No communion for contrary Catholics: a good idea?

[AmyStrange]

No communion for contrary Catholics: a good idea?

By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

For practicing Roman Catholics, to be denied communion is the most grievous punishment possible short of excommunication from the church.

FROM: http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0528/p11s01-lire.html
The readiness of a handful of US bishops to deny that central sacrament to presidential candidate John Kerry and other politicians who support abortion rights has stirred consternation among the faithful. Some accuse the hierarchy of inappropriately injecting itself into partisan politics, and in a way that could arouse anti-Catholic sentiment. To others, it just doesn't make sense as a way to treat believers.

"We haven't had situations in my lifetime where people have been identified as public sinners - presumably we've come some distance from the Middle Ages, when they used to do that," says Terry Carden, a doctor who is head of the Voice of the Faithful chapter in Tucson, Ariz. "And it's unbelievable that people are being on the basis of their political positions, not on active behaviors of their own."

But others say the bishops' insistence that Catholic politicians hew to church teaching on abortion and other related issues is overdue.

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[JohnKleeb]

1. its a terrible idea

If they're gonna do that, they risk making themeselves look bad. I got a lot of respect for the church but stuff like this is wrong.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I don't know

but I can't help but wonder what Jesus would do.....

[Warpy]

5. Well, considering he hung around with lepers and prostitutes,

and despised the pious hypocrites of his day, I think we can safely guess he'd snub the Church hierarchy and hang with the people they were trying to control through withholding the sacraments.

Paul, of course, would be calling for fire and brimstone and lightning bolts against anyone who dared vote for a Democrat.

[htuttle]

3. Can you name one Catholic US politician...

...who hasn't taken a position counter to the Vatican on either abortion, the war in Iraq, and/or capital punishment?

Kucinich was probably the closest a few years ago, but now that he's taken a more overtly pro-choice position, I can't think of any Catholic politicians who'd qualify for communion under this idea.

:shrug:

[Sporadicus]

4. Not A Good Idea

Lest the church wants to further alienate their parishioners. The implication is that the church will expand their list to include other sins that confession and acts of contrition cannot alleviate: a dangerous spiritual precedent.

Such a move could have unintended consequences for the church if non-catholics see this as a move to influence political decisions. It could engender a 'catholic backlash.'

[Hoping4Change]

6. How is it that child abusing priests still get communion?