![]() And the same redemption is possible for those who support abortion now.” … Every day, mothers and fathers who have aborted children find healing through repentance, sacramental confession, and processing grief for the children they lost. ![]() “Christians are a people of hope, and we believe repentance is possible for all. Just as the Scriptures condemn the murder of the innocent in abortion, they also condemn hating or judging our brother or sister.” He emphasized that public persons “face great pressures and need our prayers. be denied Holy Communion, as clearly taught in Canon Law and the Catechism.” If they obstinately persist in their support for abortion, then they should. But if they refuse to repent, their bishop should warn them that their support for abortion conflicts with the faith and places their soul in jeopardy. If they become conscious of this sin, they should repent and not approach to receive Christ in Holy Communion until they reconciled with Him through the Church. So, if a political leader who professes to be Catholic supports abortion, they become publicly complicit in a grave evil. The bishop explained that “a political leader is a public person. We corrected that error, and now we must correct this one.” It offends God and the principles of our founding, just as Dred Scott and its defense of slavery once did. Roe was wrongly decided and must be corrected. The laws that protect it are unjust and, therefore, no law at all. He explained Church teaching: that abortion “is an intrinsic evil, which is to say there is never a circumstance that could justify it. This instruction “is especially important for bishops,” reflected Bishop Konderla. “Ultimately, the point of this teaching on the proper reception of Holy Communion is to offer all people the opportunity to repent, whether it be for support of abortion or any other grave sin, so that when they come to the altar they are truly in communion with Jesus Christ.” Yet Christ “teaches us that such a denial is actually charitable, intended for the salvation of a misguided soul who refuses to acknowledge the evil of abortion,” the bishop said. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.”īishop Konderla wrote: “Now if a person professes to be Catholic and does not believe these things, then their reaction to being told they should not receive the Sacrament would be predictable, ‘How dare you refuse me!’ The denial of Eucharist would be considered rude or inhospitable.” Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Paul’s statement in this First Epistle to the Corinthians, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the Body and Blood of the Lord. In contrast to this attitude, he pointed to St. “And if a person does not believe they are receiving the Lord in the Eucharist, then it would be almost impossible for them to believe their commitment to such mortal sin would place their soul in eternal peril.” ![]() They are a Zaccheaus who refuses to climb up in the tree to see Jesus.” The tacit approval of grave sin deadens the conscience and the ability to discern the presence of the Lord. Therefore, the bishop wrote, “it makes logical sense that any person who supports abortion would also be indignant when told that they may not receive Holy Communion. But can any of this happen if we fail to acknowledge the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist through our ignorance or refusal to believe His teachings?” ![]() And we should have a desire to grow as His disciple because of His love. We should be filled with humility and repentance because of His mercy. We should possess a profound gratitude and joy because of His grace. “Our faith-filled reaction to being in the Lord’s presence should be like that of Zaccheaus. “I believe this Gospel story sheds light on the current controversy regarding the reception of Communion by people who support the evil of abortion,” he reflected. With frequent references to Scripture, “Lord, I Am Not Worthy” opened with Bishop Konderla’s appreciation of the story of Zaccheaus, who was an unrepentant sinner until, “on the day he comes into the presence of Jesus Christ, he reconsiders his life and, by God’s grace … becomes a disciple.” ![]()
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