Archbishop of NY soft on pro-abortion politicians receiving Holy Communion
by Carder
The Archbishop of New York says that the issue of pro-abortion Catholic politicians committing sacrilege, not to mention the sacrilege being participated in by those giving them Holy Communion, is “in the past.” That’s such an arrogant statement it takes your breath away.
First of all, it is a direct contradiction of Canon Law—number 915, to be specific.
Secondly, it absolutely deflates many pro-life Catholics’ efforts – takes the winds right out of their sails – by suggesting in a rather in-your-face kind of way, “We’ve moved on. Get over it.”
For all those pro-lifers praying in front of abortion chambers across the country, you are correct if you are feeling like you have been abandoned at the barricades—you have. It’s also interesting that he brands the issue as “inflammatory.” Why do you think it’s inflammatory in the first place? Because it involves sacrilege, the defilement of the Body and Blood of Our Blessed Lord.
~ Catholic apologist Michael Voris, deconstructing Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan’s interview with the Boston Globe regarding the controversy surrounding pro-abortion politicians claiming to be Catholic and receiving Holy Communion, Church Militant.TV, September 11
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Cardinal Dolan’s full quote:
“[Q:] Mid-term elections are close, and soon the 2016 race will heat up. Where are the American bishops today on the issue of Communion for pro-choice Catholic politicians?
[A:] In a way, I like to think it’s an issue that served us well in forcing us to do a serious examination of conscience about how we can best teach our people about their political responsibilities, but by now that inflammatory issue is in the past. I don’t hear too many bishops saying it’s something that we need to debate nationally, or that we have to decide collegially. I think most bishops have said, ‘We trust individual bishops in individual cases.’ Most don’t think it’s something for which we have to go to the mat.”
Card. Dolan isn’t saying that “Communion for pro-abortion pols is fine and most bishops agree”, but rather, “most bishops don’t debate whether Communion for pro-abortion pols is something for local bishops to decide.” These are very different statements.
Of course, pro-abortion pols shouldn’t receive Communion, bishops should agree on that point, and it’s sad that Card. Dolan doesn’t state that truth. But still, for now at least, isn’t Card. Dolan correct in thinking most bishops aren’t lobbying for a national/collegial policy on this matter? Furthermore, he didn’t say his own position regarding the moral question of pro-abortion pols and receiving Communion–the headline of this post is inaccurate, as far as the content of the post goes.
Card. Dolan is extremely “diplomatic”. Annoyingly so.
I suspect the moral question may come back nationally/collegially once more of the 60s-70s generation of priests and bishops is replaced by newer bishops (whose seminaries weren’t pervaded by dissidents).
The bible says that these leaders deny Christ as the did the prophets of old. These claim they would recognize God’s messengers and would listen if they spoke today.
Christ points out that Ninevah had Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of a whale, but the leadership killing Christ, the very son of God, who spent 3 days in the belly of the earth, are much more condemned than those of Ninevah, who listened to a mere reluctant prophet.
I am surprised by Cardinal Dolan, his actions are drum line liberal / culture of death, but I am glad he is out of the closet on the inflammatory issue of Christ. I will pray he can go to holylove.org and get straight before it’s too late, but he’s getting quite a reward here on earth, all those celebrities and the rich food, and elaborate ceremonies he presides over… so powerful is he!
It must be from God’s approval and not by God’s grace that he is getting his power! Wow-what an incredible servant of God!
