Washington, DC—-At the first annual Rome Life Forum in Vatican City Saturday, May 3, 2014, 52 pro-life leaders from 16 nations called on the bishops of the Catholic Church to deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians in a spirit of love and mercy. American Life League, the oldest Catholic pro-life group in America, issued this statement:
American Life League has worked tirelessly since 2003 to persuade American Catholic bishops and the Church to enforce Canon 915. This canon requires that those who are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.” Catholic politicians who publicly and repeatedly support pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia legislation knowingly commit grave (mortal) sin.
Deliberate and notable irreverence toward the Holy Eucharist is reputed the worst of all sacrileges.
This is why it is incumbent upon our bishops to protect the souls of errant pro-abortion public figures like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joseph Biden. Enforcing Canon 915 is not a punishment; it is a mercy.
It is long past due for all Catholic bishops to obey this Church law and enforce Canon 915.
We humbly thank the organizers and signatories, including our own Michael Hichborn, director of American Life League’s Defend the Faith program, in joining the call for Catholic bishops to honor the faith and help protect souls of defiant Catholic politicians.
The full declaration and signatories can be found here.
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Media inquiries, please contact Paul Rondeau at 540-659-4171 or PRondeau@ALL.org.
American Life League, cofounded by Judie Brown in 1979, is the oldest national Catholic pro-life education and advocacy organization in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.all.org