Candidate for Communion?
Giuliani dodges Archbishop Burke's Holy Communion admonition
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Washington D.C., Oct 5, 2007 / 09:42 am (CNA).- St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke recently addressed the behavior of Catholic politicians who publicly dissent from Church teaching yet still receive Holy Communion. The archbishop’s teachings have caused a reaction from presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, who is considered to be in such a position.

In reaction to reports from CNA, the Associated Press asked if Archbishop Burke if he would refuse Holy Communion to Rudy Giuliani or other candidates who support abortion rights, he replied:  "If any politician approached me and he'd been admonished not to present himself, I'd not give it. To me, you have to be certain a person realizes he is persisting in a serious public sin."

The Associated Press reports that Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and current Republican presidential candidate, responded to the archbishop's comments while appearing at a coffee bar in a St. Louis suburb.

"I'm not running for religious office," he began.  "I'm not going to debate the opinion of an archbishop of the Catholic Church or an official of the Protestant Church or a rabbi," Giuliani said. "That's an interpretation of religion. They're entitled to their interpretation of religion."

Giuliani is already barred from Holy Communion because he has divorced and remarried without an annulment.

Recently Archbishop Burke published an essay in a prominent canon law journal reiterating the duties of Catholics in public office to receive Holy Communion worthily. His essay also emphasized the duties of ministers of Holy Communion to ensure the Sacrament's worthy reception.  He advised that clergy privately caution potential communicants who are in manifest grave sin against receiving the Eucharist.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Burke Supporter
St. Louis, MO 10/08/2007 01:27 PM EST
I am continually amazed by the impudence of those in our community who know nothing about Catholicism and, yet, feel fully qualified to argue theology and/or the dogmatic tenets of the Roman Catholic Church or to critize those beliefs when vocalized by its leaders or followers. (In fact, it reminds me of the lyrics of an old song by the comedian Steve Martin, “…criticize things you don’t know about…”)
Additionally, I am always perplexed as to why those who are not Catholic are so utterly disturbed and compelled to speak out when the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in this Archdiocese comments or acts upon his personal beliefs, or offers instruction to those who are in agreement with the dogma of said Church. I assure you, in day-to-day life, Catholics have very little to say with regard to the rules and regulations of other religious sects that exist, and certainly do not have the audacity to openly critize those other groups.
The Catholic Church is not an organization run by committees who rely on Robert’s Rules of Order when they deem it necessary to change the bylaws of the organization simply because the majority of the group doesn’t like the rules anymore. The Catholic Church is a 2,000+ year old insitution that, “since the first century…has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2271)
That Archbishop Raymond Burke has the courage to vocalize and defend no
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