For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 18, 2020) – American Life League is responding with the following statement to California congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s embrace of abortion while calling herself Catholic.
It is our job as Catholics to stand up for the true presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Without the Holy Eucharist, our faith means nothing. It is the epicenter of our salvation.
When Catholics go against Church teaching, they ought to be reminded of how important the Holy Eucharist is. As Canon 915 tells us, withholding the Holy Eucharist from fallen Catholics is like administering medicine. They cannot participate in this holy meal until they rectify the areas of their lives that go against God.
Withholding Communion from a Catholic politician who advocates or votes against Church teaching is perhaps the most important thing a priest or bishop can do to protect the faith. It sets the firm precedent that the Holy Eucharist is in fact the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ and that it must be protected and venerated at all costs.
When a Catholic politician goes against her faith to fully support Planned Parenthood, action from her bishop must be taken.
Representative Grace Napolitano of CA-32 recently publicly stated, “I’m Catholic. But I still believe a woman has the right to choose, no matter. . . . We fight to keep [Planned Parenthood] funds coming.”
As Catholics, we cannot tolerate this. Not only is Napolitano hurting herself, she is knowingly leading astray the people who elected her to lead.
American Life League calls on Napolitano’s bishop, Kevin W. Vann, to enforce Canon 915 and withhold Holy Communion from Grace Napolitano.
If we are to see true respect and veneration for the Holy Eucharist, then we must stand firm in protecting it. Bishop Vann must step into action not only to protect the Eucharist, but to save Napolitano’s soul.
American Life League is the nation’s oldest grassroots, Catholic, pro-life organization. Its president, Judie Brown, has led the organization since its 1979 beginning. She has served three terms on the Pontifical Academy for Life—appointed twice by Pope John Paul II and again by Pope Benedict XVI.
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Photo Credit: California National Guard/Flickr