of can. 915 is required by the Church’s teaching on the respect due to the Most Blessed Sacrament and her concern to avoid scandal in the community.

With the words, <>, the Roman Pontiff clarified the obligation, on the part of the Church, to take action, when a person who remains in grievous and public sin approaches to receive Holy Communion. The obligation in question is distinct from the obligation of the person to examine his conscience regarding grave sin before approaching, which is treated in can. 916.

Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist. [57]

 

[fix]

How is it “scandalous” to attend Mass? I believe the poster did not say anything about receiving Communion. Whatever state of grace we are in or are not, we are, as baptized Catholics, obliged to attend Sunday Mass. Not doing so is in fact sinful.

Apparently he/she does not like the Church teaching on scandal.

 

[einna]

How is attending mass a scandal?

Some people, not including myself, would find it scandalous that a person, such as some of our politicians that back abortion right, are attending a certain Catholic church. What is scandalous to one group of people may not be scandalous to another. Haven’t you heard about people that one go to a restaurant or store because they allow gays to frequent there. Your the one that uses the term, so I was asking you. You obviously are an expert on what is scandalous and what is not.

 

[LisaA]

How is it “scandalous” to attend Mass? I believe the poster did not say anything about receiving Communion. Whatever state of grace we are in or are not, we are, as baptized Catholics, obliged to attend Sunday Mass. Not doing so is in fact sinful.

I also think that attending Mass but NOT receiving Communion is a message that the person understands the gravity of their situation. I realize that we are all sinners marching up the aisle but when someone voluntarily abstains (not sure this is the correct word) I think it shows great respect for Christ and a certain level of humility…not often seen in the political class.

Lisa

 

[einna]

Apparently he/she does not like the Church teaching on scandal.

No, I just find it ironic when the church is facing such numerous allegations of sexual abuse within the church that you are using the term scandalous and the church’s teachings on it.

 

[Elizabeth502]

I also think that attending Mass but NOT receiving Communion is a message that the person understands the gravity of their situation. I realize that we are all sinners marching up the aisle but when someone voluntarily abstains (not sure this is the correct word) I think it shows great respect for Christ and a certain level of humility…not often seen in the political class.

Lisa

Absolutely. I have great respect for people who have the knowledge of the faith, as well as the humility, to attend Mass without receiving Communion. It shows:

(a) that they are aware of the ongoing obligation to attend Sunday Mass, and thus are not reproducing sin by staying away.
(b) that they (probably) also affirm The Real Presence in the Eucharist
(c) that they reject sacrilege
(d) that they have enough humility “to be seen” not receiving.

 

[einna]

The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy
Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering
in Manifest Grave Sin

Yes those issues are much more scandalous than molesting children.

 

[Elizabeth502]

No, I just find it ironic when the church is facing such numerous allegations of sexual abuse within the church that you are using the term scandalous and the church’s teachings on it.

For starters, fix did not comment on child sexual abuse; you did.

Second, this thread is about a particular category of scandal, not other categories of scandal within the Church.

Third, what you are stating is known as a false dichotomy: “Because” an unrelated matter is not mentioned, “therefore” the unrelated matter is being understood as not important. Both are scandalous. A different scandal elsewhere does not reduce the scandal which is the topic.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Yes those issues are much more scandalous than molesting children.

Again, scandal somewhere does not excuse scandal elsewhere. Who said “more” or “less” scandalous? They are both, and differently, scandalous.

 

[fix]

Some people, not including myself, would find it scandalous that a person, such as some of our politicians that back abortion right, are attending a certain Catholic church. What is scandalous to one group of people may not be scandalous to another. Haven’t you heard about people that one go to a restaurant or store because they allow gays to frequent there. Your the one that uses the term, so I was asking you. You obviously are an expert on what is scandalous and what is not.

You should read the CCC sections I posted. Going to mass does not cause others to sin. Your position is not based on Church teaching,

 

[fix]

No, I just find it ironic when the church is facing such numerous allegations of sexual abuse within the church that you are using the term scandalous and the church’s teachings on it.

Scandal causes another to stumble. Seeing one attending mass does not do that.

 

[fix]

Yes those issues are much more scandalous than molesting children.

Think the rain will hurt the rhubarb?

 

[einna]

Scandal causes another to stumble. Seeing one attending mass does not do that.

If you had bothered to read my earlier post you would see that I am one that said they should be at mass! Maybe you should read before your react.