American bishops voted to create a formal document that could prevent pro-abortion politicians like Joe Biden from receiving Communion at mass, depending on the wording of the statement.
The bishops overwhelmingly favored the motion (168 for and 55 against) to draft a document on this issue. The next step is to clarify whether pro-abortion politicians should receive the Eucharist per this document, which could be diluted and weakened. Then, the bishops will vote on the final proposal and must approve by a two-thirds majority.
Earlier, nine of Texas’ 15 bishops signed a letter asking the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to avoid the issue at this week’s annual meeting.
Communion is one of the highest forms of participation in the Catholic faith and is considered by Catholics to be the ultimate act of union with God and His Church on earth.
While many prominent pro-abortion politicians are Catholic, such as Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Xavier Becerra, the Catholic Church’s teaching condemns abortion in no uncertain terms.
“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270)
Despite clear Church teaching against abortion, there has been much disagreement between the bishops on how to handle Catholic politicians who contradict Church teaching on abortion.
Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City has long been an advocate for the decision to deny Catholic politicians such as Biden Communion. “It’s not the bishops who have brought us to this point — it’s some of our public officials. [Joe Biden] is a Catholic president doing the most aggressive things we’ve ever seen on life at its most innocent.”
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler has also voiced strong support for taking action, saying “The Catholic faith proclaims that life is sacred from conception to natural death & that bread & wine consecrated at Mass truly become the Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus Christ. We must embrace both of these teachings (& many others) if we want to be faithful Catholics.”
Meanwhile, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., and retiring Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Delaware, have declared that Biden can receive communion in their dioceses, despite his disgraceful attacks on Life.
Joe Biden responded to today’s news about whether he’s concerned he’ll be denied communion, saying “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”