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.”
Abdul El-Sayed’s Medicare-for-all crusade collides with an awkward contradiction involving his wife
GOP Senate Nominee Mike Rogers Kicks Off Race Against El-Sayed With a Big Swing
‘Large Jewish Dem Donors’ to Back Republican Mike Rogers After El-Sayed Wins Dem Primary: Report
Trump’s antitrust point man could reshape Big Tech cases against Google and Apple if confirmed
Alex Murdaugh’s lawsuit against Rebecca Hill dismissed by judge who says clerk doesn’t owe him for defense
FAA, NTSB investigating possible violation of safety protocol involving Trump, Marine One
Tlaib moves to block ICE airport arrests, says TSA helping target immigrants
Israel strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon as Rome peace talks continue
Exclusive: Grieving mom reveals deadly cost of illegal immigration as daughter’s killer seeks parole
‘Oxferd Comma’ investigation being declassified by White House, with John Solomon briefing
Putin selects commander to lead new drone warfare branch of Russian military
Trump Declares El-Sayed’s Michigan Win ‘Great News for the Republican Party’
Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump’s pick in key swing-district primary
Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight
Musk Issues Stark Counter-Threat After Mamdani Team Member Declared Him ‘Valid Military Target’ According to Report
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.”
Abdul El-Sayed’s Medicare-for-all crusade collides with an awkward contradiction involving his wife
GOP Senate Nominee Mike Rogers Kicks Off Race Against El-Sayed With a Big Swing
‘Large Jewish Dem Donors’ to Back Republican Mike Rogers After El-Sayed Wins Dem Primary: Report
Trump’s antitrust point man could reshape Big Tech cases against Google and Apple if confirmed
Alex Murdaugh’s lawsuit against Rebecca Hill dismissed by judge who says clerk doesn’t owe him for defense
FAA, NTSB investigating possible violation of safety protocol involving Trump, Marine One
Tlaib moves to block ICE airport arrests, says TSA helping target immigrants
Israel strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon as Rome peace talks continue
Exclusive: Grieving mom reveals deadly cost of illegal immigration as daughter’s killer seeks parole
‘Oxferd Comma’ investigation being declassified by White House, with John Solomon briefing
Putin selects commander to lead new drone warfare branch of Russian military
Trump Declares El-Sayed’s Michigan Win ‘Great News for the Republican Party’
Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump’s pick in key swing-district primary
Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight
Musk Issues Stark Counter-Threat After Mamdani Team Member Declared Him ‘Valid Military Target’ According to Report
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.
