Central Valley Catholic leader backs forbidding Communion to pro-choice parishioners
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The Central Valley's leader of the Catholic Church is publicly backing 'sanctions' in support of forbidding Communion to pro-choice parishioners.
Bishop Joseph V. Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno church released a letter on Monday supporting an archbishop’s decision to deny House Speaker Nancy Pelosi her Communion, due to her continuing support of abortion.
“[The archbishop] has taken a lot of heat, in and out of the church, for standing up for what's right,” Brennan said in the letter.
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone notified Pelosi and announced his decision to refuse her Communion on May 20.
Cordileone in his announcement said Pelosi is “not to be admitted to Holy Communion unless and until she publicly (will) repudiate her support for abortion ‘rights’ and confess and receive absolution.”
Pelosi responded the following week on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and said she comes from a large family with some members who oppose abortions.
'We just have to be prayerful': Pelosi responds after archbishop denies her Holy Communion for supporting abortion rights
“I respect people’s views about that. But I don’t respect us foisting it onto others.” Pelosi said.
Brennan said Cordileone has done his “due diligence” communicating with Pelosi and done his job as a bishop to “lead her away from a very sinful situation.”
“If you are going up to receive Communion and have no intention of changing your heart, mind and actions regarding these teachings, then you should make the decision not to receive Communion. Otherwise, someone may have to impose the sanction on you,” he said.
Cordileone’s announcement came after Politico released a leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court that argues for overturning its decision in Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to an abortion.
Pelosi in September decided to bring a bill to the House floor that would make the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade the law of the land. The House passed the legislation almost along party lines, but it has been blocked in the Senate.
Brennan has shown his support of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, where he described the news as “euphoria” and calling those who support abortion “pro-death.”
Catholic bishops can decide if Communion should be denied to any parishioner. The archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, has said President Joe Biden can receive the sacrament in the area. Biden in October told reporters that Pope Francis during a private meeting told him he should continue to receive Communion.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California Catholic leader backs Communion ban for pro-choice members
