Will other bishops and priests have this kind of courage?

Among all of the talk about denying the Eucharist to (purportedly) Catholic politicians who support abortion, I have very, very rarely heard of it actually being done. From the Catholic News Agency:

    Diocese responds after state senator says he was denied Communion

    By Kate Scanlon | July 19, 2021 | 2:30 PM EDT

    Washington, DC: After a New Mexico state senator said he was denied Communion this weekend because of a political matter, his diocese responded that it had privately warned him he should not approach for Communion, due to his obstinate support for a pro-abortion bill.

    In a tweet on Saturday, July 17, New Mexico state Sen. Joe Cervantes (D) wrote he “was denied communion last night by the Catholic bishop here in Las Cruces and based on my political office.”

    “My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same after the last was run off,” Cervantes added. “Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.” The senator represents New Mexico’s 31st district, around Las Cruces.

    In response, Christopher Velasquez, director of communications for the Diocese of Las Cruces, told CNA on Monday that it is “unfortunate that a pastoral issue with a member of the local church be publicized.”

Mr Velasquez stated that Senator Cervantes was notified, several times, by both the Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of Las Cruces, and his local diocesan pastor, that if he voted for Senate Bill 10, which Mr Cervantes cosponsored, repealed a 1969 state law criminalizing abortions, he should not present himself to receive the ERucharist. That law has not been enforced since the odious Roe v Wade decision, but if the Supreme Court ever overruled Roe v Wade, the New Mexico law could come back into effect. The Bishop, Mr Valasquez said, had not received any reply from Senator Cervantes. The article did not specify whether Mr Cervantes had responded to his diocesan pastor.

It’s good to see a Bishop with the courage of his convictions and his faith. If only more bishops and priests would show the same mettle.

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2 thoughts on “Will other bishops and priests have this kind of courage?

  1. Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis.

    Based on scientific observation, Science teaches that the Human Embryo -from implantation onwards- is a Human Individual.
    Hence, Abortion kills an innocent Human individual every time.

    Now, the Catholic Church is very much in point to condemn Abortion and to punish those who carry it or support it with instant excommunication.

    While Pope Francis has shown love and compassion for those who had killed their babies, he has NOT made abortion OK.

    ABORTION REMAINS A ABOMINABLE ACT under Pope Francis. Only those who think that some Humans are Sub-Human can act like Senator Cervantes.

    • I don’t think that even under Pope Francis that the Church would ever approve of abortion. Rather, Senator Cervantes is hoping that the Church “transitions” on the subjects of homosexuality and transgenderism.

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