Denver, Colo., Jun 13, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will meet in Denver today to begin its semi-annual retreat, during which a task force, created to address questions about politicians and the Eucharist, is expected to present a report.
The debate about whether Catholic politicians, who support legislation that is counter to Catholic Church teaching, should receive the sacrament of the Eucharist has made headlines for several months.
Though the response has been varied, the issue has received significant attention from several bishops, who have written and spoken about the significance of receiving the Eucharist and the state in which a Catholic should be to receive it.
Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo is one such bishop. As early as April, the bishop said that Catholics, who are personally opposed to abortion, but whose public words and actions demonstrate otherwise, should refrain from receiving Holy Communion.