[Apologetics] Cardinal Egan calls out Guiliani for papal Mass communion

[Stephen Korsman]

Breaking: Cardinal Egan calls out Guiliani for papal Mass communion
via AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic! by Thomas Peters on 4/29/08


This is the big story of the day. Read the report first, then scroll down for my comments and context.

Here are pictures of Rudolph Giuliani in line to receive communion at the papal Mass (credit: AP).




LifeSiteNews presents the situation accurately and briefly. It's worth your time:

  The decision by several prominent pro-abortion politicians to publicly receive Holy Communion at papal Masses during the recent visit of Pope Benedict XVI, despite clear Church teaching that says that their reception of Communion would constitute a grave sacrilege, may have backfired. While at first it seemed like it would be business as usual, today Cardinal Edward Egan of New York issued a statement condemning the reception of Holy Communion by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. 

  The Archdiocese informed LifeSiteNews.com that the issue is being brought forward publicly at this time "because it has become a public issue and a public question."

  "The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God," said Egan. "Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind."

  He continued, "Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion."

  "I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York," said Egan, "and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."

Giuliani's response?

  Responding to the matter in the press, Giuliani said that his faith "is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential." 

Catholic News Agency tells us:
  Giuliani's spokeswoman, Sunny Mindel, responded to the cardinal's statement by saying that Giuliani is willing to meet with the cardinal but added that his faith "is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential."

Carl Olson at the Ignatius Press blog has the response to that false defense:


  Well, [Guilian's] "faith" might be a "deeply personal matter," but reception of the Eucharist is not just a "personal matter," but a public act of worship and a declaration that one is in right relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. 
Here is the full statement of Cardinal Egan:
  “The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.” 

Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia holds this up as a counter-example:
  The move is a notable change of public tack by [Cardinal Egan]. In an early 2007 TV interview, when asked how he'd "come down" on public officials who defy church teaching -- Giuliani included -- Egan said that the politicos named were "all friends of mine."

  "I wish them all the best, and they've been very good to us" the cardinal told WNBC's David Ushery.

  Suffice it to say, compare and contrast.

I'm not sure if this interview response necessarily contradicts the statement he issued today. If anything, Cardinal Egan's tone of surprise and hurt would seem to imply that he sees Guilian's action as a violation of their previous understanding.

What provoked this move, we might ask?

John Allen noted back on April 20th that "At least three times during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States, a prominent pro-choice Catholic politician has received communion during a papal Mass." (Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Rudolph Guiliani).