AP: Priest in SC denies communion

http://tinyurl.com/5felxs

U.S. Catholic Bishops have specifically addressed the issue of worthiness to receive communion: “Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper”: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist, Copyright © 2006, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Canon Law is explicit: CIC, c. 912: “Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.” Prohibited by canon law means (a) excommunicated (and there is a specific procedure for so doing that does NOT consist in a priest's "because I say so") or (2) in a state of mortal sin. In the latter case, the onus is on the communicant and not on the minister.

So, the issue becomes whether or not the act of casting a vote for one political party over another can be a mortal sin. Some Bishops also claim that Catholics are in a state of mortal sin simply by refusing to vote as they are ordered, i.e. that they are "Acting in serious disobedience against proper authority" when they refuse to support a politician who advocates overturning Roe vs Wade over one who doesn't. Another argument rests on the idea of scandal, i.e. that removing legal penalties for a behavior condones it.

Why is one mortal sin a "litmus test" when another one is not? The same position paper quoted above condemns such mortal sins slandering the good name of another and racism. Is it valid to claim that those supporting Sarah Palin, who was manifestly complicit in both these mortal sins and persistently bearing false witness, should be similarly condemned despite her pro-life stance?

Had this priest confessed those he "suspects" and refused them absolution, he may have legitimate reason to refuse them communion. Should he refuse parishioners Eucharist without such knowledge, isn't he the one who violates Canon Law? Isn't he in a much more grave position in his relationship with Christ and the Church than those he condemns?

Some Catholic voters who voted Democratic, including me, believe that a political agenda that violates every tenet of Catholic policy but gives lip service to our position on abortion is the greater abomination. I thought that a GOP vote was an intrinsically evil act of cooperation with sinful behavior. The Bishops should recall the parable of the "disobedient" son who does the will of his Father vs the one who says "yes" with his lips and willingly disobeys in fact.

By their fruits shall you know the false prophets from the true, and boy do we have a lot of rotten fruit to eat...