Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke released a thorough statement about Catholic pro-abortion politicians who present themselves for Holy Communion.
In the April 7 statement, Cardinal Burke addresses the gravity of receiving communion in the state of serious public sin, citing biblical, canonical, catechetical, and papal sources.
Without mentioning names, he refers to politicians publicly supporting intrinsic evils contrary to Church teaching and why they should not approach Holy Communion.
“Grave form of sacrilege”
The cardinal explained in 12 bullet points why “the reception of Holy Communion by those who publicly and obstinately violate the moral law in its most fundamental precepts is a particularly grave form of sacrilege.”
“In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, ‘Sacrilege is a grave sin especially when committed against the Eucharist, for in this sacrament the true Body of Christ is made substantially present for us’” (CCC 2120).
“‘It not only merits eternal punishment for the one who receives unworthily but constitutes a most serious scandal for others, that is, it leads them into the false belief that one can publicly and obstinately violate the moral law in a grave matter and still receive Our Lord in Holy Communion.'”
He said the “denial of Holy Communion is not an ecclesiastical penalty but the recognition of the objectively unworthy state of a person to approach to receive Holy Communion.”
Cardinal Burke also addresses the issue of excommunication.
Here’s his statement:
“Those who publicly and obstinately violate the moral law are, at least, in a state of apostasy, that is, they have effectively abandoned the faith by the obstinate refusal, in practice, to live in accord with fundamental truths of faith and morals (Code of Canon Law, 751).
“An apostate from the faith incurs automatically the penalty of excommunication (Code of Canon Law, 1364).
“The Bishop of such a person must verify the conditions for the declaration of the penalty of excommunication, which has been automatically incurred.”
He adds that these politicians may also be in heresy “if they obstinately deny or doubt the truth about the intrinsic evil of abortion as it “is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith” (Code of Canon Law, 751)
“Heresy, like apostasy, incurs automatically the penalty of excommunication (Code of Canon Law, 1364). Also, in the case of heresy, the Bishop must verify the conditions for the declaration of the penalty of excommunication, which has been automatically incurred.
He also tweeted his reasoning for releasing this statement.
Here’s his posts below:
His first tweet reads, “Many Catholics and non-Catholics have asked me how it is possible for Catholics to receive Holy Communion while at the same time publicly and obstinately promoting programs, policies, and legislation in direct violation of the moral law.
Cardinal Burke’s second tweet reads, “The answer to the question is clear: a Catholic who publicly and obstinately opposes the truth regarding faith and morals may not present himself or herself to receive Holy Communion and neither may the minister of Holy Communion give him or her the Sacrament.”
Accompanied by a link to his full statement, the third tweet reads, “The answer to the question is clear: a Catholic who publicly and obstinately opposes the truth regarding faith and morals may not present himself or herself to receive Holy Communion and neither may the minister of Holy Communion give him or her the Sacrament.”
Read Cardinal Burke’s full statement here.
Pray for all politicians!
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[See also: A Powerful Prayer for the U.S. Government, Written by America’s First Catholic Bishop]