Per Christum

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops just finished a meeting. They have released a few documents (.pdf format):

Statement on Iraq
This statement basically calls for a dialog on how best to deal with the situation in Iraq that suggests moving past the extreme and unrealistic rhetoric of both sides.

Married Love and the Gift of Life
This document discusses what a sacramental marriage entails. The main focus is contraception. Most of the document is a helpful FAQ on the Catholic Teaching about artificial birth control. I am sure critics will say, “but most Catholics ignore Church Teaching on contraception anyway, right?” This is why we need a document like this in the first place, but more so, we need bishops, priests, and laypeople who are willing to take its contents and teach other Catholics the hows and whys of Catholic Teaching on artificial contraception (and love and marriage).

Ministry to Persons with A Homosexual Orientation
I am sure this is going to be the most talked about statement from the bishops. Already gay activist groups are starting to grumble, and I am sure some fundamentalists will decry the emphasis on the dignity of all humans, including gays and lesbians. We won’t please either side, but I think what we have here is a solid Catholic document that balances Apostolic Teaching with modern pastoral sensitivity. Richard Evans has an interesting take on this document and the Catholic group “Dignity,” called Heterophobia Anyone??.

Happy are Those Who Are Called to His Supper
This document is basically a FAQ about the Catholic Teaching on Holy Communion. I find it interesting that the USCCB is releasing basic catechetical teaching via press releases these days, but such is the state of Catholic education I guess. On page 6 the bishops begin to address who may receive communion, and who should not. Much of this is review, in that the bishops remind those in a state of mortal sin to refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Pages 10-12 are probably the most controversial, and contain this paragraph:

If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definitive teaching on moral issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain.

However, we must remember that making the choice to obstinately reject Church Teaching has always been a serious sin, and is called heresy. The document distinguishes obstinate dissenters who know what they are doing and do it anyway, from those faithful Catholics with questions or minor doubts.

The document finishes with information on how to prepare to worthily receive Holy Communion. The appendix discusses limited instances when non-Catholics are permitted to receive the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.

Overall these documents seem tough, yet pastoral, which is just what the American Church needs right now.