Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

With the ill formed consciences of “pro-choice” political leaders who also profess to be Catholic, it should be no surprise that a few of them would take the occasion of a papal Mass to demonstrate their lack of proper Catholic formation.

There were reports that Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry all at National’s Stadium, and Rudy Giulianni at St. Patrick’s in NY presented themselves for and were given Holy Communion at those two papal Masses. These acts were clearly in contradiction to canon law (CIC 915). However, the question continually arises whether something should be done to prevent these confused souls from illicitly receiving Holy Communion.

The Canon itself presents the reason for this prohibition: “. . . and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.” Now it is obvious that these politicians publicly manifest their problematic actions, aiding and abetting the procurement of abortion which is formal cooperation in grave evil. That is, they support the “right” of some women to choose whether to kill their unborn babies and they promote policies that make it easy to carry out this unbelievable crime of killing innocent, unborn babies. That is after all why they are “pro-choice.”

There is no doubt that the taking of the lives of unborn children is murder– this both common sense and authoritative Catholic teaching make clear. It is also obvious that when one cooperates with this evil in such a way that they desire that these acts be successfully carried out, this is an action that is always and every where evil.  Thus, there is no room for prudential judgment about whether one may legitimately support such an action.

Thus, these people are in states of grave sin which demands that they reconcile with God and His Church through sacramental confession prior to receiving Communion. Of course, the reason is that Holy Communion is not simply a sign, but it is a real ontological communion with God in His Son–that is, it is the sign and action par excellence of participation in divine nature (cf. 2 Pt 1:4). This is a communion that cannot exist in one who persists in grave sin and it cannot exist until the subject joins himself in truth through repentance and amendment.

So why do these “Catholics” obstinately refuse to obey the Church’s prohibition against their receiving Holy Communion?  It should be no surprise that they would reject the Church’s authority in the matter of reception of Holy Communion since their consciences have been so ill formed in so many other aspects of Church teaching.

These politicians are quite tragic manifestations of the legalism in thinking that B16 continually warns against in his locutions, especially those at the UN and Dunwoodie. The politicians most likely view freedom as an end in itself rather than a necessary precondition for morally good choices. Relativism no doubt adds to this confusion.  In other words, they are under the delusion that there is only the truth that they themselves define through the force of their wills. Nevertheless, they especially exhibit the confusion that the ultimate good is in their choosing regardless of its object (no doubt with some exceptions for which they would be hard pressed to justify in priniciple).  This is the mistaken view of freedom that B16 discussed.

John Allen is one commentator who betrays the same legalism as these politician whom he covers. He is willing to allow the US political debate over abortion to form the hermeneutic by which Church teaching on abortion, mortal sin, and Holy Communion are to be understood. The US political debate is framed around the legalistic view that positive law defines moral rightness. This is the line taken by US politicians and is what they use to justify their obstinate rejection of natural and revealed law.

It is ironic that we have commentators such as Allen covering Rome and the Holy Father’s actions and words as “experts,” but who are oblivious to the fact that B16’s admonitions against the erroneous thinking of our time are also aimed at them.