Pro-Choice Catholics And the Sacraments

'There's going to be big news coming from the Catholic Church soon." I heard those portentous words while switching my radio dial and at first thought they were spoken from an official connected with the Vatican or some religious organization. No, it turned out to be a caller to a local radio program, and I never did get to learn her name or how she knew of any impending announcement from Rome. One can speculate on the subject, and whether it's big news or just a crackdown that's long overdue depends on how much one understands church law during a national election. There's been an enormous controversy brewing in Catholic circles over prochoice John Kerry's Catholic identity and this has managed to engulf local politicians. The question is: Can a prochoice Catholic politician still receive the sacraments of the church? While Senator Kerry defiantly receives Holy Communion even though his legislative voting protects abortion rights, other Catholic-in-name-only politicians are feeling the heat of ecclesiastic censure. A growing number of bishops throughout the nation have been very critical of Catholic politicians who flaunt church dissent. Bishops Joseph Galante of Camden, N.J., and John Smith of Trenton have been critical of New Jersey's governor, James Mc-Greevey, for his views on abortion. Newark Archbishop John Myers published a pastoral letter calling it dishonest for Catholic politicians to receive Communion if they do not respect the church's teachings on abortion. After his letter was released, the governor issued a statement that he would not be receiving communion in a public forum. That's quite puzzling. What exactly does that mean? Is his refraining from accepting Communion in public respect for the sacrament or does it merely reflect his desire to avoid a public rebuke from his priest? State Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny, a Democrat of Hudson County, has taken a stronger stand and has announced he will be leaving the Catholic Church. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Kenny, a former altar boy, said he's leaving the church after 57 years. "I will look for other options to express my faith and will probably join another Christian church," he said. Mr. Kenny, who opposes church doctrine against abortion, stem-cell research, civil unions for gay people, and the death penalty, may be just the first of many Catholic politicians forced to reconsider their faith options. A task force of American bishops is considering Communion guidelines for Catholic politicians who publicly advocate positions in direct opposition to church teaching. Every Catholic knows that one must be in a state of grace - free of serious sin - before receiving the Eucharist; otherwise, one commits the sin of blasphemy. "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). Here in New York, there has long been a laissez-faire attitude toward public figures receiving the sacraments while maintaining principles that are directly opposed to church doctrine. Rudy Giuliani, Governor Pataki and nearly all Democratic Catholics, including Rep. Charles Rangel, regard themselves as Catholics in good standing yet are pro-choice and advocate civil unions for gays. It is this last issue that is the most potentially divisive of any proclamations to be announced. More and more statements from the Vatican indicate that a liberal interpretation of church doctrine may no longer be tolerated. The mainstream press completely misread the impact of the priest sex scandals of 2002. Many progressives hoped the scandal would precipitate a reform of long-held church principles, celibacy, for example. Instead, it has reinforced the church's canonical authority. Pope John Paul II told visiting American bishops last week to pay closer attention to educating seminarians on chastity and celibacy. More than 80% of the sex-abuse cases involved homosexual priests. Two seminaries have been shut down over the past 10 years due to their lack of adherence to church teachings on sexuality. At least three Manhattan churches largely ignore the church edict that homosexual activity is forbidden. One is the self-proclaimed "prophetic" St. Frances Xavier Church on West 16th Street, which sponsors gay and lesbian support groups. The liberal and ever-so-tolerant Jesuits at St. Francis interpret Jesus's Sermon on the Mount conclude that He is saying, "Be the person you are created to be." For the record, Jesus told the sinners he encountered, "Go and sin no more." I have two gay acquaintances who attend Mass and receive Communion at a church in the Village and who admit they are not celibate. "It's a matter of conscience" is the rationalization of church dogma by gay Catholic organizations like Dignity. The many Catholic clergymen who have supported such groups may soon have to answer to a higher power in Rome. There have been calls for the excommunication of Catholic political figures who knowingly promote and support legislation that contradicts the moral principles of the church. This is the church's severest punishment, but it is very seldom implemented. If it is being considered, that is indeed very big news.