A soon-to-be-released document from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops will likely say that a Catholic who “knowingly and obstinately” rejects “the defined doctrines of the church” or its “definitive teaching on moral issues” should refrain from receiving Communion. This is likely in reaction to the publicity given to John Kerry in 2004, but the document applies to everyone, not just politicians. This information comes from a Catholic News Service Article. I was made aware of this by reading Scott Carson’s entry on it, Shorter Lines at Communion Soon.
I support this decision. First of all, it is not really news, since someone openly and clearly rejecting Church Teaching is materially in a state of mortal sin (formally maybe not), so the person likely should not receive communion anyway. However, since it happens so much these days, it probably does need mentioning.
Personally, I believe it is a matter of respect and being genuine to refrain from receiving communion if a person openly rejects Catholic Teaching and (even worse) teaches against it regularly. Notice that the issue here is not doubt, but “knowingly and obstinately” rejecting Catholic Teaching. In other words, this indicates a willful pattern of belief and behavior opposing Catholic Teaching. Unfortunately, the “you owe me” attitude prevalent in the West has many people steamed about efforts like this to limit reception of communion. The logic is kind of like this: “I don’t believe much about what the Church teaches; in fact I teach my kids the opposite usually, and I rarely go to Mass and hardly ever contribute to the well-being of the Church, but how dare they tell me I can’t receive communion!” To me, such an attitude not only lacks humility, but runs contrary to 2000 years of Holy Tradition.
Now, in our culture limiting who can take communion seems mean or exclusive, but we must remember that reception of Holy Communion is not a right (it is a rite though!), but a very special privilege. And never in the history of Christianity has communion been taken so lightly as it is in many places today. While during certain times, due to a misguided respect for the Eucharist, laypeople rarely communed at all. This was wrong. However, the modern tendency is to show little respect for communion and walk up to receive simply because everybody else is doing it. The Church needs to correct this, for the sake of respect for the sacrament itself and for the souls of those receiving unworthily. This document about to be released seems to be a good start.
Also, Catholics are not alone in insisting that a person be rightly disposed before receiving Holy Communion. The Orthodox strongly agree, and so do many Protestants. In fact, Orthodox are probably even stricter than Catholics are. Some Protestant groups are as well. When I visited a Lutheran church for a wedding a few years ago I remember seeing a card one was to fill out confessing a belief in the Real Presence before receiving communion there. Sadly, many Catholics would probably be unable to fill out such a card and mean it.
In conclusion, I welcome this new document, and I believe that all of us need to better examine our lives prior to receiving Holy Communion and take advantage of the sure means of grace that is the sacrament of reconciliation.
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad Toney
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
October 25, 2006 at 5:36 pm
The Catholic bishops’ pronouncement is absolutely correct. People DO take Holy Communion too lightly. As for the Orthodox…you bet the rules are generally stricter than in the West. In many Slavic churches a person MUST confess before each Communion. Also, an Orthodox priest might very well give someone an epitimia (”penance”) that forbids them Communion for a certain period of time. Kudos to the Bishops on this one!
October 25, 2006 at 7:33 pm
I used to go to a church that had those cards. It had Article X from the Augsburg Confession printed on it.
Of the Supper of the Lord they teach that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present, and are distributed to those who eat the Supper of the Lord; and they reject those that teach otherwise.
If you were not a member, you had to sign it and turn it in to an usher prior to communion.
It should be interesting to see how this document is lived, since the biggest divide I (as an outsider) see is between the official teaching of the church and the way that is implemented within the parishes.
October 28, 2006 at 2:11 am
You are right, this is not new. Denial of communion and other sacraments has been a constant threat through all of church history. The pendulum swings back and forth as to how it has been used/applied. Sometimes abusively and coercively, with the hope of publicity for a position (teaching)the local ordinary considers “preeminent” and at other times with prudence.
We shall see. I may need to abstain based on the final document. I have thus far only seen a leaked “rough draft”.
October 29, 2006 at 3:56 pm
In our diocese, the last general election, was determined by Catholics who were told that to vote for Kerry was potentially going to leave them “ex-communion-ated”. This goes far beyond the bishop’s authority, IMO. This is using the sacraments for a political agenda. Our bishop labeled certain pro-life issues preeminant, and thus to vote for another candidate who held other pro-life views was to jeopardize your catholic status. Let me ask regarding those preemeinant issues: Has abortion been banned?, has gay marriage been banned? has stem cell research been banned? has euthanasia been banned? by this supposed pro-life president? No, he routinely sought (and got) the support of “conservatives” and then dismissed them with ridicule once they left the White House. How sad the “conservatives” continue to be duped.
October 30, 2006 at 1:29 am
mike,
Maybe you should leave off YOUR politicizing (Bush bashing)…I am a conservative and no one has “duped” me. I voted (and will continue to vote) Republican because the alternative is too frightening to me. Honestly, if we ever have a Kerry like President, I will seriously consider leaving the country.
October 30, 2006 at 12:38 pm
nicene hobbit, my point was exactly as you stated. Politicizing done by our bishop in the name of the church using sacraments to keep us hostage. I did not say for whom I voted. I am not bashing Bush. His own aide said they regularly ridiculed the Christian Right after securing their pledges of support for agenda items they never planned to deliver.
A bishop or group of bishops deciding unilaterally what the preeminant pro-life topics are, is exceeding his/their authority, IMO. How could he/they state that an unjust war (as declared by the Pope) killing thousands, causing great destruction, be less offensive than, for instance, what two same sex individuals decide to do in the privacy of their own home? How is/was it determined by them, after the visit by JP2 to Missouri and his plea to commute a death sentence, determined that stem cell research is worse than the death penalty?