To be, or not to be ? literal-minded: That?s the question.
A hot-button issue for the nation?s Roman Catholic bishops ? especially, perhaps, for Baltimore?s William Cardinal Keeler, leader of America?s oldest Catholic diocese ? has become hotter with the Democrats? sweep of the 2006 elections.
That?s because professing Catholic pols ? many of whom defy church teaching on such matters as abortion, assisted suicide and embryonic stem cell research ? are newly more powerful, often help the church in development matters and back Rome on other less definitive peace and justice issues.
Nevertheless, some vocal orthodox Catholic groups want them barred from communion ? an appeal that actually tracks well with the church?s official position in the matter.
“If Keeler?s ever done anything, it?s all private,” said Jack Ames, founder and director of the Baltimore-based Defend Life, a leading Catholic anti-abortion rights group that wants communion denied to those it calls life issues-violating Catholic officials, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Martin O?Malley and Sen. Barbara Mikulski. “But as far as I know, he?s never really clamped down on them.”
Ames, who included Maryland Speaker of the House Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas “Mike” Miller in the offending group, conceded, however, that Keeler has been responsive in some ways.
Canon 915 of the Catholic Church?s Code of Canon Law prohibits the distribution of communion ? as it would be considered a sacrilege ? to those who, among others, “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin,” a category that would include public adherents of abortion and the related offenses.
Upheld by the Vatican?s Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger ? the current pope ? in a letter to a 2004 bishop?s conference considering policy implementation, the injunction, however, was later deemed by the conference to allow each bishop to handle the matter as he saw fit.
That?s what got the activist groups steamed; it believes the canon is clear: no communion for abortion-rights Catholic politicians, including Sens. Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Susan Collins.
“There?s the issue of giving scandal to Catholics who themselves may be unsure of the seriousness of abortion,” said Janet Baker, an activist Catholic developer of the reform-minded Web site www.restore-dc-catholicism.com vice.org, “and lack of concern for the [spiritual welfare of] pro-abortion politicians themselves.”
Examiner calls to Pelosi, O?Malley, Busch and Miller went unreturned on the subject, but a Keeler spokesperson said the archbishop believes that worthiness to receive communion is the responsibility of the communicant.
