Who Should Be Denied Communion? by Paul Likoudis

A great article today in The Wanderer.

In one sense, the issue of Catholic pro-abortion politicians receiving Communion is artificially narrow, and the bishops’ reluctance to address it in a meaningful way may be reflective of a longtime habit of "grave dereliction of duty," according to one prominent pro-lifer who spoke with The Wanderer. She did not want her name revealed.

"Just as a law is only good as long as it is enforced," she said, "a faith that is not enforced is rendered meaningless."

This pro-lifer also suggested that the best way for the bishops to resolve this highly controverted and contentious issue is with a "seamless garment" approach that includes a range of both issues and players.

"If some or all of the bishops are going to say that pro-abortion politicians cannot receive Communion, they should also say that pro-abortion, and/or pro-homosexual Catholic journalists cannot receive Communion.

"Prominent Catholic journalists such as Peter Steinfels, Anna Quindlen, and the late Mary McGrory are preachers from the printed page, and they often have as much, if not more, influence on forming public opinion than do politicians. It is a grave scandal that such dissenters are not rebuked and disciplined, especially in the case of Steinfels, who promotes dissent on a range of issues from contraception to women priests."

Who else should be on the list if an "inclusive, seamless garment" approach were to be used?

As the article suggests:
The pro-contraception and pro-homosexuality editors of the National unCatholic Reporter.
Catholic doctors who perform abortions. (they are excommunicated automatically)
Catholic doctors who prescribe contraceptives.
Catholic phamacists who dispense contraceptives.
Catholic scientists involved in condemned activities in 'life sciences'.
Catholics 'living in sin' either hetero or homosexual.
And last, but not least:

The list of those banned from Communion would also include bishops, priests, religious, moral theologians, Scripture scholars, chancery staff, and school teachers who create scandal by their public dissent from authoritative Church teaching on any issue, she concluded.

This would be a great start since all of these are sources of "public" scandal...

The Wanderer article is here.