Norah O'Donnell
Archbishop Cupich on Pro-Abortion Politicians
12 14 , 22:43 Filed in: News
The New Archbishop of Chicago, Archbishop Cupich appeared on the CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday November 30, 2014. He was asked by Norah O'Donnell if he "would give communion for politicians who would support abortion rights?" The Archbishop of the second biggest diocese in the United States said "I would not use the Eucharist, or as they call it 'the communion rail,' as a place to have those discussions or a way in which people would be either excluded from the life of the church. The Eucharist is an opportunity of grace and conversion. It's also a time of forgiveness of sins, so my hope would be that grace would be instrumental in bringing people to the truth."
The Archbishop would ignore Canon law 915 which states: "Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."
This Archbishop will not only defy Canon law but also defy the Holy Scriptures. St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians tells us that no one unworthy should take the Eucharist. "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep (emphases added)." 1 Corinthians 11:27-30
The Archbishop said "[t]he Eucharist is an opportunity of grace and conversion. It's also a time of forgiveness of sins, so my hope would be that grace would be instrumental in bringing people to the truth." Is the Archbishop suggesting that God's Grace is increased in people who receive the Eucharist unworthily and somehow their sins are forgiven? A soul who takes the Eucharist unworthily is not acting in accordance with God's will but that of Satan. The unworthy person will be guilty of the sin of Sacrilege. St. Thomas Aquinas taught “Holy Communion ought not to be given to open sinners when they ask for it (emphasis added)[.]"