As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops begins its semi-annual meeting in Baltimore today, American Life League is imploring the bishops to tackle the problem of pro-abortion Catholic politicians by making a definitive statement that such individuals should not be permitted to receive Holy Communion.
American Life League is featuring full-page ads in USA Today and The Washington Times that directly address the scandal created by openly pro-abortion Catholics. “This ad is aimed at reminding the bishops of their obligation to enforce Canon Law 915,” said American Life League president Judie Brown. “We pray that the bishops will bring an end to the scandal created by Catholics who publicly support abortion and then receive Holy Communion.”
The ad references Canon 915 of the Church’s Code of Canon Law, which states in part, “Those who…obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Communion.”
“We must do all we can to help education confused souls in order to bring an end to heinous practice of abortion," said Mrs. Brown. "This is precisely why we call upon the bishops ? the Shepherds of the Church ? to defend Christ in Holy Eucharist by denying His body and blood to those public figures who condone the crime of abortion. Permitting pro-abortion Catholics in public life to receive Holy Communion sends mixed signals about what the Catholic Church teaches. In fact, failure to make it clear that support for abortion disqualifies a Catholic from receiving Communion might even suggest to confused Catholics that they need not believe the unbending, unchanging truth that every abortion kills a living human being created in the image and likeness of God.”
Release issued: 13 Nov 06