Catholic bishops meeting in Vatican City at the first synod led by newly anointed Pope Benedict XVI are expected to consider refusing communion to politicians who pass laws that violate church doctrine
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is in the cross hairs.
Before Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became the Pope, he was the Vatican’s chief monitor of Catholic orthodoxy. He had labelled politicians who voted for same-sex marriage laws as “gravely immoral,” but stopped short of spelling out the consequences of their position.
Although the five Canadian bishops attending the synod have no common position, some Canadian Catholic clergy have said politicians who voted for amending the law to allow same-sex marriage are not fit to take communion, a wafer in which Catholics believe they receive the body of Jesus Christ.
A parish priest in Martin’s Montreal riding said the prime minister no longer deserved the sacrament and prayed Martin would lose his riding in the next election.
An northern Ontario New Democrat MP was also barred from receiving communion for supporting the law.
It is my understanding that communion is a rite in the Catholic church that is as sacred as baptism, marriage and the last rites.
So, I have this to say to the rulers of the Canadian Catholic Church.
Bill C-38 was in the works for years - if you are going to refuse our Catholic Prime Minister communion, then be consistent.
Every person, every writer, clerk, bureaurcrat, legislator, lawyer, judge, page or anyone that worked on this bill should receive the same consideration if they are Catholic.
Or every Catholic that worked on this bill could stand with the Prime Minister if he is refused communion.
The Catholic Church is a private institution and as a church must stand for it’s beliefs. The PM can’t go into any Catholic church in Canada without being recognized. But others who worked and voted on this bill can.
I think this is a trial ballon being floated by the Vatican. But if it isn’t, would Canadian Catholics of any party that had anything to do with this bill stand with the PM?
Martin said his responsibility as prime minister was to uphold Canadians’ rights as defined by the courts and to take the widest possible perspective into account.
“I believe in the Charter of Rights and I do not believe the prime minister of the country can cherry-pick those rights,” he said.
“Have I discussed (this) with senior churchmen, with bishops? The answer is yes, I have. But as far as any further comment, I’m a legislator and that’s public and I will comment on my public position. As a Catholic, that’s my faith and I’ll keep that to myself.”
I know as a protestant I cannot take communion in a Catholic church. But my question is this: is a Catholic permitted to take communion in a protestant church? If Catholics are permitted by their church to receive communion from their protestant counterparts, and the Vatican makes this decision, would it be inappropriate for protestant churches to reach out to every Catholic in government involved in this bill - including the Prime Minister - and offer them room at our communion table?
Luke 22:19,20 Remember me.
We take communion aware of our separation, our unworthiness, our need to repent. In participating in communion we acknowledge the sacrifice paid to restore right relationship.
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I agree that any Catholic Politian involved in approving, Same Sex Marriages, Abortion, assisting suicide, etc should not received the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ!
Catholics can generally not take communion in another church. If they were gravely ill I believe they are allowed to approach a minister from the Assyrian Church of the East or the Orthodox Churches (and possibly some others).
I am under the impression the Roman Catholic church allows Orthodox to receive in its church, but the Orthodox do not reciprocate.
Be aware that Communion is not seen as a symbol of unity in the same way as it often is in Protestant churches in the Catholic faith: unity of faith must come before sharing of Sacraments. The same applies to the Orthodox churches.
I do know that under grave conditions a protestant minister is permitted to give and a Catholic is permitted to receive. ie: hospital chaplins
I understand I cannot take communion in a Catholic church, and I respect that and don’t perceive that decision as a loss.
In this case if the Catholic Church is deciding whether or not to deny the PM then my protestant sensibility says deny everyone.
Martin was merely the leader of the party when the legislation came to parliament. He permitted a free vote.
What I am having difficulty understanding is why only the current PM?
What is that going to prove in the country, the church or his life to deny him a sacrament of forgiveness?
Indeed Protestants would be suitable: any port in a storm, as the saying goes.
I’m not sure that the Sacrament of Communion is one of forgiveness: Reconciliation (Penance) comes to mind for that. And, at least in Orthodoxy (and I imagine it would be similar for our RC friends), you need to be attending Reconciliation regularly to receive Communion.
I do understand your point of view though. How far do you go? I’m imagining it’s due to politicians being in the public and publically expressing these views: a member of the public could keep quiet. Interesting times…
“In the Eucharist the Lord gives Himself to us with His body, His soul and His divinity, and we become one with Him and among ourselves. Our response to His love must, therefore, be a concrete response; it must be expressed in a true conversion to love, in forgiveness, in mutual acceptance and in attention to everyone’s needs. Many and varied are the forms of service we can offer others in everyday life. The Eucharist thus becomes the source of spiritual energy that renews the world in the love of Christ.”
That is from the Pope this past week.
The synod bishops have to say what they are saying, it’s their job.
I can’t find out if this is a UN of bishops or Canadian bishops.
If it was a unified voice of Canadian bishops I guess Paul Martin wouldn’t be taking communion in Canada.
The church doesn’t rule the country, which is a good thing.
But I think if it actually came down to a synod or magisteruim or Holy See ruling, every Catholic involved with the bill should be under the ruling.
When the NDP member was denied communion by her priest and the bishop overruled recently the die was cast.
Paul Martin isn’t Henry VI.
The relevant canon is the same that got John Kerry in trouble in some diocese.
“Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P39.HTM
Paul Martin would be denied communion as one “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin”.
Some further explanation can be found here:
http://www.all.org/crusade/canon915.htm
Perhaps the question to consider also, is wether or not the Church has the moral authority/responsibility to punish those who would actively promote, encourage and affirm sin.
Protestant communions are simply symbolic and frankly do not require the context of church or service to be effected. Any meal where Christ is respected and revered will do.
The only true understanding of our lord’s last supper and the communion rite is made manifest in Catholic churches. He gave it to the Apostles not as a metaphor not as a symbol, he gave it to them literally as his body and blood. In this way the Catholic churches offer it to everyone also.
You would do better to encourage Protestant brothers to join in Catholic RCIA programs and be baptized into the fullness of Christ.
“Therefore let us leave behind the basic teachings about Christ and advance to maturity”… Hebrews, 6:1