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Sat Jul 7 18:01:30 EDT 2018
happened, one can at least infer that the pope did not issue strict =
instructions to the contrary. The cumulative effect of these events will =
likely be to weaken the case that the Vatican wants the American bishops =
to take a stricter stance against communion for pro-choice Catholics in =
public life."
And yet, here we are, April 27th, and Cardinal Egan issues this =
unambiguous statement.
Bob Novak, in the interim, has been most vocal about the scandal the =
intervening silence caused:
In the aftermath of the U.S. visit by Pope Benedict XVI, traditional =
Catholics are asking a troublesome question: Did pro-choice politicians =
receiving Communion at the papal Masses indicate the pope had softened =
on the abortion question? The answer is no. On the contrary, it =
reflected disobedience to Benedict by the archbishops of New York and =
Washington.=20
And he was particularly harsh about the situation in New York:
In New York, Giuliani receiving Communion was even more remarkable. =
Unlike Pelosi and Kennedy, who attend Mass regularly, the former mayor =
says he goes to church only "occasionally," usually for holidays or =
funerals. Abortion aside, Giuliani's third marriage would make him =
ineligible for Communion because his second marriage was not annulled by =
the church. But Cardinal Egan is no more apt than Cardinal McCarrick was =
to offend the powerful, and Giuliani was invited to the Mass.
Novak published this Monday the 28th in the Washington Post. That same =
day Cardinal Egan published his statement. I don't know the timeline for =
sure, but it's possible Cardinal Egan was told in advance about Novak's =
piece. Or, it could be a coincidence that both Novak and Egan went to =
presses the same day.=20
update, 3:30pm - I was right, the statement was in response to Novak and =
the questions circulating:
"... the statement from Cardinal Egan was prompted by Robert =
Novak=E2=80=99s column and by comments circulating about the elected =
officials who had received Communion. =E2=80=9CThe cardinal felt it was =
important to clarify what had been the understanding, and to address it =
publicly,=E2=80=9D he said. (CNA)
First things first, however - Cardinal Egan made the right move here. He =
did nothing new, or radical, he simply preached what the Church teaches =
in a moment when the teaching was challenged by Guiliani. In making this =
bold move to defend the Eucharist and prevent the scandal caused by =
these public figures receiving communion, he stands by Archbishop =
Raymond Burke, who up to this point has been the most prominent (and =
practically solitary) bishop to do so.=20
Canon Lawyer Ed Peters says that Cardinal Egan's statement is a slam =
dunk in terms of doctrine and Church Law:
"...whether for pro-abortion activism or for divorce and remarriage, =
to say nothing of both, Rudy is barred from receiving Communion. Period. =
His very, very public act of defiance in taking Communion at the papal =
Mass deserves swift and firm condemnation."
Now, one wonders if anything will happen here in Washington DC, where =
Kerry and Pelosi received (update: as well as Kennedy and Dodd).
The first public fruits of the pope's visit to America might well be =
giving the pastors of the Church the courage they needed to call out the =
wolves who have been attempting to masquerade as sheep in the American =
fold.
More on this story as it develops. Stay tuned....=20
update, 3:30pm - the response from Washington....
The Archdiocese of Washington also weighed in on the controversy, =
telling the New York Times that Archbishop Donald Wuerl had =
=E2=80=9Cconsistently and persistently presented the Church=E2=80=99s =
clear teaching on the evil of abortion and the need for those in public =
office to recognize that the support of abortion is wrong.=E2=80=9D=20
=E2=80=9CHow to respond to those in public office who support abortion =
legislation is open to various legitimate pastoral approaches, as the =
United States bishops affirmed in their June 2004 statement on Catholics =
in political life,=E2=80=9D the statement said. =E2=80=9CThe decision =
concerning the refusal of Holy Communion to an individual can best be =
made by the bishop in the person=E2=80=99s home diocese with whom he or =
she presumably is in conversation.=E2=80=9D
When contacted for additional comment by CNA, Susan Gibbs, Director of =
Communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, would not provide =
anything further. (CNA)
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<DIV class=3D""><A=20
href=3D"http://www.americanpapist.com/2008/04/breaking-cardinal-egan-raps=
-guiliani.html">Breaking:=20
Cardinal Egan calls out Guiliani for papal Mass communion</A></DIV></H2>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">via <A class=3Df=20
href=3D"http://www.americanpapist.com/blog.html">AmericanPapist: Not =
Your Average=20
Catholic!</A> by Thomas Peters on 4/29/08</DIV><BR style=3D"DISPLAY: =
none">
<DIV align=3Djustify>This is the big story of the day. Read the report =
first, then=20
scroll down for my comments and context.<BR><BR>Here are pictures of =
Rudolph=20
Giuliani in line to receive communion at the papal Mass (credit: =
AP).</DIV>
<P align=3Dcenter><A><IMG style=3D"MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: =
399px" alt=3D""=20
src=3D"http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080428/capt.3a12242b9e8847eba=
1ffe72134e73939.giuliani_abortion_ny110.jpg?x=3D400&y=3D266&sig=3D=
Uw0Spuuig4xE_TuuQbQGMQ--"=20
border=3D0></A><BR><A><IMG style=3D"MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: =
399px" alt=3D""=20
src=3D"http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080429/capt.add1257dc67c4c5bb=
e648d12b1f04f0f.giuliani_abortion_nyr101.jpg?x=3D400&y=3D262&sig=3D=
IUK8Ks9nfizNMoTd8V5L3A--"=20
