Boston's Cardinal O'Malley seems ignorant of the fact that Rome has said pro-abortion politicians 'must' be denied Communion

Boston's Cardinal O'Malley seems ignorant of the fact that Rome has said pro-abortion politicians 'must' be denied Communion...

"When a man has stepped over the threshold and allowed himself to fall into mortal sin, he must be purified by trial, but he must also, My children, be purified by the rule of penance and confession.
"What manner of evil is being set now upon mankind that compels him to lose his soul by rejecting the Sacraments, by no longer confessing to his confessor, but coming to receive My Son in sacrifice, while his soul is degraded by sin of mortal nature!" - Our Lady of the Roses, September 7, 1976

LifeSiteNews.com reported on November 11, 2008:

In an interview published today in the Boston Globe, Cardinal Archbishop Sean O'Malley, once again speaks on the matter of Holy Communion for Catholic politicians who support abortion. Globe reporter Michael Paulsen asked: "You just alluded to the fact that many of the people in your archdiocese are Catholics who support abortion rights, including leading politicians, and both US senators. What is your position on whether they should present themselves for Communion, and whether you should be giving it to them?"

On presenting themselves, the Cardinal responded that the church's teaching is in the Catechism, but added that the bishops have more teaching to do on the matter. However, with regard to "giving it to them," Cardinal O'Malley said: "But until there's a decision of the church to formally excommunicate people, I don't think we're going to be denying Communion to the people." He added: "However, whatever the church's decision is, we will certainly enforce."

While there may be debate among US Bishops over whether or not to deny Communion to pro-abortion politicians, for the Vatican there is no such debate. The issue was closed several years ago with a letter from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.

The then-head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith intervened into a debate among the US Bishops on the issue in 2004. Cardinal Ratzinger said in his letter, titled "Worthiness to receive Holy Communion," that a Catholic politician who would vote for "permissive abortion and euthanasia laws" after being duly instructed and warned, "must" be denied Communion. Ratzinger's letter explained that if such a politician "with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it."

Since then, Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed this position, speaking as Pope. Answering a reporter on an in-flight press conference in May last year, Benedict addressed a question on the Mexican bishops excommunicating politicians who support legalizing abortion. "Yes, this excommunication was not an arbitrary one but is allowed by Canon law which says that the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving communion, which is receiving the body of Christ," he said.

In the comment, the Pope was referring to the Church's Canon law 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."

Former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, whom Pope Benedict appointed this year to head the highest judicial court in the Vatican, has remarked on the need for Bishops to uphold this canon since without doing so they undermine belief in the truth of the evil of abortion. "No matter how often a bishop or priest repeats the teaching of the Church regarding procured abortion, if he stands by and does nothing to discipline a Catholic who publicly supports legislation permitting the gravest of injustices and, at the same time, presents himself to receive Holy Communion, then his teaching rings hollow," wrote Burke. "To remain silent is to permit serious confusion regarding a fundamental truth of the moral law." (See coverage: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/sep/07091107.html)

Another prominent Vatican figure in this matter is the head (or Prefect) of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments - Nigerian-born Cardinal Francis Arinze. His department deals specifically with the sacraments, of which Holy Communion is preeminent.

Already in 2004, Cardinal Arinze said a pro-abortion politician "is not fit" to receive Communion. "If they should not receive, then they should not be given," he added.

Since then, Cardinal Arinze, who still holds the position of prefect of the congregation, has been asked about the issue so frequently he has begun to joke about it. The latest such incident was videotaped and is available on Youtube.

In the November 2007 video, Arinze said that he is regularly asked if a person who votes for abortion can receive Holy Communion. He replied, "Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that? Get the children for first Communion and say to them, 'Somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time.' And these babies are killed not one or two, but in millions, and that person says, 'I'm a practicing Catholic', should that person receive Communion next Sunday? The children will answer that at the drop of a hat. You don't need a cardinal to answer that." (see the youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYdMHsq2AuE )

The full text of the interview with Cardinal O'Malley is available from the Boston Globe here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/11/o...

The full text of the letter on the subject by then-Cardinal Ratzinger is available here:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/apr/050419a.html

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Pope Benedict describes unworthy reception of Holy Communion as Christ's greatest suffering...

