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.”

Repeat offender with lengthy rap sheet accused of gunning down Kentucky trooper during traffic stop

Eric Schmitt defends perjury trap airball at Jack Smith hearing: ‘Not a mistake’

Fox News Hires Former Top Andrew Cuomo Aide Who Helped Run Major Cover-Up

Woman on Death Row for Satanic Murder Says She Feels ‘a Kinship’ with Lindsay Clancy

Boeing lands $20B-plus Navy deal for sixth-generation fighter to deliver ‘absolute air superiority’

Watch: Broncos Stars Team Up to Give ‘All Glory to God’ on Live TV After Wild Comeback Win

‘F— her’: Jasmine Crockett torched by ex-Dem colleague over who she left off endorsement list

Suspect accused of killing Pittsburgh pediatrician sexually assaulted woman hours earlier: police

Watch: NFL Sparks Controversy Again as Mariachi Band Plays Nat’l Anthem on Monday Night Football

Bears QB Caleb Williams Accused of ‘Disrespecting the Flag’ During National Anthem

Unearthed audit exposes vulnerable Dem’s handling of COVID relief funds: ‘Gross oversight’

Woke, Anti-Trump Classic Rocker Todd Rundgren Nukes Taylor Swift: ‘Apotheosis of Mediocrity’

Trump Sets the Record Straight After ‘Hoax’ Report on What He Offered Iran

NYC judge orders Mamdani to redo second-home tax rollout

Law Enforcement Investigating New Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note

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.”