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Happy Easter, But Not to Kerry

Another great editorial in the Post discusses the relationship between Catholic leaders and politicians of the same faith: "Raymond Burke, the archbishop of St. Louis, has said he would refuse to give Communion to John Kerry based on the senator's stance on abortion." Wow, what a jerk. As the author points out, the archbishop really shouldn't refuse Communion to Kerry, as this in effect is an act of excommunication: "...most bishops are still reluctant to respond publicly to Catholic politicians whose views contradict church teaching -- for all kinds of reasons. One is that Canon 915 of church law makes clear that public denial of Communion is a punishment of last resort, to be invoked only against those who "obstinately persist in manifest grave sin." Those words suggest that the bishop should contact the offender privately first. Moreover, the word "manifest" implies that such a form of ostracism is an inappropriate sanction against mere private citizens who disobey church teachings in their private lives. Then there is the perception that the recent sex scandals have robbed U.S. bishops of their moral authority. Another reason may be that many politicians who support abortion rights are politically liberal on other issues, such as welfare and the death penalty, and thus perhaps acceptable to an episcopate whose members tend to be politically liberal themselves.

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