Biden time

The Catholic Church made the news again recently when a South Carolina priest, Father Robert Morey, refused to give Holy Communion to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden because of Biden’s public support for abortion.  To Catholics concerned that few bishops have enforced such sanctions of pro-abortion politicians, the priest’s firm stand was praised.  Others thought denying anyone Communion was a bad idea. 

In an article published by America,The Jesuit Review, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, says he would not have denied Joe Biden Communion.  “We also remember Pope Francis: ‘I personally can never judge the state of a person's soul.’ So, it’s difficult, that’s what I’m saying. I’m not there as a tribunal, as a judge in distributing Holy Communion,” the Cardinal said.

A Jesuit priest and commentator, Father James Martin tweeted, "Denying Communion to politicians, Democrat or Republican, is a bad idea. If you deny the sacrament to those who support abortion, then you must also deny it to those who support the death penalty. How about those who don't help the poor? How about 'Laudato Si'? Where does it end?" 

As a side note, the Jesuits sometime carry the reputation of being somewhat liberal with their theological thought, perhaps perpetuated by Pope Francis, a Jesuit himself.  I was recently told of an elderly Jesuit priest who was subbing at a parish where he took a few liberties with the liturgy.  When told of the liturgical oddities that had taken place in his church, the pastor said, “Well, they told us in seminary, ‘Everything is changed at a Jesuit Mass, except the bread and the wine.’”  I thought the quip was funny so I had to throw it in here.

A Catholic News Agency article points to a 2004 joint decree by the Bishops of Charleston, Charlotte, and Atlanta that says, “Catholics serving in public life espousing positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, especially those running for or elected to public office, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion within our jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Charleston and Charlotte.”  Therefore, Father Morey was following Diocesan policy.  Whether that decree is prudent appears to be a point of theological debate. 

I was also interested in how the media reported on this story.  A Fox News article attempted to explain “Why Biden being denied Communion is a big deal for people of faith.”  For a secular source, I thought the article was fair although it should probably have been titled as a big deal for Catholics rather than just people of faith.  Reading some of the comments from non-Catholic Christians shows the disconnect from our understanding of the Real Presence.

The article quotes Canon lawyer Father Gerald Murray who refers to Canon Law when he says, "I applaud the priest who did this ... because he himself took seriously his obligation in Canon Law and also in the sight of God."

For the record:

Canon 915: Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Canon 916: A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

The Fox News article also quotes Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blaise Cupich who defended giving Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians, saying “I think it would be counterproductive to impose sanctions, simply because they don’t change anybody’s minds.” 

In fairness, the statement was taken slightly out of context; however, his stance clearly diminishes the seriousness of the sin. The Cardinal’s permissive position is a cause for scandal.

If Cardinal Cupich says it’s okay for a pro-abortion politician to approach the Eucharist, then it must be okay for anybody. 

Also quoted is Christopher Hale, a Catholic former faith advisor to President Obama who says Pope Francis himself invited Biden and Nancy Pelosi to receive Communion at his installation as Bishop of Rome.  “Look, Pope Francis says it so beautifully.  The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but medicine for the sick.”

Here is the problem I have with that statement.  Medicine is something we take when we are already sick.  A person with mortal sin on his soul has already separated himself from the Divine Physician.  The medicine he needs for that ailment is the Sacrament of Confession.  A better Eucharistic analogy might be a vitamin that provides grace we need to maintain our spiritual health.

Actually, the medical analogy does the Eucharist a great injustice.  The Eucharist is so much more than a vitamin we casually consume every Sunday at Mass.  We are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, God incarnate.  That is not something to be taken lightly.  We need to be properly disposed and humbled with reverence.  The Fox News article concludes by saying, “While Christians have disagreed on whether or not this meal is a symbol of Jesus’ body or the transformation of the bread into his actual flesh, they do agree it’s the cornerstone of the faith and essential to being a believer and follower of Christ.  But after that, Jesus is silent on who should or should not receive it.” 

Regarding the last sentence, I disagree.  Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul said to the Corinthians, “²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

Denying the Eucharist to someone who is publicly complicit in serious sin is done out of love and concern for the salvation of that person’s soul.  To receive Communion is a state of mortal sin profanes the sacrament and is itself another mortal sin.  The person is not being judged by the Church.  That is up to God.  The person’s behavior needs to be corrected, and the Church has an obligation to make that clear.  Final judgment will come later.