Friday, April 23, 2004
Mr. Kerry, the Church has spoken
NO COMMUNION FOR PRO-ABORTION POLITICIANS, SAYS CARDINAL ARINZE
Clarifies That Priests Must Refuse Them the Eucharist
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Politicians who support
abortion must not go to Communion and priests must deny them the
sacrament, says Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The cardinal clarified this position of the Church today at a press
conference called to present the instruction "'Redemptionis Sacramentum':
On Certain Matters to Be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy
Eucharist."
In response to a journalist's question, Cardinal Arinze said: "If the
person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively,
the answer is there."
The cardinal explained that a priest must not give Communion unless it is
a surprise occasion and "he does not have the time to reflect."
One of the journalists asked the cardinal if he could give his judgment on
the concrete application of this norm in the case of U.S. Democratic
presidential candidate John Kerry, who says he is a Catholic but supports
abortion.
"The norm of the Church is clear," he said. "The Catholic Church exists in
the U.S.A. and there are bishops there. Let them interpret."
Kerry supports abortion and has said he would nominate only U.S. Supreme
Court justices who support his position. Pro-life groups in the United
States say Kerry has a "perfect record" of voting for legislation that
allows abortion. ZE04042302
I'd like to see Pius XXIII get you out of that one. Or maybe that part of Vatican II that revoked our belief in the divinity of Christ.
Clarifies That Priests Must Refuse Them the Eucharist
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Politicians who support
abortion must not go to Communion and priests must deny them the
sacrament, says Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The cardinal clarified this position of the Church today at a press
conference called to present the instruction "'Redemptionis Sacramentum':
On Certain Matters to Be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy
Eucharist."
In response to a journalist's question, Cardinal Arinze said: "If the
person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively,
the answer is there."
The cardinal explained that a priest must not give Communion unless it is
a surprise occasion and "he does not have the time to reflect."
One of the journalists asked the cardinal if he could give his judgment on
the concrete application of this norm in the case of U.S. Democratic
presidential candidate John Kerry, who says he is a Catholic but supports
abortion.
"The norm of the Church is clear," he said. "The Catholic Church exists in
the U.S.A. and there are bishops there. Let them interpret."
Kerry supports abortion and has said he would nominate only U.S. Supreme
Court justices who support his position. Pro-life groups in the United
States say Kerry has a "perfect record" of voting for legislation that
allows abortion. ZE04042302
I'd like to see Pius XXIII get you out of that one. Or maybe that part of Vatican II that revoked our belief in the divinity of Christ.
