Follow the example of Jesus
I am following with interest the debate over whether the Church should deny the Eucharist to President Biden and other Catholic politicians who support abortion. In this, as in all things, the Church should follow the example of Jesus.
At the Last Supper, Jesus directly confronted his looming betrayal by Judas and his pending denial by Peter. Betrayal is certainly an apt description of how the Church must feel regarding the flaunting of its teachings by Catholic politicians. But Jesus did not withhold his body and blood from any of the apostles at the Last Supper.
The Church (and all Catholics) must never use religion, and especially never use denial of the Eucharist, as a method of punishment against anyone. Doing so literally makes Jesus, the Prince of Peace, a weapon in contemporary culture wars.
On Good Friday. Jesus himself was a victim of a culture war, with capital punishment for the crime of blasphemy imposed on him by zealots in his religious community. Denial of the Eucharist by the Church could easily encourage modern- day zealots to engage in more aggressive religious-based violence, thus compounding the violence of abortion.
The Church in the United States should focus its efforts on educating the 50% of its members who apparently support abortion. To these, the Church needs to clearly communicate why, biologically, life begins at conception and why, theologically, by the Fifth Commandment, abortion is inadmissible.
The Church must also remember that everyone, including the Church itself, has committed some sin. Selective denial of the Eucharist will not remedy this reality nor reduce the number of abortions. – Dr. Martin G. Mlynczak, Yorktown
Catholic politicians should unify rather than divide
Through prayer the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ holy Eucharist’s review for pro-abortion Catholic politicians such as President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will reach a final determination inspired by Christ.
There has been a cultural rot spreading throughout our society over the decades like a cancer feeding on our national morality. It has been mind-numbing to many Catholics causing a deliberate blurring of the lines between good vs. evil.
Catholic doctrine clearly rejects abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage and transgender identity as grave sins yet these Catholic politicians are boldly promoting these evils globally as socially acceptable.
Misguided Catholics are objecting to the USCCB’s Eucharist review because of their own political party affiliation. They are obfuscating fundamental Church teachings by trying to separate pro-abortion political policies from strict adherence to Church doctrine on killing innocent life.
The teachings of St. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 explains that a Catholic must be in a state of grace — that is, free of any grave or mortal sin — before receiving Communion. This does not mean that Catholic politicians get a free pass.
Jesus Christ, in his abundant love and mercy, established the sacrament of reconciliation so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church.
Confession places the burden on the sinner to ask for forgiveness and to avoid the near occasion of sin. The Catholic Church will be better served if these Catholic politicians focused on the sacrament of reconciliation and avoid further dividing the Catholic Church over the Eucharist. – Carmine Largo, New Kent
All Catholics do not vote on one issue
I am both saddened and appalled by the scathing commentary, “Catholic perspective must be voiced in public square” (Catholic Virginian, June 28), regarding Sen. Tim Kaine.
You allowed a publication by Stephen Reardon, a parishioner at St. Bridget. Do you think his career gives him more credence? It attacks Tim Kaine, a well-respected Catholic politician, by making biased judgmental accusations.
Politicians are candidates for all people. All Catholics do not vote on one issue a politician stands for. I expect intelligent people, and I would hope you also to look at all a candidate stands for.
It seems that the concept of being personally opposed is not understood by conservative Catholics. Perhaps there were articles telling people not to vote for Biden that I missed. I consider that a blessing that God spared me the voice from the New Virginian regarding our president.
Perhaps it might do you and writers for The Catholic Virginian to expose themselves to Catholic perspective as presented in the Jesuit publication of America magazine. Might those articles be more representative of what Pope Francis stands for.
All Catholics aren’t conservatives. You make it much easier to leave the Church by supporting such a narrow view. Remember, leaving results in less income. – Linda Tucciarone, Glen Allen