Do you agree with the pope's statement? Allowing abortions in Mexico City should no longer receive communion?

Question

Roman Catholic politicians who support a proposed law allowing woman to have abortions in Mexico City should no longer receive communion.

The statement was issued by a Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI.

Answer 1

This has also been discussed for U.S. Catholic politicians.

"Pro-choice" Catholics are especially harmful when they are people of influence like politicians, who because of their influence may unduly direct others toward "the culture of death" instead of the "consistent ethic of life."

Politically supporting abortion is not a offense for which one can be excommunicated although a change in this rule is being discussed.

The Church law involved is Canon 915: Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement "Catholics in Political Life" says:

Therefore, like every Catholic generation before us, we must be guided by the words of St. Paul, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:27).

And continues that it is up to each Bishop in their diocese and on a case by case basis to decide whether or not to deny Holy Communion to Catholic politicians because of their public support of abortion.

Here is the complete document: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I do agree, Sara. As others have pointed out, this has also come up in the U.S. and is not something new.

With all due respect, I'm not certain why non-Catholics find this concerning. A Catholic politician, like any other Catholic, is aware from early catechesis onward the reasons why one can be excluded from receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. If their public life demands that they support such a law, they must weigh that against the consequence of being out of communion with the Church ... and make their decisions accordingly. It is very much a matter of their free choice; the Church is not telling them how to legislate, only that their choices have consequences. One cannot publicly go against the teachings of the Church and expect the Church to make an exception because of their position. To whom much is given, much is required.

Answer 4

Yes I agree.........Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish. [Didache 2, 2: SCh 248, 148; cf. Ep. Barnabae 19, 5: PG 2, 777; Ad Diognetum 5, 6: PG 2, 1173; Tertullian, Apol. 9: PL 1, 319-320.] God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes. [GS 51 # 3.]"

"Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being. Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, 'if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual.... It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.' [CDF, Donum vitae I, 2.]"
"From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a 'criminal' practice (GS 27 # 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life."

Answer 5

Yes, I agree.

When someone publicly announces that they are actively promoting a belief and practice that is against the teaching of the Church and the teachings of Christ then they are not in a position to receive Eucharist.

St. Paul tells us that if you receive unworthily you call judgment down on yourself. Because of this the Catholic Church has a responsibility to keep a person from adding to their mortal sin by receiving unworthily. Since they have made their mortal sin a public announcement the Church is well within their right and responsibility.

Answer 6

Abortion is the murder of the innocent. No matter the situation, and I understand it can be bad, can we hurt a child in the womb. It is the worst thing that can happen to a woman, worse than any economic guilt, becase she slays her own child which leaves scars worse than any amount of poverty could provide. This is not something new, abortion has been going on since the time of Jesus. We must do our best to protect the innocent life of the child in the womb. For their sake, for the womans sake and most of all for God's sake.

Lets all say a prayer for and to the innocent baby's that have died from abortion - that we may end this horror and give light to our future generation - life is sacred.

Answer 7

Yes.

The steps to a good confession include feeling sorry for your sins and striving to sin no more. If you feel no sorrow for your sins, you can blab all you want to the priest and he might grant you absolution, but you are now guilty of a heavier sin, plus all the sins you just confessed. It's a horrible cycle of guilt. The church and her body views the crime of abortion as a sin. It should in no way support that thing. Do you think God would approve of so much bloodshed? So then, neither should the Pope and I agree with him.

Answer 8

yes, I agree.

by receiving Communion you are saying "I am in communion with the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church and am free, to my knowledge, of mortal sins at this time."
Those procuring abortions or defending abortions, especially politicians, are neither in communion or free from mortal sin.

Answer 9

Abortion is murder of innocent child. What ever ethical reasoning you want to legalize it or reduce its effect. It is a result of irresponsible sex and the party that partake in it only want the pleasure without the responsibility.

I read in the new book written by Modern Prophet beyond John of Patmos that angel will be carrying many babies to their mothers but many babies will be without mother in the resurrection days but the angel carry them and bringing them to the tree of life to taste the fruits and to eat the leaves. Where is their mothers? Have these mothers forfeit their legacy to eternal life because of abortions? I do not know. But your guess is as good as mine. I read once that the rate of abortion today is 72 babies every 69 seconds in the whole world. That is more than a second a baby. If I am God I do not think I would be very happy with the abuse of this Gift of Life I gave man. My anger will be inflamed and I will bring judgment. I suggest for those who agree with abortion to open the site where you can see what happened to baby when they are aborted. It will chilled your spine and vomit. Whoever legitimate abortion legitimate murder!!! I have ever become the CEO Administrator of a hospital. Have you ever seen the faces of nurses who had just done abortion? Have you ever hear and seen them crying of regret?

Answer 10

Christ did not ask for us to take communion with him, except for those of us who are not Catholic, or except when we have had an abortion. There were no exclusions. All Christ asked according to the Bible is for us all to remember Him when we eat and drink.
Peace