LifeSiteNews.com reported on March 30, 2005:

The struggle between local bishops and Vatican authorities on forbidding Catholic politicians who support abortion and same sex marriage from receiving Communion was put in focus last week as a top Vatican Cardinal described unworthy reception of Communion by Catholics as Christ's greatest suffering.
The Triduum is the Catholic Church's most sacred season of the liturgical calendar. In it, the Good Friday commemoration of the suffering and death of Christ holds a prominent part. This year, with the Pope's health precarious, the duties of the Triduum liturgies fell to the small group of high level officials in whose hands the day to day governance of the Church is entrusted.

It is the custom in Rome to observe the Stations of the Cross - the commemoration of the 14 events from the condemnation of Christ by Pontius Pilate to the Crucifixion, to the laying of Jesus' body in the tomb - in the Colliseum. This year the meditations, or reflections, for the Stations were written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Faith, the Vatican's highest doctrinal authority.

Some of the Cardinal's meditations reflect the warnings he has been making recently on the loss of Christian identity in Europe and in the Catholic Church. In surprisingly strong language, Ratzinger reflects, at the the fifth station, "Jesus Falls a Second Time," on "a Christianity which has grown weary of faith has abandoned the Lord."

Referring to the Culture of Death that now predominates in the formerly Christian West, Ratzinger writes of "the great ideologies, and the banal existence of those who, no longer believing in anything, simply drift through life, have built a new and worse paganism, which in its attempt to do away with God once and for all, have ended up doing away with man."

In the prayer that follows, the Cardinal asks Christ to remove from modern man the "heart of stone." "Give us a heart of flesh, a heart capable of seeing. Lay low the power of ideologies, so that all may see that they are a web of lies. Do not let the wall of materialism become unsurmountable."

For the ninth station, "Jesus Falls a Third Time," Cardinal Ratzinger refers again to the massive loss of faith within Catholic Church. "We have considered the fall of man in general, and the falling of many Christians away from Christ and into a godless secularism. Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church?"

He writes, in probably reference to the reception of the Eucharist by pro-abortion politicians and others opposed to Catholic teachings, and the destruction of the ancient traditions of the Catholic liturgy. "How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there!"

"How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! …His betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his Body and Blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart." In the prayer that follows, Ratzinger talks about the 'fall of the Church' and includes what can only be described as a desperate plea, "Have mercy on your Church… Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all."

"My Son is much grieved, My child, in the manner in which many come to Him in His House. They come with disrespect. They do not have love for Him in their hearts.
"My child, please, they lead themselves onto the road to satan. They must not accept My Son with sin in their hearts. Many do not go to Our representatives. They accept My Son with sin on their souls! Shout it, My child, from the roofs: you must honor the Eucharist!" - Our Lady of the Roses, November 23, 1974

The awesome Bayside Prophecies... https://www.tldm.org/Bayside/default.htm
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995:

SIN OF OMISSION
"The sin of omission shall condemn many to hell, be they layman or Hierarchy. I repeat: not the sin of commission, but the sin of omission will commit many to hell. Among them there will be also mitres." - Our Lady, October 6, 1980

THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE FIRST STRUCK
"One of the reasons the Eternal Father chose your city and your state for My appearance was because of abortion, the murder of the holy innocents. Your nation, without repentance, shall be the first struck." - Our Lady, March 15, 1978

THE UNITED STATES SHALL FALL
"How can a great country like the United States fall, you say, My child? You ask Me in your heart. I read your heart. I will tell you why. Because they have given themselves over to satan. When a country has lost its morality and seeks the pleasures of the flesh, giving over, themselves over, to all manner of abominations, like homosexuality, and condoning this up the highest courts of the land, then that country shall fall." - Our Lady of the Roses, November 1, 1985

DOCTORS
"Doctors now are profaning their profession, those who have given themselves over to destroying human life in abortions." - Jesus, June 6, 1987

FOULEST OF DEEDS
"Our hearts are torn because of the wanton murder of the young by evil man. Abortion, My children, is murder, the most foulest of deeds, that is punishable by death! And what is worse than death of the soul?
"I say unto you, as your Mother, that any man or woman who performs or takes part of this abomination of the murder of the unborn shall be given a heavy penance upon earth, or if this penance is not given upon earth, that person found guilty in the eyes of his God shall suffer eternal damnation in the fires of hell." - Our Lady, December 28, 1976

DESTROYED
"All who become part of or condone abortion, the murder of the young, shall be destroyed!" - Jesus, June 2, 1979

HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED
"The Eternal Father command that you stop these murders at once! You will not destroy the lives of the unborn. Human life is sacred in the eyes of your God. No man has the right to destroy a life. The Father, He sends this life to you, and only He will decide when it will return back to the Kingdom.
"Do not, My children, be deceived by the words of the evil ones about you who cry to you of no space left for man. There is space, for My Father has a plan for every life He sends." - Our Lady, August 5, 1971

WILL NEVER BE CONDONED
"You will remember, My children and My child, to guard the young. Your clergy have fallen into darkness. Abortion will never be condoned. But We must have others who fervently will go forward and bring out to the minds of those who have actually seduced the country and the children--bring them the knowledge of Heaven, hell and purgatory. Then they will not have free license to sin." - Our Lady, May 28, 1983

GOVERNMENT
"For that one reason among many, the United States will suffer unless there is placed into your government a group that fears the Lord if they cannot love the Lord. They will fear Him and find measures to stop the slaughter of the unborn." - Our Lady, April 14, 1984

NUNS
"That is what makes My heart ache, My child. That is one of the reasons Theresa is crying constantly when she looks into the convents and sees what is going on. Many now believe in abortion, the murders of the children; and many have committed this act upon themselves." - Jesus, October 1, 1988

SIXTY MILLION
"I say this for this reason: the Eternal Father is much disturbed at the numbers of abortions being committed throughout your country and the world. These numbers go upwards to fifty to sixty million in one year throughout the world." - Our Lady, June 18, 1986

TREATED AS GARBAGE
"O My child, My tears fall upon you all when I see all of the innocent little babies being slaughtered . . . cast into garbage pails like nothing but dirt and scum. They are living human beings! And all murderers shall get their just recompense." - Our Lady, March 18, 1983

BOMBS IN THE UNITED STATES
"These interlopers upon the serenity of the United States have dark skins.... With their plans there will be bombs placed in strategic places and many shall die at the hands of these ruffians....
"One big reason for permitting this disaster in New York would be the abortion mills throughout the city and the country." - Jesus, October 1, 1988

HOLY SPIRIT
"At the time of conception, the Holy Spirit makes the child, and the breath of the Almighty gives it life." - Our Lady, June 18, 1991

LIMBO
"And what, My children, are We going to do with all the aborted babies? O My child, I know you feel as I do, for I can see the great distress on your face. What are We going to do, My child? Do you understand when they come to Us, they must go to Limbo? They are in Heaven, a happy place, but they cannot see God." - Our Lady, October 2, 1987

SORROWFULLY
"Sorrowfully, the penance that is to come upon the world for the murders of the unborn shall be a chastisement far greater in severity than man has ever witnessed in the past nor ever shall pass through again. Your world is plunging into a deep chasm of suffering and destruction." - Our Lady, May 20, 1978

OATH
"Your once loyal to the oath of a doctor, your once loyal doctors are now butchers! For money they kill the young!" - Our Lady, February 10, 1978

WOE TO THE WOMAN
"Know, My child, this simple lesson, that in these days of the latter times, women will seek to cast off their role as mother and a woman. Women will cast it off under the direction of satan, and murder her children. Woe to the woman who does not repent of this vile abomination! She has walked the road to eternal damnation and hell. Repent, O woman, or forever be lost!" - Our Lady, March 18, 1975

Directives from Heaven... https://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D2 - The Holy Eucharist PDF
D23 - Abortion PDF
D28 - Hell PDF
D146 - Honor the Eucharist, Part 1 PDF
D147 - Honor the Eucharist, Part 2 PDF
D186 - Excommunication PDF
D224 - Restore America to One Nation Under God PDF

Articles…

Pope: Communion to be reserved to those who know they have not committed mortal sin
https://www.tldm.org/News7/PopeHolyCommunion.htm

Sacrilegious Communion and the U.S. bishops
https://www.tldm.org/News6/sacrilege.htm

Catholics must be free of grave sin to receive Holy Communion
https://www.tldm.org/News6/ReceptionofCommunion.htm

The Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation
https://www.tldm.org/news6/transubstantiation.htm

Bishop Sheridan will deny Communion to Catholics who vote pro-abortion
https://www.tldm.org/news6/Sheridan.htm

Bishop Wenski calls pro-abortion Catholics who demand to receive Communion "boorish and sacrilegious"
https://www.tldm.org/News6/Wenski.htm

