Bishop says denying Eucharist not part of church's pastoral tradition

Published: 2004-05-27

PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- While one has a "clear and grave obligation" to vote against legislation that bolsters abortion, the view of refusing Communion to politicians who support keeping abortion legal is not part of the pastoral tradition of the church, Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl said in a May 25 address. "Given the long-standing practice of not making a public judgment about the state of the soul of those who present themselves for holy Communion, it does not seem that it is sufficiently clear that in the matter of voting for legislation that supports abortion such a judgment necessarily follows," he said. "The pastoral tradition of the church places the responsibility of such a judgment first on those presenting themselves for holy Communion," he added. Bishop Wuerl addressed the issue of "Faith, Personal Conviction and Political Life" during his annual Loebig Lecture before the St. Thomas More Society May 25 at the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .