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<H2>Illinois bishop upholds priest’s decision to deny Communion to pro-abort
Sen. Dick Durbin</H2>
<DIV class="author-detail-wrapper detail-page">
<P class=author>by <A href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/author/pcraine/"
alt="Patrick B. Craine">Patrick B. Craine</A></P>
<DIV class=details>
<UL class=published>
<LI>Thu Apr 03, 2014 14:10 EST</LI></UL></DIV>
<DIV class=tag-list>SPRINGFIELD, IL, April 3, 2014 (<A
href="http://lifesitenews.com/">LifeSiteNews.com</A>) - Bishop Thomas J.
Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, known for his outspoken defense of the right
to life and the natural family, has signaled his support for denying Communion
to Catholic politicians who publicly endorse activities gravely contrary to the
moral law.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV id=article-body class=article-body>
<P>The bishop wrote recently to a pro-life activist to affirm that he is
upholding a diocesan priest’s decision to deny Communion to U.S. Sen. Dick
Durbin, D-IL, who has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned
Parenthood.</P>
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<P>Paprocki’s e-mail was <A
href="http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/140403">reported</A> Thursday
by Catholic commentator Matt Abbott.</P>
<P>“Senator Durbin was informed several years ago by his pastor at Blessed
Sacrament Parish here in Springfield that he was not permitted to receive Holy
Communion per canon 915 of the <EM>Code of Canon Law</EM>,” Paprocki wrote. “My
predecessor upheld that decision and it remains in effect. It is my
understanding that the senator is complying with that decision here in the
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.”</P>
<P><A href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P39.HTM">Canon 915</A> states
that those who are “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be
admitted to Holy Communion.”</P>
<P>In placing the onus on ministers of Holy Communion, canon 915 is distinct
from canon 916, which places the onus on the communicant to not approach for
Communion if they are “conscious of grave sin.”</P>
<P>Canon 915 has been at the center of the dispute in recent years over how
Church leaders should deal with the plethora of Catholic politicians who vote
for pro-abortion and pro-homosexual legislation.</P>
<P>Some prelates argue that denying politicians Communion turns the Eucharist
into a political “weapon.” Defenders of the canon, however, argue that it is an
expression of charity by protecting the individual from taking part in sacrilege
and protecting the faithful from scandal.</P>
<P>The clear position from the Vatican has been in favour of enforcing the
canon. In 2004, as America’s bishops were debating whether to deny Communion to
pro-abortion Catholic politicians, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then-head of the
Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, wrote a letter to the bishops exhorting
them to do just that.</P>
<P>Cardinal Ratzinger <A
href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive//ldn/2005/apr/050419a">wrote</A>:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal
cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic
politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion
and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about
the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for
Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and
warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.</P>
<P>When “these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which
they were not possible,” and the person in question, with obstinate
persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, “the
minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it” (cf. Pontifical
Council for Legislative Texts Declaration “Holy Communion and Divorced,
Civilly Remarried Catholics” [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly
speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy
Communion passing judgement on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is
reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to
an objective situation of sin.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>The cardinal’s letter was not considered during the U.S. bishops’ debate,
however, because Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, to whom it had been sent, withheld
the text. The letter was eventually leaked to Vatican reporter Sandro Magister,
who published it in full. Cardinal Ratzinger’s office then confirmed its
authenticity.</P>
<P>U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke has been the most prominent defender of canon
915. In an <A
href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/prime-act-of-pastoral-charity-to-deny-pro-abortion-politicians-communion-ca">interview</A>
published exclusively in English last month by LifeSiteNews, Burke insisted
denying Communion when required is not about punishment but charity.</P>
<P>“The priest’s refusal to give Holy Communion is a prime act of pastoral
charity, helping the person in question to avoid sacrilege and safeguarding the
other faithful from scandal,” he explained.</P>
<P>“The exclusion of those who persist in manifest and grave sin, after having
been duly admonished, from receiving Holy Communion is not a question of a
punishment but of a discipline which respects the objective state of a person in
the Church,” he added.</P>
<P>As prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Burke is considered the Church’s
highest-ranking canonist.</P></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/illinois-bishop-upholds-priests-decision-to-deny-communion-to-pro-abortion">http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/illinois-bishop-upholds-priests-decision-to-deny-communion-to-pro-abortion</A></FONT></DIV>
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