(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Tens of thousands of clergy members will soon receive a copy of Cardinal Raymond Burke’s book that instructs Catholic priests and bishops to deny Holy Communion to leftist pro-abortion politicians who pretend to be Catholics.
“The Church cannot remain silent and indifferent to a public offense against the Body and Blood of Christ,” the book states.
Catholic Action for Faith and Family, a group devoted to defending the Catholic faith, published Burke’s instructions in book form in Deny Holy Communion?, and Thomas McKenna, the organization’s founder and president, said that he will mail a copy to every Catholic clergy member as part of a campaign to inform American bishops, priests and deacons that “Catholics” who don’t follow the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church should not receive a Holy Communion, according to the Daily Signal.
“There is a great misunderstanding and many misconceptions about the issue. It is presented by some clergy, including members of the hierarchy, that there really is never a situation where Holy Communion should be denied to a public and unrepentant sinner who professes to be Catholic,” he said.
“Most clergies have not studied the issue in a formal canonical way and only know what is presented in discussions and the media. Cardinal Burke wrote this study to better explain the church’s history and wisdom in having canon law that addresses the issue.”
McKenna noted that the positions taken by Burke’s instructions, originally published in 2007, were not radical, but ones that the Church has upheld for 2,000 years.
“Cardinal Burke bases the book on formal teachings and doctrine, not on an opinion,” he said.
“No matter how often a Bishop or priest repeats the teaching of the Church regarding procured abortion, if he stands by and does nothing to discipline a Catholic who publicly supports legislation permitting the gravest of injustices and, at the same time, presents himself to receive Holy Communion, then his teaching rings hollow,” the cardinal wrote.
The reason why the Catholic Action for Faith and Family decided to start this campaign is because of American politicians, like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, who present themselves as Catholics and, at the same time, support abortion, even though the Catholic Church specifically states in its Catechism that abortion is a murder of an innocent human being, which makes it a crime against humanity.
Aside from distributing the book, McKenna encouraged Catholics to privately confront sinners, publicly cause scandal and ask them to not present themselves for Holy Communion.
