The U.S. Catholic bishops made headlines today. In fact the headline I read said, "U.S. Catholic leaders approve changes in prayer." OK, the bishops are altering the way Catholics pray at Mass; at least they could be because any proposed change has to be OK'd by the Vatican.
But what is really interesting in this report is the slight mention of an ongoing debate among the bishops regarding whether or not Canon Law 915 should be enforced, and if so, how. I cannot believe it!
Canon 915 states: "Those who … obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to communion."
Now it seems, at least according to the news report, that the bishops' "task force" on the matter has evolved into an ad hoc committee, a liaison between the bishops' conference and Catholic politicians. A discussion will ensue on the question of "how to best merge their religious beliefs and their politics."
Well, excuse me but isn't it Catholic teaching that the act of abortion is an act of murder? And isn't that a mortal sin? So what's to discuss? Sadly, I think I know the answer, and it grieves me terribly that the bishops cannot simply agree to protect Christ from sacrilege.