Dissident Politicians and the Eucharist

Controversy in the US has erupted over the giving of communion during the Papal Masses to Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Rudy Giuliani.

The Battle for Catholic Education - Prevent the Collapse Now!

ROMA (CHIESA) - As is done after every papal voyage, Benedict XVI dedicated his first public audience after his return to Rome to a reflection on his visit to the United States.

Pope Joseph Ratzinger reviewed his voyage moment by moment, renewing his strong expression of affection toward the country he had visited:

"... a great country which since its origin has been built upon the foundation of a happy marriage of religious, ethical, and political principles, and still today constitutes a valid example of healthy secularism, where the religious dimension, in the diversity of its expressions, is not only tolerated, but is valued as the 'soul' of the nation and the fundamental guarantor of the rights and duties of man."

But Benedict XVI's reflection was not the only end result of the visit. A loud and unexpected backlash erupted in the United States one week after the pope's return to Rome.

The cause was the reception of Eucharistic communion during the papal Masses by some important "pro-choice" Catholic politicians, supporters of the free right to abortion.

In Washington, at the Mass in Nationals Park, House speaker Nancy Pelosi and the senators John Kerry, Edward Kennedy, and Christopher Dodd received communion, while in New York, at the Mass in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, former city mayor Rudolph Giuliani received communion. Their actions were highlighted by the media in part because some of them had announced it beforehand.

For a few days, the reception of communion by the "pro-choice" Catholic politicians did not provoke any particular reactions. But the silence was broken with a commentary in the "Washington Post" on Monday, April 28, written by a combative conservative columnist, Robert Novak.

Novak pointed out that the five had received communion not from the pope, but from the apostolic nuncio to the United States, archbishop Pietro Sambi. He recalled that in 2004, Ratzinger, as cardinal, had written that "pro-choice" Catholic politicians should not receive communion.

And, citing anonymous "Vatican sources," he emphasized that he has not changed his opinion on this matter as pope. And therefore, he concluded that the act of the five politicians "reflected disobedience to Benedict by the archbishops of New York and Washington," who had invited them.

A few hours after the publication of Novak's article in the "Washington Post," one of the two archbishops called to task, Cardinal Edward Egan of New York, released the following statement:

"The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind.

Enjoy Daily Readings? Pay it Forward

Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became archbishop of New York and he was serving as mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."

Giuliani's spokesperson, Sunny Mindel, replied to Egan's statement soon after:

"Mayor Rudy Giuliani is certainly willing to meet with Cardinal Egan. As he has previously said, mayor Giuliani's faith is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential."

With this back-and-forth between the Cardinal and the former mayor of New York, first priority has been restored to a question that has vexed the American Catholic Church for years, reaching its peak in the summer of 2004, the year of the last presidential election.

That year, the Democratic candidate for the White House was the "pro-choice" Catholic Kerry. The archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, refused to give him communion, while other bishops behaved differently.

In early June of 2004, from Rome, then-cardinal Ratzinger sent to cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop of Washington and head of the "domestic policy" commission of the United States bishops' conference, a note with precise indications on the question.

The note was private, but www.chiesa released the complete text.

That note from Ratzinger is again reproduced below. Its point is unequivocal: no Eucharistic communion for Catholic politicians who systematically campaign for abortion.

But the bishops of the United States, meeting in general assembly, decided by majority that it is up to each individual bishop whether or not to give communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians. Ratzinger did not oppose this way of applying the norm. On the contrary, he wrote that he thought this was "very much in harmony" with his guidelines.

When George W. Bush was reelected to the White House, the question faded into the background again. And it had not reemerged during the current campaign for the new presidential election, since none of the candidates is Catholic.

But now that it has exploded once again, the impression is that a more strict approach is taking hold among the bishops of the United States. It was striking that Cardinal Egan did not limit himself to recalling general principles, but directly criticized a famous political figure, and moreover accused him of violating a private agreement made with him.

Light your Free Virtual Prayer Candle: We will pray with you

In Europe and in Italy, such questions are not even raised. The fact that "pro-choice" politicians should receive communion does not raise any particular reactions. Their decision is left to their personal conscience.

The fact that in the United States, on the other hand, this question is so inflammatory is another sign of the differences in the political-religious landscapes on either side of the Atlantic: a diversity repeatedly emphasized by Benedict XVI during his visit and in the concluding audience on Wednesday, April 30.

In the United States, religion is a public reality to a much greater extent and in a different way than in Europe. With the consequences that follow from this.

---

Chiesa is a wonderful source on all things Catholic in Europe. It is skillfully edited by Sandro Magister. SANDRO MAGISTER was born on the feast of the Guardian Angels in 1943, in the town of Busto Arsizio in the archdiocese of Milan. The following day he was baptized into the Catholic Church. His wife’s name is Anna, and he has two daughters, Sara and Marta. He lives in Rome.