Catholic Church nixes plan to deny communion to those who approve of abortion

I’m not sure what’s behind this whole strategy, but the Catholic Church announced its bishops will no longer attempt to prevent people who support abortion from receiving holy communion.

An article appearing in the Washington Times noted that the U.S. Conference of Bishops took the prohibition off the table for discussion at a recent conference of church leaders.

A proposal to write guidelines containing such a restriction had been the talk of American Catholics since the election of President Biden in November, the Times noted.

Pope Francis declared in a June 7 homily that the Eucharist “is not the reward of saints, but the bread of sinners.”

He is right about that.

Talk of denying communion to people who support abortion works only to punish people who support one particular sin.

Are priests to deny communion to people who support the sexual agenda of the alphabet mafia? How about people who support or practice any of the seven deadly sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth?

1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I’d rather have people who act or think contrary to God’s word remain in church rather than leave believing God has rejected them. The only way to build faith is by hearing God’s word.

In Romans 10:14-15 and 17, Apostle Paul writes,

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

If the church is going to deny communion to everyone who sins, then there won’t be nearly as much need for wine and bread at services.

I know the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:27, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”

But, in the very next sentence, Paul writes, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”

Hopefully, as people of faith examine their thoughts, speech and behavior prior to taking communion, the Holy Spirit will work to convict them of their errors so they can repent.