Papal Visit Reviving Debate Whether Abortion-Rights Supporters Should Receive Communion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 17 Apr 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Washington, D.C., this week is "reviving" the issue of denying Holy Communion to Roman Catholic lawmakers -- such as Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) -- who support abortion rights, The Politico reports.

According to The Politico, the issue could climax on Thursday when the pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass in Washington, D.C. The antiabortion group American Life League placed advertisements in the Washington Times and The Politico this week urging the pope to "protect the body of Christ from the bloodstained hands of pro-abortion Catholics" by denying Communion to lawmakers who support abortion rights during the Mass. ALL Media Director Michael Hichborn said the group expects Catholic lawmakers who support abortion rights to attend the mass, adding that the group hopes the pope is "fully briefed" on those lawmakers "who may attempt to receive Communion." Mary Ann Walsh, a spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she was not aware of any plans to deny Communion to lawmakers who support abortion rights. "No one is policing" who receives Communion, Walsh said.

In 2004, when the pope as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger headed the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he wrote a memo that said the "minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" to Catholic lawmakers who support abortion rights. The memo was written during debate about whether to deny Communion to Kerry, who was the 2004 Democratic nominee for president. Benedict "has not softened" that position, The Politico reports. In addition, the pope last year supported Mexican Catholic Church leaders' right to excommunicate lawmakers who supported abortion rights. According to Walsh, church leaders in Mexico decided not to excommunicate any lawmakers. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and other Catholic House Democrats last year responded to the debate by highlighting their efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Pelosi, said she "receives Communion regularly and expects to receive it on Thursday." Kerry also is expected to receive Communion at the Mass, according to spokesperson David Wade (Grim/Hearn, Politico, 4/15).

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