But those he takes with him he will be accountable for! And those babies he didn’t ‘go to the mat’ for he will be accountable. And the meanwhile, the graces of those who admonish and rebuke him, who can see clearly the difference and who have power to rebel against such revelry, will be equally graced. It must be mentioned, that this is not the Catholic faith, that Dolan’s markings of a Catholic in heaven would have been a mark of honor, but in hell that same mark, it will make him that much more of a target. This man has not only rejected Catholicism, he has molested the rock of Christ, and continues to molest it, repeatedly. Catholics, it is time for us to join hands, support one another, and defend the faith as a chain leading up to and around the altar. If you “want peace, work for justice.” If you want justice you must defend the truth. And it most certainly is WORK!!! I was encouraged by mother angelica this past week, who mentioned that our policy as pro-lifers must reflect out non-violent mission. However, I was disheartened that she didn’t seam to include all followers of Christ to be pro-lifers. It seamed she thought we were some sort of special interest group that is set aside, perhaps, for another kind of Christianity. I understand that the clergy cannot speak out against Dolan, due to the need for obedience, however, they must align forces in recognizance that we who are openly pro-life, need their unspoken support, recognition and observance to the cause as Christ demanded, and that obedience has it’s boundaries, they must first see themselves as pro-life, before men and women of a certain habit, that is the first issue. The next is that the church demands obedience for it’s official function to remain relevant. Of course we want to remain non-violent, angry and joyful, but not at the cost of being plutonic or neutral to the cause, that is what reaps the rewards of hell=lukewarmness, or as it is apparently, being a Dolanite Catholic.
Catholic bishops are asked this question, every time they speak in public.
It appears that just about every bishop has pulled a troublesome Catholic politician aside and admonished him for his pro-abortion position. Most of the Democrats have sadly chosen to abstain from the Eucharist and continue to vote for killing.
It is unfortunate, but the bishops have done what that can about this scandal.
As Catholic pro-lifers, we need to stop bugging the bishops — and start bugging the politicians. If you see your pro-abortion representative receiving the Eucharist at a parish, then point out to the politician that he is inviting judgment upon himself (1 Cor 11). “Here, Jesus! Come in and take a hard look at my soul!”
This is our work. We should not expect the bishops to do it for us.
Source is (I am assuming) Michael Voris and “the Vortex,” which should – immediately – give one pause. Your first respondent hit the nail on the head regarding Abp Dolan and the headline. While there are things I disagree with, perhaps, I will plow my own course and remain faithful. More damage is done by misrepresentations than by “proper reporting” (as is the case here).
I am only here to publish a blog entry by Dr. Gerard Nadal, who (as far as Voris is concerned) does the same justice in clarification as “mm” does. BTW – thank you, “mm.”
Being Catholic has never been easy for me – considering I am a convert and then decided to take on Holy Orders, I will constantly wonder at why – and still be thankful that I did. Regardless, here is a great little article on Voris.
http://gerardnadal.com/2014/09/11/the-authentic-catholic-uprising-of-michael-voris/
Battles are fought on many fronts.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/index.aspx
Priests for Life is faithful, quite often challenging politicians on the home page.
And the “competent authority for Priests for Life is Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York”.
From a recent email from Priests for Life:
“The midterm elections are upon us. Let’s be clear: it is time for clergy to state in the pulpit that the People of God have to elect public servants who know the difference between serving the public and killing the public, and that those who can’t tell the difference don’t belong in public office. ” Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director Priests for Life
http://www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v24n05sepoct14.pdf
When reading discussions and commentaries, I often think of “Introduction to the Devout Life” (St Francis de Sales) – work I reread / go back to quite often, esp. Rules for the Practice of Virtue (Third Part). Right now, I’m contemplating Chapters 28 and 29, for my own edification.
It saddens me that this bishop won’t deny someone in obvious, public, mortal sin Holy Communion. It’s for the good of that person’s soul, not a punishment or an exclusion. The person who does not discern the Body and Blood of Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament is in a state of unworthiness, and becomes GUILTY of the blood of Christ…a direly precarious position for any soul to be in. Read 1 Corinthians 11:29. Oh. My. Lord, deliver us from blind guides!
CityOfAngels.US, your statements about Cardinal Dolan, if made knowingly, are nothing less than slander. I take it you are merely ignorant about the matter.
Cardinal Dolan is, in fact, a very vocal advocate for the unborn. He stated this unequivocally, in his prayer at the Democratic National Convention, no less! Believe me, he goes to the mat for the unborn, and is constant in his advocacy for the sacredness of life and for the family. He is most assuredly not an advocate of the Culture of Death.
But why, you ask, am I not hearing this?
You need to go to the right places to listen. The place to go is NOT the secular media. And most certainly NOT to someone like Michael Voris, with his constant distortions and even lies, about bishops, which create stumbling blocks for faithful Catholics, all in the interest of ginning up his fan base. (An excellent example is his twisted quote on Dolan’s discussion of communion for pro-abortion pols that mm referenced above).
Cardinal Dolan’s actual statements are widely available at Catholic New York
cny.org
and at his own blog, The Gospel in the Digital Age
blog.archny.org.
Could writers on this blog please, once and for all, stop mentioning and quoting Voris here? He is not a representative of Catholicism, in fact, his own bishop has forbidden him to use the word “Catholic” in his organization’s title, which is why he changed it from “RealCatholicTV” to “ChurchMilitantTV.” Now he is giving the Church Militant a bad name.
Linda Cook — and others — please keep in mind that the discipline of Canon 915 (denying Communion to a notorious sinner) is not something that any bishop can randomly apply to just any Catholic. A bishop can apply this penalty only to those who are within his jurisdiction, that is, who live in the territory governed by his archdiocese.
That’s why it’s useless to ask Cardinal Dolan to apply the sanction to Joe Biden — because he’s not under his jurisdiction as bishop. Nor can he apply it to Andrew Cuomo – the one who has this authority over him is the bishop of Albany, where he lives. I’m astonished that so many Catholics don’t understand this. It has led to so many understandings.
But how great an effect would such a penalty have in any case? Pelosi and Biden’s bishops know that if they invoked such a sanction, there is practically zero chance they would be obeyed, because these people are so poorly catechized, and so arrogant. They would just find some dissident parish to give them Communion. Or maybe some sympathetic Minister of Holy Communion in their own parish. . .
Bishops don’t like it when it looks like their authority can be easily flouted. They also fear an actual schism developing among Catholics. I’m not surprised they find private exhortation of erring pols a better idea.
Public discipline, which would seem like condemnation, would also most likely lead to an outcry in the media and enemies of the church in the governments halls of power about separation of Church and State, and more fuel for those who want to return to the days when Catholics were kept altogether from public life.
Of course there is still the scandal given the Catholic faithful by this continual flouting of Church teaching, yet penalties might not even be effective there, given the widespread ignorance of the nature of a bishop’s authority. I think those Catholics who would understand the bishop’s role best are the ones least likely to be scandalized. Please keep in mind what the word “scandal” means in a Christian context. It means making it easier for a person to be led into sin. It is feared that people will think that because a Catholic politician favors abortion, then abortion is okay. Many people will in fact think this, but it’s largely people who have no concept of the authority of a bishop or of the Church in general — which unfortunately is most Catholics. So those who advocate the sanctions are among the very few who will understand their meaning.
I must say that bishops have a hard life, having to make these decisions. I pray that above all they will tirelessly teach the proper understanding of Church doctrine, because it is the beginning at least of the remedy.
“As Catholic pro-lifers, we need to stop bugging the bishops — and start bugging the politicians” (Del)
Absolutely! Admonishing them in the Communion line might work – even better, write to them and tell them you are not going to vote for them because of their stance. That is bound to get their attention.
Lori, the bishops most certain can – and must withhold Holy Communion from the obstinate public sinner if he/she presents themselves for Communion within their dioceses. And yes, as an archbishop of a metropolitan that does include Albany, Cardinal Dolan does have authority over Albany.
Janet, as I understand it, metropolitan archbishops have very limited authority over their suffragan bishops, and they don’t have authority over the faithful in the other bishops’ dioceses.
And yes, it’s true that if a notorious public sinner from another diocese presents himself for communion to a bishop, the bishop should in conscience refuse to give it to him. What I said, however, is that he could not apply a canonical penalty to him, which is an act of law and jurisdiction that requires authority. Canon 915 means that a bishop rules that no one in the diocese can give this person communion until their have publicly acknowledged and made amends for their sins. This is something different.
