Second column clarifies archbishop's stand on Communion for governor

Published: 2008-05-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., has reiterated his request that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius not receive Communion until she publicly repudiates her support for abortion, but said he will not ask eucharistic ministers to refuse to give her Communion. The archbishop answered questions about his stand in the May 23 issue of The Leaven, archdiocesan newspaper, saying he had received "a significant number of pro and con communications" about his column in the newspaper two weeks earlier. "In my request to Gov. Sebelius, I have made clear that it is her responsibility not to present herself for reception of holy Communion," he wrote. "I am hopeful that she will comply with this request." But Archbishop Naumann also said that "pastorally, it is certainly preferable not to burden ministers of the Eucharist with the responsibility to refuse Communion to someone," although such ministers "do have an obligation to protect the sacrament from misuse or abuse." "I have, at this moment, not asked the ministers of the Eucharist not to give holy Communion to the governor," he added. He said he made his initial request to the governor before she vetoed the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act, which would have placed new requirements on abortion providers. An attempt to override the veto failed by two votes in the Kansas Senate.

Copyright (c) 2008 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .