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.”
Alex Murdaugh trial clerk reemerges after explosive ruling upends murder conviction
Chicago sees at least 25 shot over Memorial Day weekend as police cancel officers’ days off
Sports Commentator Blasts Giants QB for Meeting Trump Without ‘Consulting’ Locker Room
Iran Claims to Have Shot Down a US Drone, Threatens Further Retaliation
Trump will head to Walter Reed for his annual physical
Hasan Piker names pro-CCP tycoon Singham as financier of ‘political movements’ despite nonprofit veneer
Massie positions himself for potential political future after primary defeat: ‘I won’t be going away silently’
Trump-backed candidates score major boost from deep-pocketed AI Super PAC in upcoming primaries
How AIPAC’s spending strategy evolved, to the dread of anti-Israel Democrats and Republican detractors
Tulsi Gabbard honors wish of Gold Star wife to visit husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Trump flexes MAGA muscle in Texas Senate runoff clash between Cornyn and Paxton
Skydiver dies after midair collision with another jumper during group jump in Washington state
Dog accidentally fires shotgun, striking woman yards away during chaotic gas station stop
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner embraces democratic socialism at Bernie Sanders rally in Portland
Jacob Frey criticized for remembering George Floyd on Memorial Day, six years after death sparked riots
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.”
Alex Murdaugh trial clerk reemerges after explosive ruling upends murder conviction
Chicago sees at least 25 shot over Memorial Day weekend as police cancel officers’ days off
Sports Commentator Blasts Giants QB for Meeting Trump Without ‘Consulting’ Locker Room
Iran Claims to Have Shot Down a US Drone, Threatens Further Retaliation
Trump will head to Walter Reed for his annual physical
Hasan Piker names pro-CCP tycoon Singham as financier of ‘political movements’ despite nonprofit veneer
Massie positions himself for potential political future after primary defeat: ‘I won’t be going away silently’
Trump-backed candidates score major boost from deep-pocketed AI Super PAC in upcoming primaries
How AIPAC’s spending strategy evolved, to the dread of anti-Israel Democrats and Republican detractors
Tulsi Gabbard honors wish of Gold Star wife to visit husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Trump flexes MAGA muscle in Texas Senate runoff clash between Cornyn and Paxton
Skydiver dies after midair collision with another jumper during group jump in Washington state
Dog accidentally fires shotgun, striking woman yards away during chaotic gas station stop
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner embraces democratic socialism at Bernie Sanders rally in Portland
Jacob Frey criticized for remembering George Floyd on Memorial Day, six years after death sparked riots
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.
