Diocese: Refusing Communion 'unwise'

Responding to the debate over whether Catholic politicians who support abortion should be denied Communion, Rev. Kenneth J. Doyle, chancellor for public information for the Diocese of Albany, gave three reasons why "refusing Communion would be an unwise decision."

First, he noted, "the role of the Church is to teach: to teach the sacredness of the life of the child within the womb and the importance of the life of the mother who is carrying the child. The Church tries to prompt a reasoned discussion about the relative rights of each. Refusing Communion might well put the focus instead on politicians and penalties, and sidetracks the essential discussion."

Secondly, he continued, "it would be impractical, even impossible, to adopt such a policy. There are several life issues: Abortion is one -- a key one, because it's a threshold issue; there are other life issues as well -- for example, killing by the state (the death penalty), whether and how to wage war; the care of the poor and the hungry. How would you administer a decision to refuse Communion; would you list all of the life issues, and then decide on an appropriate passing percentage of 'good votes'"?

Finally, Father Doyle referred to Cardinal Francis Arinze, head of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, who has "noted, properly, that such a decision ought to be entrusted to local bishops, who are in the best position to weigh the cultural context.

"Americans have a strong tradition of freedom and democracy, and many in our country would resent any effort to steer their voting. So a decision to refuse Communion besides taking the focus away from the child and the mother carrying the child, might alienate many in our country, including a sizeable number of Catholics."

Father Doyle added that "the moral issue is clear: Abortion takes a child's life and is surely wrong. After that, it becomes a question of what strategies are helpful in advancing that moral position, and reasonable people can differ on that. I don't believe, nor does Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, that refusing Communion is a helpful tactic."

(5/13/04) [[In-content Ad]]