Another point of view…
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On the matter of denying the Eucharist to Catholic pro-choice politicians.
From Cardinal Dulles first:
“The imposition of penalties involves at least three risks. In the first place, the bishop may be accused, however unfairly, of trying to coerce the politician’s conscience. Secondly, people can easily accuse the Church of trying to meddle in the political process, which in this country depends on the free consent of the governed. And finally, the Church incurs a danger of alienating judges, legislators and public administrators whose good will is needed for other good programs, such as the support of Catholic education and the care of the poor. For all these reasons, the Church is reluctant to discipline politicians in a public way, even when it is clear that their positions are morally indefensible. The Church’s prime responsibility is to teach and to persuade. She tries to convince citizens to engage in the political process with a well-informed conscience.” - Cardinal Dulles 2004
And then Cardinal George:
Cardinal George had similar thoughts recently. Recognizing the problem of politicians who don’t seem to care about the respecting the dignity of the Eucharist, he nonetheless wonders if it is wise to ”use a sacramental moment … and risk politicizing the sacrament.” For “the very sacrament that speaks about our unity becomes the occasion for this kind of fracas and disunity”. Communion Politics
Vox Nova has an interesting, if not controversial post on “Communion Politics” from which the above quotes were taken.
October 9th, 2007 at 5:46 am
I wonder is it because the Bishops are not in “union” that it becomes political with the aid of the secular media reinforcing the disunion of thought? Is this an example of “reluctant compliance” in action in another realm where pressures of the secular world testing our faith? Just wondering out loud.
Interesting comments posted on Vox Nova and I will add here the quotes I posted there too.
Quotes are from the book, Irresistibly Drawn to the Eucharist, on the writings of Conchita Cabrera de Armida on the Eucharist:
Jesus told Conchita:
“By establishing the Eucharist, I voluntarily entered into it, and am captive there until the end of time …”
“You cannot understand the ultimate martyrdom of your Jesus-Eucharist when he enters into stained hearts.” (T.1921) (pg. 51)
“How great are the aims of Charity in the Eucharist!” (T. 1922) (pg. 51)
How sublime is the priestly ministry?
(note - subheading in book, all capitalized letters as recorded in book)
“But when I enter into sacrilegious souls, oh daughter! the Word cannot atone because of the intimate contact not only with sin, but with the SINNER. It can only PUNISH.”
“That is why the worst torture for me is to enter into a sacrlegious soul with my divinity.”
“I took on sin at the Incarnation, but in Communion it is as if sin took on me, and instead of being able to atone, since I am God and precisely because I am God, I have to punish. And for me, daughter, punishing is the MOST PAINFUL thing that exists, because it is contrary to my nature of love.”
“However, all of God’s attributes glorify him, and being forced to justice, he does not stop being content.” (T. 1921) (pg. 52)
Souls that continue the Passion of Jesus
“…I am the Body and soul of the Church, and all my people are part of this Body and in union with me they should continue atonement and sacrifice till the end of time. This is not understood and much less put into practice, which is why in these days I have come in search of victims, in the Oasis, to fill this vast void with my redemptive goals. That is the reason for the Catena, daughter, to continue making atonement for an ungrateful and corrput world. That is why I demand purity and sacrifice, to fulfil the loving aims of your Word, who constantly humbles and sacrifices himself on the altar, voluntarily” (T. 1916) (pg. 52-3)
Bio: http://www.stmhouston.org/conchita.htm
Resource: http://www.albahouse.org/Mothers.htm
October 9th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Paula - Thanks for these quotes. I’ve not read much about Concita, but what Our Lord says is powerful.
I think ‘reluctant compliance’ is akin to Thomas Moore trying to avoid the inevitable.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:23 am
…trying to avoid the inevitable
We, humans, kinda behave that way, don’t we?