By Matt Kruszewski
Aurora
In the June 24 issue of The Voice (thevoice.us/another-christian-church-chapter-evolves-on-its-role), Deena Sherman asks questions of the Roman Catholic Church in holding sacraments hostage when the sacraments are sought by those judged to have committed certain specific sins.
However, it is not the role of priests and bishops to use Holy Communion as a cudgel to enforce their interpretations of God’s will. On the contrary, in their role as spiritual shepherds, the Catholic clergy have a responsibility both to inculcate reverence for the Eucharist in which for Catholics, Jesus Christ is a literal presence, and to protect the flock from further spiritual harm.
Partaking of Holy Communion while in a state of persistent sin is a sin, puts the communicant in further spiritual danger.
The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:27, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.”
Furthermore, homosexuality and abortion are not the two focal points for punishment and shaming while greed, adultery, gossip, and anger are overlooked. We are all sinners, but God is infinitely merciful. When Catholics repent of whatever sins they have committed and seek God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they joyfully can receive Holy Communion.
The issue with certain Catholic politicians is that they are obstinately contradicting Church teaching on certain issues, publicly declaring, in essence, that abortion, or whatever fill-in-the-blank sin, is okay and not something to be repented, but rather something that the government should help facilitate; their words and actions show that they are out of step with Church teaching. In other words, they choose not to be in communion with the Body of Christ, and yet they think they are entitled to receive the Body of Christ at Holy Mass. The pastors of these public officials have a duty to counsel them to return to the fold because receiving Jesus while disagreeing with Him is a sacrilege and a scandal.
Deena Sherman quotes Matthew 7 to indicate that Christians cannot judge sinful behavior. Although we must not judge others hypocritically, or in a self-interested manner, just 11 chapters later in Matthew 18, Jesus provides a procedure for counselling a brother in sin, and indicates that if that brother ultimately doesn’t listen to the church, then his fellow Christians are not expected to share fellowship with him.
Finally, Deena Sherman wrote it’s funny that the Bible states that life begins with breath. For those who are interested in understanding why the Catholic Church reverences unborn human life, you may read the bishops’ statement here: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/respect-for-unborn-human-life.