Archbishop Raymond Burke on Fidelity to the Truth

"Conscience is not some sort of subjective reality where I make up for myself what is right and good. Rather, it is an objective reality where I conform my own thinking to what is true."

SAN DIEGO, CA (Christian Newswire) - Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, the newly appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, recently sat down with Thomas J. McKenna, president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family based in San Diego, to discuss the issue of respect for the Holy Eucharist and the pastoral aspects of canon 915. He stated clearly that the Church does have the right to tell someone who persists in public grave sin that they may not receive Holy Communion.

In the interview Archbishop Burke explains that he believes that laxity with regard to the Blessed Sacrament has developed amongst many Catholics because of a lack of Eucharistic Adoration and the loss of the sense of connection between the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance.

He addressed the issue of public scandal saying that "there are other cases in which people are committing grave sins knowingly and publicly. An example is a public official who knowingly and willingly supports actions which are against the Divine and Eternal moral law; for instance, to publicly promote procured abortion... A person who is sinning in this way publicly is to be admonished not to receive Holy Communion until he has reformed his life."

When asked about the position of Catholic politicians who vote for legislation that is contrary to Church teachings and then say that they are following their own consciences he clarified, "Our conscience must conform to the truth of situations. Conscience is not some sort of subjective reality where I make up for myself what is right and good. Rather, it is an objective reality where I conform my own thinking to what is true."

He went on to explain that the Church has certain laws in place to help the faithful follow the road to salvation and not to be mean and imposing. "It is the greatest act of charity to prevent somebody from doing something that is sacrilegious, that is, to warn them, and then actually refuse to be party to a sacrilege" he said.