“Retired Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s taking issue with an article written by St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke is but another example of the cardinal’s unwillingness to consider the far-reaching ramifications of permitting sacrilege,” said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. In a recent news article, Cardinal McCarrick was quoted as reiterating his unwillingness to deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians.
“Cardinal McCarrick is not simply having a disagreement on this matter, but rather is raising the level of dissent from Church teaching and Canon Law to a new level,” she said.
The specific Catholic Church law at issue is Canon 915, which states: “Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”
“It is the second part of this Canon Law that is creating discomfort for Cardinal McCarrick,” said Mrs. Brown. “But that does not change the facts.”
In his September article, “The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin,” Archbishop Burke made the case clear when he wrote, “the burden is on the minister of Holy Communion who by the nature of his responsibility, must prevent anything which profanes the Blessed Sacrament and endangers the salvation of the soul of the recipient and of those scandalized by his unworthy reception of Holy Communion.”
“Archbishop Burke was not giving a personal opinion,” said Mrs. Brown. When asked about the disparity between Cardinal McCarrick’s statement and Archbishop Burke’s treatise, Mrs. Brown said, “It is distressing to realize that there are prelates within the Church who will not adhere to the basic principle, which is to protect Christ from sacrilege while also helping the errant soul see the error of his ways before it is too late.”
Release issued: 12 Oct 07