Catholic clergy members in the United States will receive a book containing instructions on when to deny Holy Communion to public figures who support abortion, as part of an effort to inform American bishops, priests, and deacons on the biblical and theological basis of church teaching, according to a report from The Daily Signal.
The book, titled “Deny Holy Communion?” was written by Cardinal Raymond Burke and published by Catholic Action for Faith and Family, a group dedicated to defending the principles of the Catholic faith.
According to Thomas McKenna, the founder and president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family, the book is meant to provide guidance to clergy members who may not have studied the issue of denying Holy Communion to public figures who publicly support abortion.
“Most clergy have not studied the issue in a formal canonical way and only know what is presented in discussions and the media,” McKenna said. “Cardinal Burke wrote this study to better explain the Church’s history and wisdom in having canon law that addresses the issue.”
The book is not intended as a statement to address any specific politician, although it may be seen in the context of President Joe Biden’s pro-choice political stance. Biden is a devout Catholic.
“The Church cannot remain silent and indifferent to a public offense against the Body and Blood of Christ,” the book says.
“No matter how often a Bishop or priest repeats the teaching of the Church regarding procured abortion, if he stands by and does nothing to discipline a Catholic who publicly supports legislation permitting the gravest of injustices and, at the same time, presents himself to receive Holy Communion, then his teaching rings hollow,” Cardinal Burke wrote in the book. “To remain silent is to permit serious confusion regarding a fundamental truth of the moral law.”
McKenna hopes the book will help clergy members better understand church teaching, and in some situations, take steps to privately confront public figures who are defiant of Church teachings, and begin a process to correct them.
“And if they don’t repent and continue to publicly cause scandal, then to ask them to not present themselves for Holy Communion,” he said.
The book is being mailed to tens of thousands of Catholic clergy members in the United States.
