Canonist says bishops must deny Communion to dissident politicians

Published: 2004-09-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Franciscan Father John J. Coughlin, a civil and canon lawyer, said church law obliges bishops to deny Communion to politicians who obstinately refuse to budge from a public position upholding legal abortion despite warnings and efforts to educate them on why their view is contrary to church teaching. But he said there may be good pastoral reasons for not doing that during an election campaign. Father Coughlin, who teaches law at the University of Notre Dame, addressed the canon law aspects of the question Sept. 16 at a conference, "Public Witness/Public Scandal," which was devoted to exploring various aspects of the topic. The question has led to a national controversy this year, sparked in large part by the candidacy of the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry, a Catholic who supports keeping abortion legal. The Ave Maria Law School and Our Sunday Visitor Foundation co-sponsored the daylong conference, held at Washington's National Press Club.

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