The news story below is from the secular press. I hope I am not placed in this position. I doubt that I would deny a Catholic Presidential candidate on the spot. I would hope that I would have been informed that he was coming to Mass first and would have time to consult with my bishop. If the bishop said he shouldn't be giving Holy Communion, I would make it clear to the candidate's entourage that the candidate should not approach to receive Holy Communion and if he does approach he will receive a blessing.
But here's the rub. We have so many lay people distributing Holy Communion, most would not take it upon themselves to deny someone Holy Communion. In fact, as a pastor, I would be horrified to find out lay people are denying communicants Holy Communion. So what's a pastor to do????
Florence, SC is at the merging of I-20 (it's eastern ending) and I-95, about two hours east of Augusta, Georgia, or if you like, North Augusta, South Carolina.
FLORENCE, S.C. — Former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race, was denied Holy Communion on Sunday morning at a Florence church.
Father Robert E. Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church confirmed Monday afternoon that he had denied the presidential candidate Holy Communion because of his stance on abortion. Biden, a lifelong Catholic, had attended the church’s 9 a.m. Mass.
15 comments:
I have never liked lay people distributing Communion. Communion should be denied to unbelievers, blatant, self-announced unrepentant sinners, non-Catholics, and non-Christians. If it isn't, then it doesn't mean very much. It is not a tea party.
To your question: that is why you should not have EMHC. Also, since a famous person with a public position that causes scandal shows up, why not ask him if he confesses his sin? Some would probably lie about it. Others would welcome the opportunity to draw more attention to themselves. At least they can be part of a teaching moment for others. Finally, one wonders what the homily was about that wouldn’t embarrass someone like that.
"If it isn't, then it doesn't mean very much."
Communion means what it means regardless of who receives it. TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, the "unbelievers, blatant, self-announced unrepentant sinners, non-Catholics, and non-Christians" it may be something else.
But it and of itself, our idiosyncratic dispositions do not - cannot - change the meaning of communion or the Eucharist.
Fr. Morey might be guilty of attempting to change the meaning of the liturgy by turning it into a political Chapter of Faults.
Good for this priest! He should do the same if Robert Francis O'Rourke ("Beto" as he is better known) shows up too. You know, the Beto who wants to deny tax exemptions for churches which do not allow for same-sex "marriage." I don't know how many other Catholic presidential candidates there are this year---hard to follow a dozen+ candidates---but I'd do the same treatment for them too as most likely they share Biden's views. Biden made it even worse by dropping his previous opposition to federal funding of abortion, but unfortunately, abortion on demand is virtually a sacrament with the Democrats.
Fake Catholic Anonymous K hardest I see!
Gene good to see you back!
Fr. Morey.....a good priest who cares about souls more than 'feelings'.
Father why would you have a problem with this? Do you think St. Paul would have doubts about this? If we love as Jesus wants us to love this is a good and loving action that Fr. Morey did.
Anyway this is what is hurting the Church in America. You can go to different parishes in the same diocese and get different pastoral care or advice on some pretty important situations that affect salvation.
Father, I respectfully disagree with you.
The story is told about Lorenzo Medici, the Magnificent. He was on his death-bed and wanted to confess. He sent for one of the most orthodox friar in Florece: G.Savonarolla. Lorenzo was a public sinner: involved in political killings, unlawfully depriving young women of dowries (thus forcing them into a life of prostitution), and ruling Florence as a Dictator. Savonarolla's face grew stern, and extending the fingers of his right hand , he began, first you must have great trust in God; second you must restore all your ill-gotten wealth; lastly, you must restore liberty to the people of Florence.
The Magnificent would agreed to all but the last of Savonarolla's condition. Turned away from the Padre and died in his sins. The choice was made by the Dictator not the priest. The politician even on his dying-bed opts for power. While Biden is nowhere near in the same league with the magnificent he acts today very much like his long ago brethren. I hope he will repent at the end. He still has the chance.
Former Cardinal McCarrick said we should not use Communion as a weapon vis-a-vis fake catholics who present themselves for Communion. I prefer not to be in McCarrick's camp
Bee here:
My friend told me that she went to her daughter's parish to attend the First Communion of her granddaughter. There were so many people there that a priest was stationed in the center aisle about mid-way back to make things go faster. My friend attends the TLM at our parish, and so when she got to the priest, she knelt on the floor to receive. The priest told her, "We don't do that here." and refused her the Eucharist. She would not get up, so he gestured for the people in line behind her to come forward and bypass her. After a few minutes, she got up and went back to her pew.
So what we have is you, Fr. McD, saying you'd be horrified if one of the lay people refused Holy Communion to anyone, even a known public sinner. Would you also have been horrified that this priest, or any minister, refused the Eucharist to this devout woman because she knelt before Our Lord?
She asked me what she should have done. I told her she should have said, "Father, according to Canon Law it is not lawful for you to refuse me Holy Communion because I am kneeling." And I told her she should write a letter about it to the pastor, and also to the Archbishop, who is Cardinal Cupich.
But I think I should further tell her that if she receives no satisfactory answer, she should start posting the incident on social media, naming the priest and parish.
God bless.
Bee
Bee,
She should copy the appropriate office in Rome (I know, these days that may be a fools errand)
That happened to a friend of mine in Seattle.
Someone tried that with me and fortunately attempted to force the Host into my hand. A simple wrist lock and the job was done.
I see rcg beat me to it- Fr. McDonald describes one of the reasons why lay people should not be distributing communion at Mass. Save the EMHCs for the homebound; although a priest should visit every few weeks so the person will have access to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Carol H,
The way EMHCs are used is generally a liturgical abuse. In one lefty parish I belonged to there were 3 priests in the rectory but on Sunday two of them were sitting on their duffs eating breakfast while the celebrant and his crew of non essential EMHCs were distributing Communion. And no, they were not out making parochial visits. I witnessed this with my own eyes. On another occasion, the celebrant sat out distributing Communion so his EHHC could do his job. He was not infirm (other than infirm of mind)
A better solution would have been to excommunicate Joe and his buddies parading around as the progressive Catholic politicians.
Even if Biden were pro-life, which he clearly is not and never has been as a "career politician", there would be another reason to deny him communion: His early advocacy for same-sex marriage. He came out for it on one of those Sunday morning talk shows (I think it was "Meet the Press") earlier in this decade. Of course, it is not likely you will find a pro-life politician also favoring same-sex "marriage" but in the very unlikely event there is one, category #2 would be enough to say "turn away"---just like if he were a member of the KKK or some sort of Nazi-like group.
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