Illinois Bishop Bans Pro-Abortion Lawmakers from Receiving Communion

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.”

See also Dolly Parton dies at age 80

Get right out of town

WATCH: Maryland carjacking suspect plows toward cops as they open fire

Suspected DUI driver leads cops on wild chase before dramatic takedown on popular California beach

Mamdani Locked in Unexpected War with NY Teachers Union Over Big Bonuses

Tensions erupt in House hearing as GOP advances anti-socialism resolution while Dems rage: ‘Silly season’

Who pays for US power boom? Blue, red states offer starkly different ways to lower utility bills amid AI surge

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation to Trump

Fact check: Trump claims no autism cases among unvaccinated Amish children

Breaking: SCOTUS Gives Trump’s Ballroom Construction the Green Light

Bryan Kohberger’s new lawyer says key questions may soon get answers in court

Vance hosts members from Michigan synagogue attack at rally after el Sayed apology

Vance unloads on El-Sayed after Usha swipe with brutal warning: ‘Way out of your league’

Trump’s White House ballroom construction gets another lifeline from SCOTUS amid heated legal fight

The Fight Against Globalism Is Local: Why Americans Are Fighting Flock Cameras and Data Centers

Democratic Socialists of America Embroiled in ‘Civil War’ Over Future as AOC Is Slammed for ‘Consistent Pattern of Opportunism’

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.”