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.”

Biden-era FBI took ‘minimal corrective action’ and defended staff after targeting Catholics

White House report card: Lake America won’t save Trump from drowning

ICE officer charged in Minneapolis shooting released in Texas after judge declines to intervene

Glenn Beck interview prompts Trump to allow farmers and ranchers to process their own food

U.S. Military Uses Lasers to Shoot Down Mexican Cartel Drones at Southern Border

The Psychology Behind Republicans Who Support Amnesty for Illegals

Soros-backed DA accused of going easy on illegal immigrants gets squeezed by House GOP

House Dem Debbie Dingell places Trump’s Lake Ontario name change in the crosshairs

Free climber stranded on Georgia rock face calls 911, prompting dramatic rescue by firefighter

Maine and Georgia could test whether ticket-splitting is making a comeback

Dems derided Trump’s midterm gamble — until he ended up winning big

Mail-voting crackdown moves ahead as Trump court win opens door to federal action

Brutal Cheap Shot: Video Captures Amazon Driver Sucker Punching Elderly Man Over Parking Dispute

Brexit isn’t what’s dragging Britain down

There’s little brilliant about Netflix’s ‘My Brilliant Career’

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.”

See also Dolly Parton dies at age 80

“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.”