border=3D0></A><BR></P>
<P align=3Djustify><EM><A=20
href=3D"http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08042803.html">LifeSiteN=
ews</A></EM>=20
presents the situation accurately and briefly. It's worth your time:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>The decision by several prominent pro-abortion =
politicians to=20
publicly receive Holy Communion at papal Masses during the recent =
visit of=20
Pope Benedict XVI, despite clear Church teaching that says that their=20
reception of Communion would constitute a grave sacrilege, may have =
backfired.=20
While at first it seemed like it would be business as usual, today =
Cardinal=20
Edward Egan of New York issued a statement condemning the reception of =
Holy=20
Communion by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. </P>
<P align=3Djustify>The Archdiocese informed LifeSiteNews.com that the =
issue is=20
being brought forward publicly at this time "because it has become a =
public=20
issue and a public question."</P>
<P align=3Djustify>"The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion =
is a grave=20
offense against the will of God," said Egan. "Throughout my years as=20
Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, =
articles,=20
addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any =
kind."</P>
<P align=3Djustify>He continued, "Thus it was that I had an =
understanding with=20
Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was =
serving=20
as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because =
of his=20
well-known support of abortion."</P>
<P align=3Djustify>"I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the =
Eucharist=20
during the Papal visit here in New York," said Egan, "and I will be =
seeking a=20
meeting with him to insist that he abide by our =
understanding."</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>Giuliani's response?<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>Responding to the matter in the press, Giuliani =
said that his=20
faith "is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential."=20
</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify><EM><A=20
href=3D"http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=3D12479">Catholic =
News=20
Agency</A></EM> tells us:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>Giuliani's spokeswoman, Sunny Mindel, responded to =
the=20
cardinal's statement by saying that Giuliani is willing to meet with =
the=20
cardinal but added that his faith "is a deeply personal matter and =
should=20
remain confidential."</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify><EM><A=20
href=3D"http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2008/04/cardinal-egan-c.html=
">Carl=20
Olson</A></EM> at the Ignatius Press blog has the response to that false =
defense:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Well, [Guilian's] "faith" might be a "deeply personal =
matter," but=20
reception of the Eucharist is not just a "personal matter," but a =
public act=20
of worship and a declaration that one is in right relationship with =
Jesus=20
Christ and His Church. </BLOCKQUOTE><A=20
href=3D"http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=
=3D7945">Here</A>=20
is the full statement of Cardinal Egan:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>=E2=80=9CThe Catholic Church clearly teaches that =
abortion is a grave=20
offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of =
New=20
York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, =
and=20
interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was =
that I=20
had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became =
Archbishop of=20
New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to =
receive=20
the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply =
regret=20
that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here =
in New=20
York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide =
by our=20
understanding.=E2=80=9D </P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>Rocco at <EM><A=20
href=3D"http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2008/04/egan-to-rudy-outt=
a-line.html">Whispers=20
in the Loggia</A></EM> holds this up as a counter-example:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>The move is a notable change of public tack by =
[Cardinal=20
Egan]. In an early 2007 <A=20
=
href=3D"http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2007/01/egan-john-carroll=
-got-it-right.html">TV=20
interview,</A> when asked how he'd "come down" on public officials who =
defy=20
church teaching -- Giuliani included -- Egan said that the politicos =
named=20
were "all friends of mine."</P>
<P align=3Djustify>"I wish them all the best, and they've been very =
good to us"=20
the cardinal told WNBC's David Ushery.</P>
<P align=3Djustify>Suffice it to say, compare and =
contrast.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>I'm not sure if this interview response necessarily =
contradicts the statement he issued today. If anything, Cardinal Egan's =
tone of=20
surprise and hurt would seem to imply that he sees Guilian's action as a =
violation of their previous understanding.<BR><BR>What provoked this =
move, we=20
might ask?<BR><BR><A href=3D"http://ncrcafe.org/node/1749">John =
Allen</A> noted=20
back on April 20th that "At least three times during Pope Benedict =
XVI=E2=80=99s visit=20
to the United States, a prominent pro-choice Catholic politician has =
received=20
communion during a papal Mass." (Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Rudolph=20
Guiliani).<BR><BR>From this example, Allen concluded:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>"While it would be a stretch to say that Benedict =
XVI=20
authorized what happened, one can at least infer that the pope did not =
issue=20
