Pink or blue?

[mareserinitatis]

Via this post at Feministe, written by a member of the church at which Father Newman (the guy running around saying that Obama supporters shouldn't take communion because of Obama's view on abortion). She makes a very good point:

Why is abortion the sole litmus test?That is, indeed, a very good question. And this is exactly what I've discussed

Comments

[mybadattitudes]

Well, this is just my personal wacky theory coming out of a Catholic upbringing, so here goes

[mareserinitatis]

I agree...but it strikes me that the reality is "every sperm is sacred" until they're out of the womb. The inconsistency bothers me.

I appreciate your thoughts.

[cosmic_reverie]

I don't have time to read the linked post right now, but I think I can answer the question. Abortion isn't the only litmus test, and shouldn't be. This site has a good overview of what pro-life means to the Church: http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/catechismonabortion.htm... )

[cosmic_reverie]

To clarify, the withholding of Holy Communion is not as extreme as excommunication. From the "Guidelines for the Reception of Communion" by the U.S. bishops' Committee on the Liturgy:

"A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all."

[mareserinitatis]

Perhaps I should've given more context. The original blogger stated:

I have to ask: Why doesn't this abortion-logic apply to other issues? Anyone who voted for 100 more years of war, as well as the continuance of capital punishment and the denial of universal health care (leads to DEATH, you know), should also confess and ask for penance, in my ever-humble opinion.

And failing that, why can't we simply call it a wash? Why is abortion the sole litmus test?

Again, taking the same stance that I took in my earlier post: why is it that abortion raises such a flap, yet some of the same people will be silent on these other issues which also endanger people's lives? Why aren't priests denying communion to those who support the war...yet you have them denying communion to Obama's supporters (and previously, John Kerry)?

Just a brief response...

[mybadattitudes]

...to cosmic_reverie's posts: the statement that "abortion isn't the only litmus test and shouldn't be" is true, but, unfortunately, has to be qualified with the words "officially" and "ideally". It's the way it's supposed to be.

The reality "on the ground", again unfortunately, is that for the most vocal and committed activists involved (the ones I refer to as the "110-percenters"), abortion is the sole litmus test. Period. End of sentence. End of discussion. No ifs, ands or buts whatsoever.

Because they are so vocal and so committed, they have gained a great deal of leverage to drive the issue in their direction, to the exclusion of more nuanced, better-thought-out views. Very unfortunate, but also very true, and their presence in the abortion debate cannot be minimized or dismissed by simply quoting the official positions and teachings and saying, "But this is what it's all really about".

I sincerely wish this wasn't the case. But it is. And it's a fact that has to be faced head-on if any resolution is to be made.

Peace.

[pammalamma]

Gosh, I don't think it's the only test at all. People are excommunicated or "disfellowshipped" for all kinds of things. I think that sexual immorality, like adultery and fornication are the most common, along with heresy. You just don't hear about those cases. I know people who have been disciplined by protestant churches.

Also, what I heard is that the Catholic statement was that for Obama voters, communion should not be taken without a prior confession. But, that is true of all sin. Catholics are taught that to take communion when you are still in your sins (not confessed) is to take communion "in an unworthy manner," which Paul warned is very dangerous. I have a Catholic friend who has blogged about this fear of taking communion in an unclean state. It doesn't just apply to voting, at all. For Catholics, it applies to all sin.

[mareserinitatis]

I added more context in reply to another comment above. The original post discussed this, saying that there are a lot of other things which require this confession, but the one that people are being the loudest about is abortion. In the article about the priest, he talks about how abortion is different from other sins involving killing, and that is why the original poster had an issue.