Kerry receives Communion after Vatican instruction

Boston, Mass., Apr 25, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry received the Eucharist at mass Saturday, one day after Francis Cardinal Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said pro-abortion politicians should not receive it.

The cardinal made this statement at a press conference, during which the new Vatican document on the norms for the mass, was released.

Fr. Joe Ciccone gave Kerry the Eucharist at the Paulist Center, where the politician regularly worships. The priest said he was simply following the directives of the Archdiocese of Boston, which “said we should give him Communion,” reported the Associated Press.

The archdiocese does not refuse Communion to anyone, archdiocesan spokesman Fr. Christopher Coyne told the AP. He said it was up to the individual to decide whether to receive Communion.

The Paulist Center attracts Catholics from a wide geographical area, who disagree with some Church teachings or who feel alienated from the Church. The assembly includes homosexual couples, whose children have been baptized there.

Founded in 1970, the chapel can give all the sacraments, except marriage.