Levada Raises the Church in America's Question on Eucharist and Abortion

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The new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is urging the Synod of Bishops to discuss whether voters who support pro-abortion candidates should be receiving Communion.

Archbishop William Levada, who succeeded Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as prefect of the dicastery, quoted No. 73 of the working document of the Synod on the Eucharist, in which reference is made to the relationship between the Eucharist, morality and public life.

The archbishop today suggested that the experience of other countries be heard, after noting that the issue has divided the Church in his country, the United States.

No. 73 states that "too many receive the sacrament without having sufficiently reflected on their moral state in life," and adds that "[s]ome receive Communion while denying the teachings of the Church or publicly supporting immoral choices in life, such as abortion, without thinking that they are committing an act of grave personal dishonesty and causing scandal."

Archbishop Levada suggested that the synod, in its small-group discussions, debate the problem of Catholics "who do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favor of abortion or other serious acts against life."

Indeed, between the Foolable "Left's" watering down of the urgency and importance of opposing abortion, and the USCCB's inability to reach consensus on how to respond to Catholic pro-abort politicians that elect to receive, the Church in the US rests on a powder keg. The fuse may come as early as November 2008. Already, talk abounds of Rudy Guiliani or Condoleeza Rice as possible Republican candidates to face off against Hilary Clinton, the presumed Democratic favorite. Both Guiliani and Rice are pro-choice; Guiliani is Catholic. What is a conscientious Catholic to do? How is a parish priest on Rudy's stomp tour supposed to respond if the pro-abort Guiliani shows up at the alter?

With Catholics throughout the world struggling with their sense of identity, the Bishops in union with the Pope need to decide best how to address these important issues in the most doctrinally sound and pastorally effective manner possible. The status quo can't continue. Either the Eucharist means something, and those that receive understand what they do, or else our Faith is for naught. I seriously doubt Pope Benedict is about to surrender the Church to the World, so our Episcopals had better grow their spines and deliver the Gospel. Their vocation demands no less.