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.”
Dem rising star who called Trump ‘con man’ spent over $120k on luxury hotels, transportation and security
Targeted for their faith overseas, persecuted Christians get a White House welcome under Trump
Graphic Video: LA Rioters Leave Female Journalist on the Concrete and Anti-ICE Mobs Go After 2 Other Female Journalists in Sanctuary City Nightmare
Trump Gives the Guthrie Family Everything He Can as Search Continues: ‘We Are Deploying All Resources’
The legal case for and against nationalizing elections
Illinois bar owner killed in ‘execution-style’ shooting, suspect with decades-long criminal record in custody
Pennsylvania hospital blaze forces patients to be evacuated
American Medical Assoc. Retreats on Trans Surgery for Kids After Years of Embracing Mutilation – 5 Days After $2 Million Judgment Against 2 Docs
Dem leaders share list of 10 demands for ICE reforms with GOP
Trump calls family of Staff Sgt Ollis to confirm Medal of Honor award
Watch: Perfect Troll vs Lamest Response – Scott Bessent Nails Dem in Heated Exchange, Then Dem Gives Literally the Lamest Response Possible
Trump returns to National Prayer Breakfast as faith takes center stage in second term
Republican who said Sen Cassidy ‘sucks,’ gets Trump endorsement after ditching Senate bid for House run
Teachers union leaders spent thousands at swanky resorts
Bodycam shows NYPD officer shooting man with knife as Mamdani calls for no criminal charges
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.”
Dem rising star who called Trump ‘con man’ spent over $120k on luxury hotels, transportation and security
Targeted for their faith overseas, persecuted Christians get a White House welcome under Trump
Graphic Video: LA Rioters Leave Female Journalist on the Concrete and Anti-ICE Mobs Go After 2 Other Female Journalists in Sanctuary City Nightmare
Trump Gives the Guthrie Family Everything He Can as Search Continues: ‘We Are Deploying All Resources’
The legal case for and against nationalizing elections
Illinois bar owner killed in ‘execution-style’ shooting, suspect with decades-long criminal record in custody
Pennsylvania hospital blaze forces patients to be evacuated
American Medical Assoc. Retreats on Trans Surgery for Kids After Years of Embracing Mutilation – 5 Days After $2 Million Judgment Against 2 Docs
Dem leaders share list of 10 demands for ICE reforms with GOP
Trump calls family of Staff Sgt Ollis to confirm Medal of Honor award
Watch: Perfect Troll vs Lamest Response – Scott Bessent Nails Dem in Heated Exchange, Then Dem Gives Literally the Lamest Response Possible
Trump returns to National Prayer Breakfast as faith takes center stage in second term
Republican who said Sen Cassidy ‘sucks,’ gets Trump endorsement after ditching Senate bid for House run
Teachers union leaders spent thousands at swanky resorts
Bodycam shows NYPD officer shooting man with knife as Mamdani calls for no criminal charges
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.