strict instructions to the contrary. The cumulative effect of these =
events=20
will likely be to weaken the case that the Vatican wants the American =
bishops=20
to take a stricter stance against communion for pro-choice Catholics =
in public=20
life."</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>And yet, here we are, April 27th, and Cardinal Egan =
issues=20
this unambiguous statement.<BR><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/A=
R2008042701209.html">Bob=20
Novak</A>, in the interim, has been most vocal about the scandal the =
intervening=20
silence caused:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>In the aftermath of the U.S. visit by Pope Benedict =
XVI,=20
traditional Catholics are asking a troublesome question: Did =
pro-choice=20
politicians receiving Communion at the papal Masses indicate the pope =
had=20
softened on the abortion question? The answer is no. On the contrary, =
it=20
reflected disobedience to Benedict by the archbishops of New York and=20
Washington. </P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>And he was particularly harsh about the situation =
in New=20
York:<BR><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=3Djustify>In New York, Giuliani receiving Communion was even =
more=20
remarkable. Unlike Pelosi and Kennedy, who attend Mass regularly, the =
former=20
mayor says he goes to church only "occasionally," usually for holidays =
or=20
funerals. Abortion aside, Giuliani's third marriage would make him =
ineligible=20
for Communion because his second marriage was not annulled by the =
church. But=20
Cardinal Egan is no more apt than Cardinal McCarrick was to offend the =
powerful, and Giuliani was invited to the Mass.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>Novak published this Monday the 28th in the =
<EM>Washington=20
Post</EM>. That same day Cardinal Egan published his statement. I don't =
know the=20
timeline for sure, but it's possible Cardinal Egan was told in advance =
about=20
Novak's piece. Or, it could be a coincidence that both Novak and Egan =
went to=20
presses the same day. </DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><STRONG>update, 3:30pm - </STRONG>I was right, the =
statement=20
was in response to Novak and the questions circulating:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>"... the statement from Cardinal Egan was prompted by Robert =
Novak=E2=80=99s column and by comments circulating about the elected =
officials who had=20
received Communion. =E2=80=9CThe cardinal felt it was important to =
clarify what had=20
been the understanding, and to address it publicly,=E2=80=9D he said. =
(<A=20
=
href=3D"http://avemariaradio.net/catholic-online-radio.php">CNA</A>)</BLO=
CKQUOTE>First=20
things first, however - Cardinal Egan made the right move here. He did =
nothing=20
new, or radical, he simply preached what the Church teaches in a moment =
when the=20
teaching was challenged by Guiliani. In making this bold move to defend =
the=20
Eucharist and prevent the scandal caused by these public figures =
receiving=20
communion, he stands by Archbishop Raymond Burke, who up to this point =
has been=20
the most prominent (and practically solitary) bishop to do so. </DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify>Canon Lawyer <EM><A=20
href=3D"http://www.canonlaw.info/2008/04/four-cheers-for-cdl-egan.html">E=
d=20
Peters</A></EM> says that Cardinal Egan's statement is a slam dunk in =
terms of=20
doctrine and Church Law:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>"...whether for pro-abortion activism or for divorce and=20
remarriage, to say nothing of both, Rudy is barred from receiving =
Communion.=20
Period. His very, very public act of defiance in taking Communion at =
the papal=20
Mass deserves swift and firm condemnation."</BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>Now, one wonders if anything will happen here in =
Washington=20
DC, where Kerry and Pelosi received (update: as well as Kennedy and=20
Dodd).<BR><BR>The first public fruits of the pope's visit to America =
might well=20
be giving the pastors of the Church the courage they needed to call out =
the=20
wolves who have been attempting to masquerade as sheep in the American=20
fold.</DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify>More on this story as it develops. Stay tuned.... =
</DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><STRONG>update, 3:30pm - </STRONG>the response from =
Washington....</DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=3Djustify>The Archdiocese of Washington also weighed in on =
the=20
controversy, telling the New York Times that Archbishop Donald Wuerl =
had=20
=E2=80=9Cconsistently and persistently presented the Church=E2=80=99s =
clear teaching on the=20
evil of abortion and the need for those in public office to recognize =
that the=20
support of abortion is wrong.=E2=80=9D </DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify>=E2=80=9CHow to respond to those in public office =
who support=20
abortion legislation is open to various legitimate pastoral =
approaches, as the=20
United States bishops affirmed in their June 2004 statement on =
Catholics in=20
political life,=E2=80=9D the statement said. =E2=80=9CThe decision =
concerning the refusal of=20
Holy Communion to an individual can best be made by the bishop in the =
person=E2=80=99s=20
home diocese with whom he or she presumably is in =
conversation.=E2=80=9D</DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify>When contacted for additional comment by CNA, =
Susan Gibbs,=20
Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, would =
not=20
provide anything further. (<A=20
=
href=3D"http://avemariaradio.net/catholic-online-radio.php">CNA</A>)</DIV=
></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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