Bishop Bruskewitz Would Deny Pro-Abort Pols The Eucharist

  Bishop Bruskewitz established a canonical notification on April 15, 1996, still enforced today, which carries an automatic penalty of excommunication. Informing all Catholics in his diocese of the list of dissenting organizations whose activities are contrary to the Catholic faith, Bruskewitz has literally "cleaned house." Until today, however, it was unknown if he would deny the Eucharist to any manifest, persistent, obstinate sinner.

  Bruskewitz’s vicar general, Msgr. Timothy J. Thorburn, JCL, addressed my question of whether this applied to legislators from other dioceses who were manifestly pro-abortion, saying it’s best for ministers to err on the side of reverence for the Eucharist. "If I had denied Holy Communion to someone who is known to be manifest, persistent, and obstinate in his sin and he later demonstrates that he had, in fact, publicly denied his promotion of, say, abortion, I then would publicly apologize to him."

  On January 8, 2004, Bishop Raymond Burke, then bishop of La Crosse, Wis., promulgated a diocesan "canonical notification" based on canon 915, saying, in reference to pro-abort pols and Communion, "No good bishop could stand by and let this happen. These public legislators are in grave sin." Burke said he would deny pro-abortion politicians Communion because their conduct is seriously, clearly, and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm.

  Later, when Archbishop Burke became the archbishop of St. Louis, Mo., The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of January 31, 2004 quoted him as saying, in reference to Sen. John Kerry: "I would have to admonish him not to present himself for Communion," said Burke. "I might give him a blessing or something."

  All ministers of the Eucharist must deny Communion to pro-abortion legislators as they are ecclesiastically bound to obey Church law, regardless of whether their bishop or pastor does or does not obey. In fact, canon 915 places the responsibility on the minister — "ne admittantur" — who, in some canonists’ opinions, could be punished themselves according to canon 1389§2, should he unlawfully administer the sacrament with the consequent danger of scandal.

  Of the 193 U.S. diocesan bishops, all except two still refuse to say they would deny the Eucharist to manifest, persistent, obstinate sinners. In doing so, these bishops are disregarding the clearly defined canons of the Church.

  The responsibility to issue canonical sanctions against Catholic politicians who support abortion rests with each individual bishop over his diocesan politicians. And the Pope has the authority to issue a worldwide decree forbidding Holy Communion to manifest, obstinate, persistent sinners under canon 915 until they publicly repent (canon 915 is a sacramental law and applies only to the Eucharist and not to any other sacrament).

  It is not within the authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to do this as a conference. But the bishops can and should issue, as a conference, important statements at their June 2004 meeting regarding this national scandal.

  But, wait! The bishops will not be holding their semiannual plenary meeting June 2004, a meeting which would normally be very important just months before one of the most crucial U.S. presidential elections in modern time. They, instead, will be having a "closed retreat" at a still undisclosed location, and the world’s Catholic and secular press, and the usual visitors and observers will not be allowed in. Hmmm.

  What will it finally take for most of us to stand up and say we’re not going to accept this abuse any longer? Faithful Catholics shouldn’t have to tolerate this eucharistic scandal anymore. Why do we Catholics not stand and fight this disobedience, not only by politicians but by the bishops for their lack of discipline? What will it take for us to finally get "mad"?

  "I want you to get up right now. Get up. Go to your windows, open your windows, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Things have got to change, my friends. You’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’"

  If you’re "mad," write to your own bishop now — today — imploring him to follow the canonically correct and courageous actions of Archbishop Burke and Bishop Bruskewitz. Ask your bishop why he is not obeying the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life (January 16, 2003). Then write your bishop again next week, and the week after that. This is effective lobbying. Remember, Archbishop Burke said that the most compelling reason that led him to issue his "canonical notification" was the load of letters, faxes, e-mails, and phone calls he received from his flock who were greatly scandalized by the politicians’ sacrilegious Communions.

  Another important action would be to "blow the whistle" on any Catholic legislators in your parishes who are manifest, persistent, and obstinate in their sins while rejecting Church teachings by receiving sacrilegious Communion.

  To help you do this, Chuck Wilson, executive director of the St. Joseph Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, an independent apostolate comprised of canonical lawyers and advisers, has prepared a "generic denunciation package," which is something like those "do it yourself" legal forms that we see on the magazine racks at the supermarket. It is available free of charge (with no obligation) to anyone who wishes to denounce a politician to his bishop, who has the power to do something.

  It would be up to the individual (cosigners are also encouraged) to collect the evidence, but the simple package makes that preparation easier. Contact Chuck to e-mail you your "generic denunciation package" at: CWilson@St-Joseph-Foundation.org.

  Send your package to the bishop and a copy to Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, Congregation for Bishops, Piazza Pio XII 10, 00193, Rome, Italy. If the bishop decides to do nothing, then the responsibility remains with him and with Rome.

  "The lay faithful have been assigned the task of imbuing and perfecting the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel. There is no question that the temporal order in the United States would benefit greatly if the faithful diligently pursue and accomplish this mission," said Chuck Wilson.

  It is most appropriate for faithful Catholics to give public display of their loyalty to the Church. Let’s stay "angry," lobby our bishops and Rome, every week if necessary, until the scandalous sacrilegious Holy Communions are stopped. It shouldn’t have to be this way, but it is. These times offer tremendous opportunities for grace from our apostolates.

  (Barbara Kralis writes for various Christian and conservative publications. She can be reached at: Avemaria@earthlink.net.)