CHURCH IN THE NEWS
by Susan Hines-Brigger
ARCHBISHOP SAYS PELOSI TO BE DENIED COMMUNION
THIS PAST MAY, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco announced that he will no longer allow US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to receive Communion because of her support for abortion rights, reported Catholic News Service (CNS). Pelosi, a Catholic, represents California’s 12th Congressional District, which is entirely within San Francisco. The archbishop said he made the decision “after numerous attempts to speak with her to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking” as a Catholic who supports legalized abortion. The ban, he noted, will remain in place unless and until she publicly repudiates “support for abortion ‘rights,’” goes to confession, and receives absolution “for her cooperation in this evil.” “Please know that I find no pleasure whatsoever in fulfilling my pastoral duty here,” Archbishop Cordileone said. “Speaker Pelosi remains our sister in Christ. Her advocacy for the care of the poor and vulnerable elicits my admiration. I assure you that my action here is purely pastoral, not political. I have been very clear in my words and actions about this.” Some bishops, however, questioned the move. Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa, issued a statement describing the action as “misguided.” “As Jesus said, it’s the sick people who need a doctor, not the healthy, and he gave us the Eucharist as a healing remedy,” Jackels said. “Don’t deny the people who need the medicine.” He also contended that the issue of abortion is not the only critical “life issue” that is currently facing the Church. 8 • August 2022 / StAnthonyMessenger.org
“Protecting the earth, our common home, or making food, water, shelter, education, and health care accessible, or defense against gun violence . . . these are life issues too,” he said. “To be consistent, to repair the scandal of Catholics being indifferent or opposed to all those other life issues, they would have to be denied holy Communion as well.” RELATED NEWS In an open letter issued in June, the Catholic bishops of Colorado asked Catholic legislators “who live or worship in the state” and voted for Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act “to voluntarily refrain from receiving holy Communion until public repentance takes place and sacramental absolution is received in confession.” The Reproductive Health Equity Act is considered one of the nation’s most permissive abortion measures. Signing the letter were (pictured below, identified left to right): Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver, Auxiliary Bishop Jorge H. Rodriguez of Denver, Bishop Stephen J. Berg of Pueblo, and Bishop James R. Golka of Colorado Springs.
CNS PHOTOS: TOP LEFT: ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO/DENNIS CALLAHAN; TOP RIGHT: TOM BRENNER/REUTERS; LOWER RIGHT: CNS COMPOSITE/ARCHIVE PHOTOS
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, seen in a file photo celebrating Mass outside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, has banned US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (right) from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, due to her support of abortion rights. The move was welcomed by some bishops but questioned by others.
