The Cardinals, The Bishops, Abortion, Communion: Confusion

The blogosphere–and the Web in general–has been reacting to the release of Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter taking a very strong line against pro-abortion politicians being given Holy Communion. I’d like to call your attention to a couple of pages in this regard.

First, there a Catholic World News story headlined US BISHOPS REJECTED RATZINGER’S ADVICE. Among other things, the article says:

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, who heads a committee of US bishops studying possible responses to pro-abortion Catholic politicians, told reporters that the Ratzinger letter left the issue in the hands of the American hierarchy.

At their Denver meeting, the US bishops adopted a policy statement re-affirming the Church’s condemnation of legal abortion, but stopping short of any call for withholding the Eucharist from prominent abortion supporters. The bishops reportedly turned down a milder form of the resolution, backed by Cardinal McCarrick, which would have said that it was imprudent to deny the Eucharist to Catholic politicians. In conversations with the press, Cardinal McCarrick had hinted that the Ratzinger letter gave support to that position.

This article seems to draw a rather stark contrast between what Cardinal McCarrick said and what Cardinal Ratzinger said. How accurate is that contrast? That leads to the second page I mentioned:

Jamie Blosser, of The Magnificent Blossers, offers this page providing a point-by-point comparison between Cardinal McCarrick’s summary and what Cardinal Ratzinger apparently said.

Check it out and judge for yourself.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

One thought on “The Cardinals, The Bishops, Abortion, Communion: Confusion”

  1. Jammie Blosser of the Magnificent Blossers? I guess your right with his brother Chris of the Ratzinger Fan Club and their father Phillip. The blogging Blossers are indeed magnificent.

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