Wednesday, June 16, 2004
This business of refusing Communion is a distraction
Michael Novak weighs in: "If the bishops allow those political leaders who help make abortion a major institution of American law, politics, and culture to make a show of being faithful to the teaching and sacraments of Jesus Christ, they have emptied the Catholic Church of moral seriousness."
And I would ask, haven't the bishops already emptied their office of "moral seriousness"? Does Cardinal Law's new post "make a show" of being faithful? Who does that leave to take up the anti-abortion fight? Parish clergy, but mostly lay people. Why are so many Catholics wringing their hands and waiting for something from bishops? Do you want to take a public pro-life stand? Then do so. Object to a politician's position? Make it known. Focusing on who's not going to receive Communion is a distraction from the real issue of abortion.
If the real issue is abortion, don't get caught up in the periphery. If the real issue is worthiness to consume the Sacrament, then advocate a more serious examen for all Catholics, not just the ones you don't like, and not just in an election year.
