The bishop of Springfield, IL, has forbidden Catholic legislators who voted for the Reproductive Health Act from receiving Holy Communion in his diocese, citing penalties in Church Law for those who “persist in manifest grave sin.”
In a statement released by the Springfield diocese Thursday, Bishop Thomas Paprocki declared that “Illinois Catholic lawmakers who promoted or voted for extreme abortion legislation are not to receive Communion.”
Bishop Paprocki calls out two Catholic legislators by name, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, but extends the ban to any Catholic who voted for the bills.
“Due to their leadership roles in promoting the evil of abortion by facilitating the passage of Senate Bill 25 this legislative session and House Bill 40 in 2017, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have been barred from receiving Holy Communion,” the statement reads.
“In addition, Illinois Catholic lawmakers who voted for either of these abortion bills are not to present themselves to receive Holy Communion,” it says.
These legislative leaders “have shown obstinate and persistent support of extreme abortion legislation,” the statement declares. “House Bill 40 legalized taxpayer funding for abortion and Senate Bill 25 makes abortion a fundamental right, allows for the killing of innocent children up to the moment of birth, and requires private insurance to pay for abortion, among other anti-life changes.”
D-Day veteran, 99, spreads message of peace ahead of Normandy landings anniversary
Biden Economic Adviser Tries and Fails to Explain Monetary Policy – ‘Some of the Language and Concepts Are Just Confusing’
Noem addresses feeling ‘threatened’ by Nikki Haley, a controversial dog killing, Trump VP speculation in book
House Dems seeking re-election seemingly reverse course, call on Biden to ‘bring order to the southern border’
NY v. Trump to resume Monday after eventful third week of testimony, thousands of dollars of gag order fines
Vulnerable Dem. Sen ripped after raking in cash from corporate PACs despite previous objections: ‘Hypocrisy’
African Church Elder Stands Firm Against Denomination’s Rewrite of Marriage, Holds Bible High and Declares ‘This Is the Word of God’
NYC Jewish community on high alert from protests threatened with trio of bomb threats at synagogues
Former NBA Player Found Dead at 33 in Los Angeles Area
‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Titanic’ Star Dead at 79
Eagle-Eyed Fan Spotted Hilarious Previously Undiscovered Error in the Final Cut of ‘Star Wars Episode III’
7-Eleven Teaming Up with Legendary Video Game for Special ‘Cups’ You Can’t Drink Out Of
Disney Reveals $60 Billion Investment in Key Pillar: Will It Be Enough?
Public Not Happy After City Water Officials Release Their Own Music Video
New revelations in Florida documents trial put Trump on offense against ‘deranged’ special counsel
The statement was accompanied by a formal decree, which was mailed earlier this week to those Catholic lawmakers who voted for House Bill 40/Senate Bill 25.
“To support legislation that treats babies in the womb like property, allowing for their destruction for any reason at any time, is evil,” the bishop said. “It’s my hope and prayer these lawmakers reconcile themselves to the Church so they can receive Communion.”
Bishop Paprocki, who is a canon lawyer, said that if these legislators would like to return to communion with the Church, they must seek sacramental absolution and demonstrate a “public conversion of life.”
“In view of their gravely immoral action to deprive unborn children legal protection against abortion, it must be said that any Catholic legislator who sponsored, promoted, advocated, or voted for these pro-abortion bills has acted in a seriously sinful manner unfaithful to the 2,000-year-old Christian teaching against abortion and therefore, would place themselves outside of the full communion of the Catholic Church,” the bishop said. “Such persons are not to receive Holy Communion until they have celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation and displayed a public conversion of life.”
D-Day veteran, 99, spreads message of peace ahead of Normandy landings anniversary
Biden Economic Adviser Tries and Fails to Explain Monetary Policy – ‘Some of the Language and Concepts Are Just Confusing’
Noem addresses feeling ‘threatened’ by Nikki Haley, a controversial dog killing, Trump VP speculation in book
House Dems seeking re-election seemingly reverse course, call on Biden to ‘bring order to the southern border’
NY v. Trump to resume Monday after eventful third week of testimony, thousands of dollars of gag order fines
Vulnerable Dem. Sen ripped after raking in cash from corporate PACs despite previous objections: ‘Hypocrisy’
African Church Elder Stands Firm Against Denomination’s Rewrite of Marriage, Holds Bible High and Declares ‘This Is the Word of God’
NYC Jewish community on high alert from protests threatened with trio of bomb threats at synagogues
Former NBA Player Found Dead at 33 in Los Angeles Area
‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Titanic’ Star Dead at 79
Eagle-Eyed Fan Spotted Hilarious Previously Undiscovered Error in the Final Cut of ‘Star Wars Episode III’
7-Eleven Teaming Up with Legendary Video Game for Special ‘Cups’ You Can’t Drink Out Of
Disney Reveals $60 Billion Investment in Key Pillar: Will It Be Enough?
Public Not Happy After City Water Officials Release Their Own Music Video
New revelations in Florida documents trial put Trump on offense against ‘deranged’ special counsel
Along with citing Canon Law, Bishop Paprocki appealed to recent statements by Pope Francis in which he compared abortion to hiring a hit man to resolve problems in life.
“I want to thank lawmakers who stood up to these barbaric pieces of legislation and voted ‘no,’ and I applaud their courage to speak the truth that the most basic right we should all enjoy, is the right to life,” Paprocki said.
Story cited here.
Scroll down to leave a comment:
