Extremists Pressure Catholic Bishops to Use Communion as Political Weapon

A radical arm of the pro-life movement attacked the Catholic Church this week. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathered in Orlando for its bi-annual meeting, a group called the "Society for Truth and Justice" launched an ad campaign encouraging the bishops to deny Communion to "pro-abortion politicians," and even to condemn Catholics who vote for those same politicians. Others planned a protest outside the bishops' meeting on Friday.

The far right's attempt to use Catholic teaching to malign progressive candidates and drive wedges between voters is nothing new. In 2004, right wing "Catholic" groups worked hand in hand with the Republican Party on a well-funded and well-organized campaign to cast Kerry as a bad Catholic -- an effort that may in fact have made the difference in Ohio. Contrary to conventional wisdom, only a handful of the hundreds of U.S. Catholic bishops subscribed to this theologically inaccurate mode of political engagement.

The experience of the past eight years should be pushing even the most ardent antiabortion political activists to reconsider the wisdom of the far right's scorched earth strategies. How can they continue to stomach direct threats to human life like torture, poverty, the climate crisis, and lack of healthcare -- never mind the economic disaster of the Iraq War Recession, which bears heavily on the decisions of most women who consider an abortion?

Moreover, America seems ready to unify behind practical and effective ways of addressing the abortion issue that validate the concerns of both the pro-life and pro-choice communities. Indeed, while most Americans do have moral concerns with the practice of abortion, most are also not comfortable with a solution that includes criminalization. But Americans will support expanding economic supports for women and families, which -- as a Catholics United study using data from Kansas shows -- are proven effective ways of lowering the abortion rate. (For more on this, see Wednesday's piece by Cristina Page.)

It's likely that most of the individuals who support the Society for Truth and Justice and its affiliated organization Operation Rescue do so because of profound concern for human life -- and these individuals should be commended for their conviction and dedication. But in continuing to use Catholic teaching to strongarm Catholic leaders and voters into supporting a political agenda largely at odds with the common good, the organizations' leadership is doing little to advance its stated goals. Intervening in yet another presidential election contest risks perpetuating the tired policies of the past, which have, by just about every reasonable measure, proven a disaster for our nation.

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Comments

[bhyman]

This is not new. In 2004 the Georgia/Atlanta diocese hi-jacked our church and told its parishoners that supporters of any candidate that was pro-choice should not receive communion. I was furious. This caused me and my family to leave the church and we have not returned.

I wanted to ask why it was ok to vote for a candidate that was "pro death penalty" (Bush), which is also against Catholic doctrine.

I am an ex-catholic that is pro-choice (note... I am not pro-abortion, and would rather promote adoption) and anti-death penalty. The catholic church needs to stop meddling in wedge issues or I will not return to the church.

[Researchguy66]

The Church is staunchly anti-death penalty and pro-life and the actions of the Dociese are extremely inappropriate. Expect Benedict to be stricter about these things than JP2.

[naschkatze]

The bishop where we live takes exception to the church's teaching on capital punishment and promoted anti-abortion Bush over anti-death penalty Kerry, one of seven ultraconservative bishops who took out national ads against Kerry. My husband and I are former Catholics too, and I am not pro-abortion either but very much pro-contraception.

[RickO]

Can a priest really refuse communion to someone? Is it really up to them? I always thought it was a symbolic representation of the last supper between the individual and god and the priest was basically the waiter.

If I was in that situation and refused the sacrament, I'd turn around and walk out the door of the church never to return.

[numeaning]

An extreme radical arm of the anti-life movement has been attacking the Catholic Church since the pope arrived. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathers now in Orlando for its bi-annual meeting, bubble headed bimbi seek twisted Christians to convert to grocery racks. Church politicians and schools of cub reporters encourage bishops to reward Holy Communion to "pro-kill politicians" and even to condemn Catholics everywhere who refuse to vote for those same politicians. As gas and milk prices skyrocket for retailers and customers, others fear until Britney returns, paparazzi family planners may protest outside the bishops' meeting on Friday and in the media, until tale sales return to normal at grocery newsracks.

[MissDaphne]

It happened to me.
At my sister's wedding, no less.

[zoe13]

i'm sorry that happened to you. that makes me sooo mad!! every time i think i can go back to the church and play nice, i hear a story like this.... breaks my heart - i literally feel torn in two between my faith and the stupid disgusting politics my church plays.

[velkyrie]

Truly sorry to hear you were treated that way. Did the priest at least have the decency to pull you aside quietly before Mass to tell you he wouldn't let you have Communion, or did he actually humiliate you in front of everyone? That is awful either way. I'm not sure what I'd do if that happened to me.

[zoe13]

i could be totally wrong on this one, but i think that a priest can if he knows that a person is "living in sin." however, what that means is widely interpreted (and like everything in the church, has been abused). i agree, if i am refused communion because of who i vote for, i will walk out of the catholic church and never look back. using the sacrament in this way i think is truly "living in sin."