In the much-discussed incident what Joe Biden received Communion in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, it was not Cardinal Dolan who gave it to him, but another priest or Eucharistic Minister. This could be an instance of negligence on Dolan’s part, in that he should have issued a warning to him before Mass on this. But for all we know, he did issue such a warning and Biden simply ignored it. As I said these pols are shameless. I wouldn’t put it past him. I don’t think we should point accusing fingers at bishops in these situations, because we really don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.
In as much as the title of this post is false, I hope it will be changed.
The Archbishop looks like a partier to me, a good guy to have a beer with.
Gerry Nadal and Lori Piper really are missing the point. They need to watch more of Michael Voris to have a better understanding of the Catholic faith.
Jasper,
Michael Voris and I were classmates in the seminary for a year before I went off to become a scientist. We took all the same classes, prayed together, worked together, ate together, drank, fought, played, and shared every other aspect of seminary life together. I was the interim Academic Dean at Holy Apostles Seminary and College in Cromwell CT during the 2012-13 school year. So. I think I know my Catholic faith and Michael Voris both very well.
I haven’t missed any point, and Michael and I have been in touch this week over all of this. Our conversations, as always, have been most cordial and respectful. We may disagree on tone and tactics, but not on the faith, and not on our respect for one another.
That’s great to hear you and Michael are friends. Like your novena for Card. Dolan. Take care.
Wow, Lori Pieper said that “Admonishing them [politicians]in the Communion line might work – even better, write to them and tell them you are not going to vote for them because of their stance.”
So, it’s the job of the individual Catholic to Publicly admonish the politicians about receiving communion, and not the job of clergy?
I would expect church leaders (the ones with red vestments as a symbol of potential martyrhood) to lead the way in standing up to politicians who are grossly failing to adhere to their stated religion. They should be setting an example for us to follow. They could even set a more ‘orderly’ example for Michael Voris to follow.
Voris is sort of a throwback to the time when men were consuming fewer endocrine disruptors, had higher sperm count and were a little more impetuous and risk tolerant (movers, shakers and builders). I don’t have to be in 100% alignment with Voris to wish that there were more like him to speak out against wimpiness and appeasement.
The U.S. Bishops obtain a bulk of funding for their social programs from the government now. They have become a branch of the government. They have become structured to live or die according to the whim of the current regime, which can de-fund them at any time. No wonder they have to be “annoyingly diplomatic” with respect to nominally Catholic politicians who don’t even try to adhere to the religion.
No wonder people have to look to Bishops’ websites and blogs for the statements on life issues.
That’s interesting stuff to the pro-lifers who have been willing to speak the truth to national and local media, and to opposing groups, or be arrested at protests, or give up jobs or livelihoods in order to adhere to our respective religions.
It appears the Dolanites are out in full force on this blog.
Maybe a memo went out from the chancery?
Let’s attack Michael Voris why don’t we?
Kill the messenger… the oldest have in the book
As for Voris:
Methinks the Lady dost protest too much!
One should be easily forgiven for having difficulty in discerning whether Voris is more frustrated with a self-loathing latent homosexuality or the inability to get that wig under control.
Cardinal Dolan is one of the reasons that I had to re-examine my Catholic faith and had to make the decision to leave the Catholic Church. I can no longer be a member of a Church whose leaders are so double-minded and will not stand up for the truth. As someone said, they wear the red vestments and are supposed to lead the Church. but they are leading so many astray.
“and had to make the decision to leave the Catholic Church”
Mary, You didn’t HAVE to leave the Church any more than women HAVE to get an abortion. Both are a CHOICE.
Yes, the Church is filled with sinners. The devil works overtime in the Church. There is not much work for him outside of it.
When you chose to give up receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion because you disagreed with humans, you gave up everything, Mary. I pray you reconsider coming back.
A little off-topic, but when I hear ‘Dolan’ then I have to think of Gooby.