U.S. Bishops' Statement on Communion

As other posts have mentioned, the U.S. Catholic bishops have been meeting this week and issuing statements on a variety of issues. Among these is a statement, which comes after much debate and study over the past two years (and prior discussions on the Mirror of Justice as well), on receiving communion by those who reject fundamental Church teachings, such as on the sanctity of life.

The Catholic New Services reports that the bishops on Tuesday voted 201-24 with two abstentions to approve a document that says that a Catholic who "knowingly and obstinately" rejects "the defined doctrines of the church" or repudiates the church's "definitive teaching on moral issues" would not be in communion with the church and therefore should not receive the Eucharist. The document also criticizes those who "give selective assent to the teachings of the church." Moreover, the document states, if a person who "is publicly known to have committed serious sin or to have rejected definitive church teaching and is not yet reconciled with the church" were to take Communion, it "is likely to cause scandal for others," which provides a "further reason" for the person to refrain. However, in a footnote, the bishops said this document was not intended "to provide specific guidelines" to the provision in canon law that says that Catholics "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin" should not be allowed to receive Communion.

For my own take on this question, as a matter of canon law and pastoral counseling, see Abortion, Bishops, Eucharist, and Politicians: A Question of Communion (with Charles J. Reid, Jr.), 43 Catholic Lawyer 255 (2004) (link here).

Most importantly, this document reminds all of the Catholic faithful about the sacred meaning, personally and communally, of approaching the altar. Each of us need once again to undertake, as we did at the time of our Confirmation, that rigorous examination of our own consciences toward the end of being drawn ever more deeply into full communion with the Church through Reconciliation as appropriate and then our due reception of the Body and Blood of Christ at the Lord’s Supper. God knows how poignant this reminder should be for me.

Greg Sisk