Vatican cardinal weighs in on pro-abortion politicians and Communion

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CNA STAFF, Apr 12, 2008 / 02:40 am (CNA).- A newly released video of a 2007 appearance of Francis Cardinal Arinze shows the cardinal addressing the issue of Catholic politicians who support permissive abortion laws but also present themselves for Holy Communion.

Speaking in a “Question and Answer” session at gathering for Familyland USA in 2007, the cardinal said the answer to the question was so obvious that even children preparing for First Communion could answer it correctly.

In a satirical manner, Cardinal Arinze criticized a standard pro-abortion political argument.

“To the person who says, ‘Personally, I am against abortion, but then if people really want to do it I leave them free’ you can say ‘You are a member of the senate or the congress.

“‘Personally I am not in favor of shooting the whole lot of you, but if somebody else wants to shoot all of you in the senate or all of you in the congress, it’s just pro-choice for that.

“’But personally I’m not in favor.’

“That is what they are saying,” the cardinal argued.

“They are saying that personally, he is not in favor of killing these millions of children in the womb, but if others want to do it, he is pro-choice.”

Cardinal Arinze made a joking aside, saying, “And then you ask me ‘What does the Holy See do, why doesn’t the Pope send a dozen Swiss Guards to arrest them all’.”

The cardinal continued, “You may have heard about the letter that the present Holy Father, as prefect of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith, sent to American bishops on that issue.

The letter, which was issued in 2002, addresses the “cultural relativism that exists today” and condemns “the opinion expressed in the public sphere that such ethical pluralism is the very condition for democracy”. It also goes on to elaborate the obligations of Catholics in this cultural situation, focusing on life issues.

“So the matter is very clear,” Cardinal Arinze said.

The cardinal noted that he is often asked if a politician who votes for abortion should receive Holy Communion.

He said his reply was, “Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican to answer that?”

“Get the children for first communion and say to them, somebody votes for the killing of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that, I will vote for that every time and these babies are killed, not one or two, but in millions, and that person says I am a practicing Catholic, should that person receive communion next Sunday?

“The children for first communion will answer that at the drop of a hat. You don’t need a cardinal to answer that.”

Comments: 20

Subscriber comments:

Published by: John
North Fort Myers ,FL 10/05/2008 12:13 PM EST

I am grateful for the Cardinals,Bishops and priests stepping forward toward these pro life politicians by performing excommunication not to put them down but to bring them up. St. Paul mentions people receiving communion under mortal sin become sick,ill,and infirmed as he is taling about the dispositions of their souls. Ladies and gentlemen please purchase the Catechism of the Catholic Church(ISBN 1-57455-110-8) at your parish/diocese,bookstore,on line. Learn about Your Catholic faith and the Church on the issue of abortion (2270 to 2274) pages 547 to 549 God Bless you all.

Published by: Stephany Wiley
Weslaco, TX USA 04/24/2008 11:20 AM EST

The Holy Father reminded the Bishops that it is THEIR TASK to teach the faith. Many have neglected to do so because of political alliances with the Democrat party, so they to remain silent or noncommital on the issue. They fail the people of God and I truly hope that our clergy will seriously follow Pope Benedict's leadership.Feeding the hungry also applies to the Spiritual Works of Mercy. The flock is starving for the truth and it should NEVER be watered down because of politics, which I really believe is the basis for the failure to act with courage.
I join others in thanking cardinal Arinze for his loyalty to God.

Published by: bill lavelle
edmonton,ab,canada 04/18/2008 09:52 AM EST

Too many Bishops with week knees compromising with secularism when they should be presenting the truth as its own witness to the world. God bless the Bishops who are always at risk to be persecuted for speaking out boldy.Bishops such as Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary. If Bishops were this faithful to the truth the Churches would be filled!

Published by: Thomas Kurey
Belleair, FL, USA 04/14/2008 06:28 PM EST

The U.S. Catholic church is in the toilet because of the silence of Bishops and Priests on the subject of abortion. This is, by far, the greater scandal in the U.S. Church. The Bishops are not exercising their responsibility. They have parted from the truth resulting in the earned disrespect of the Bishops and the continued decrease of the Church in the U.S. In the words of Pope John Paul II, consequently all of their preaching and actions are false and fallacious.

Published by: Donald King
Livermore, CA, 04/14/2008 03:32 PM EST

It is not so simple. Terminating a pregnancy at its very early stages, prior to the beginning of the heart beating, or the brain functioning should be licit. Problem: It's a rare politician who places him/her self beyond one of the two extremes.

