So Few Seem to Hear or Listen

In reading yet another article about Archbishop Burke and his position of "denying communion" to Guiliani, some seem to miss the salient points made by the archbishop.

From the AP, we read:

Bishop Would Deny Communion to Giuliani
By CHERYL WITTENAUER

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Roman Catholic Archbishop Raymond Burke, who made headlines last presidential season by saying he'd refuse Holy Communion to John Kerry, has his eye on Rudy Giuliani this year. Giuliani's response: "Archbishops have a right to their opinion."

Burke, the archbishop of St. Louis, was asked if he would deny Communion to Giuliani or any other presidential candidate who supports abortion rights.

"If any politician approached me and he'd been admonished not to present himself, I'd not give it," Burke told The Associated Press Wednesday. "To me, you have to be certain a person realizes he is persisting in a serious public sin."

First, it is the media which began the 'story' that Archbishop Burke "has his eye on Guiliani this year"...this is the media's way of 'generating' a news story where none existed. Archbishop Burke singled out no specific person in particular - the media, however, needs to concoct something 'palatable' for readers and viewers and the more shocking, the better.

Archbishop Burke was very clear and precise when he answered the reporter(s) about denying Holy Communion to Guiliani - he reiterated that:

1. If the person had been admonished not to present himself for Holy Communion, and
2. If that person presented himself despite the admonition, then Holy Communion would be refused.

The archbishop further stated that one must be "certain a person realizes he is persisting in a serious public sin."

With regard to Catholic politicians who support and vote for the murder of the defenseless unborn, it should be crystal clear that they are violating basic principles of the natural moral as well as the teaching of the Church - and this places them in grave sin, objectively speaking, and it is public. The sinful politician may continue to deny that he/she is doing anything wrong, but that denial does not eliminate or diminish the objective reality of such sinful acts.

Any Catholic politician or public figure who claims to be unaware that his dissent and rejection of Chuch teaching and the natural moral law is a grave sin, has no business being in public life. If his blinders are such that reality is hidden from his view, it is impossible for him to represent others, whether in government or elsewhere.

Reporters, many of whom are clueless when it comes to religious matters (or basic moral matters), nevertheless seem obliged to expose their ignorance by delving into the deep:

Asked if the same would apply to politicians who support the death penalty or pre-emptive war, he said, "It's a little more complicated in that case."

Archbishop Burke has a way of handling such amateurish questions. Such sophistry becomes areal test of one's patience and charity.

The AP article is here.