Archbishop Chaput sees pro-abortion Communion scandal as needed "moment of truth"
https://www.tldm.org/News6/Chaput2.htm

Cardinal George says no Communion for gay protesters
https://www.tldm.org/news6/CardinalGeorge.htm

Vatican warns Catholic pro-abortion politicians not to receive Holy Communion
https://www.tldm.org/news6/vaticanwarnsjohnkerrynocommunion.htm

Congressman Hyde is on the U.S. bishops' case
https://www.tldm.org/news6/Hyde.htm

Cardinal Ratzinger says public figures who dissent from Church teachings should not receive Holy Communion
https://www.tldm.org/news6/Ratzinger.htm

Archbishop Burke: more profoundly sorrowful would be a bishop who failed "to safeguard the worthy reception of Communion"
https://www.tldm.org/news6/Burke2.htm

Archbishop Pell: people who reject Church teaching not entitled to Holy Communion
https://www.tldm.org/News4/Pell.htm

Cardinal Ratzinger's letter to the U.S. bishops, on refusing Communion to pro-abortion politicians and those in obstinate sin
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Ratzinger.htm

Gay activists denied Communion in Chicago
https://www.tldm.org/news6/homosexuality17.htm

Monsignor will deny Holy Communion to New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny
https://www.tldm.org/news6/Kenny.htm

Controversy heats up over Cardinal McCarrick downplaying Vatican direction on refusing Communion to abortionists and other dissenters
https://www.tldm.org/news7/McCarrick.htm

Bishop Galeone: Can a Catholic politician be pro-choice?
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Galeone.htm

The consecrated hands of a priest
https://www.tldm.org/News7/ConsecratedHands.htm

Cardinal Ratzinger says that refusing Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians is a "doctrine of the Church"
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Ratzinger3.htm

Pro-abortion Catholic politicians ignore U.S. bishops' warnings
https://www.tldm.org/News7/ignore.htm

At least 75 pro-abortion Catholic politicians still receiving Communion
https://www.tldm.org/News7/ignore.htm

Three Southern bishops ban Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians
https://www.tldm.org/News7/SouthernBishopsBan.htm

Archbishop Burke says that Vatican letter on pro-abort politicians withheld from U.S. bishops
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Burke.htm

Bishop Gracida twelve-step program for dealing with pro-abortion "Catholics"
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Gracida.htm

Bishop Gracida: denying Holy Communion to a pro-abort politician, a case history
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Gracida3.htm

Vatican Cardinal ends debate: No Communion for pro-abortion politicians or Rainbow Sashers
https://www.tldm.org/News7/AbortionArinze.htm

Bishop Henry says he would refuse Prime Minister Holy Communion, would consider excommunication
https://www.tldm.org/News7/AbortionBishopHenry.htm

Catholic priest to withhold Communion from pro gay "marriage" politician
https://www.tldm.org/News7/homosexualityFatherLemire.htm

Outside Links…

Abortion:

The beginning of the end of abortion, WorldNetDaily, November 13, 2004
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41431

Sin to vote for pro-abortion politicians? Fr. Matthew Habiger
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/SINTOVOT.HTM

2002 Canonical Petition to Excommunicate Culture of Death "Catholics"
http://www.cathfam.org/cfexcom/Excom.html

“Whoever is not with Me, is against Me,” Archbishop William Levada
http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/LEVADA.HTM

Declaration on procured abortion (CDF, November 18, 1974)
http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFABORT.HTM

The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II, March 25, 1995
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/JP2EVANG.HTM

Contraception:

Faithfulness to the Divine Plan in the Transmission of Life Pope John Paul II's General Audience (8 August 1984)

Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI - Encyclical - On the Regulation of Births (25 July 1968)

Contraception Versus Abortion: A Comparison and Some Implications, By Msgr. Vincent Foy, PhD.

Contraception and Catholic Teaching, Donald DeMarco, Ph.D.

God and the Pill, Terence J. Hughes

Abortifacients, Charles M. Mangan

Contraception: Fatal to the Faith and to Eternal Life, John A. Hardon, S.J.

Is Contraception Gravely Sinful Matter? by Fr Lino Ciccone CM (from L'Osservatore Romano, 4 December 1996)

We encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops and all the clergy. Also, email or send this web page to the news media and as many people as possible.

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