Published by: fergail
seattle/wa/us 04/14/2008 12:59 PM EST

We need to have the bishops and the parishes all over the country mobilized with the bishops speaking with one voice and the bishops regularly informing and energizing the parish congregations on the issues so that the parishes also can act with one voice. The Church has awesome potential moral power which is not being utilized

Published by: James P. Breslin,Jr
Winslow, Maine 04/13/2008 10:07 AM EST

Then why do priests give communion to these people and why don't Bishops to discipline those priests and the Pope discipline the Bishops who do not discipline the priests.What ever happened toexcommunication. Why does the Church not do something about these these de-facto pro-death Catholics. The Vatican talks out of both sides of its mouth. Also why did the Pope not deal with the child-abuse scandal sooner? And why did not the Bishop of Maine take a neutral stance on so-called gay rights? Why hasn't Rome condemned this? You so-called Papal apologists preach tradition and we hear pronoucements about music and Liturgy. Popes have always compromised where they should have firm. Look at that wish washy apology regarding Moslems. Doctine and morals I obey. Lets put our politics where are doctines are. Afriad of losing their Sunday contributions? I am a daily comminicant and question policy and politics not doctrine. I uphold the Magesterium.

Published by: Kathy
Chicago Illinois 04/13/2008 06:59 AM EST

God bless you, Cardinal Arinze! Now, can you give some of your spine to some of the American bishops??????

Published by: ann lieb
miller place, ny 11764 04/13/2008 04:49 AM EST

Well said, Cardinal Arinze. The Cardinal's analogy was priceless! It should be quoted and used when replying to All Pro Abortion/Choice Politicians.

Published by: james jbakle
paulding ohio usa 04/13/2008 04:17 AM EST

i would never vote for a politician that is prochoice. these people have more respect for animal life than human life. that should tell something about there morals.

Published by: Tomasz
Clinton, Ma USA 04/12/2008 09:37 PM EST

There is nothing more inhuman than abortion - it is simply the killing of innocent human life. There is nothing more inhuman than war and killing innocent lives. So should we remove all the priests serving our troops and refuse communion to them before they go to combat and after they come back, having killed. Should we refuse communion to those who support war and killing of many innocent men and women, children, and citizens of our country? We need to be consistent here, dear Cardinal. If you were to ask a first communion child, what would be his/her answer? This questions are not as easy to answer. Who is worthy to receive communion and who is not? We all say I am not worthy. We need to pray more about it and stop pretending it is so simple.

Published by: Nancy
Canada 04/12/2008 07:35 PM EST

Great video and I love Cardinal Arinze.

The two issues I bring up are certainly not against him but the Church as a whole. Sadly I wonder how many children would be able to answer that question accurately and that scares me.
My second issue is when a 'Catholic' President or Prime Minister (or any well known politician) dies, there are so many Priests, Bishops and Cardinals in attendance at the funeral. There is no mention of what they did or didn't do during their terms. I am not trying to judge people but when they speak and act in such a public manner are we not being completely hypocritical to pay such respect?

My two cents worth.

Published by: Mary Ann Wenske
Mouton/ TX/USA 04/12/2008 07:16 PM EST

Yes, this is very simple. It's obvious that many Catholics do mental gymnastics to justify murdering children in the womb.

Published by: Michelle
Ladera Ranch, CA 04/12/2008 06:48 PM EST

Bravo Cardinal!!!! What you said in this article was amazing. I wish this could have been broadcasted over Fox News.

Published by: Joseph Wagner
Sarasota Fl. USA 04/12/2008 04:32 PM EST

Hi

Pro choice people should not receive Holy Communion, and if they do, It's a Mortal Sin

Joe Wagner

Published by: Adam Urbanski
Grand Rapids, MI 04/12/2008 02:28 PM EST

Francis Cardinal Arinze is quite simply, awesome.

Published by: Margie
Carmichael, CA 04/12/2008 10:28 AM EST

I love Cardinal Arinze. May he be elected the next pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church after a long reign by B16.
Even a child knows it is a baby. Only the foolish prochoice adults are in doubt!

Published by: Barb
Madisonville/ky/usa 04/12/2008 10:26 AM EST

I disagree with him on one point here. We NEED the official church shouting it from the rooftops! Fewer and fewer of those first communicants are being taught the truth about the Blessed Sacrament. So YES! We need all the cardinals, bishops, and priests stating this truth over and over and over again until it is once more ingrained into the faithful.

Published by: John Valenti
Redmond, OR 04/12/2008 09:47 AM EST

I fully agree with Cardinal Arinze, but I would go even further. The so-called Catholics who vote for these politicians should also not present themselves for Communion for they too are in a state of Mortal Sin. These politicians would not be politicians at all if it ween't for the so-called Catholics who commit grave sin against God by electing these people to office. None of these people could believe in God and support abortion and one day, too late, they will find that out.

Published by: Ted
New Jersey 04/12/2008 05:32 AM EST

This is a very good article - We obviously have some very good men in the priesthood at high levels who see things quite clearly. Amen

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