5/13/2021
“The minister of Communion must refuse to distribute it to those who are publicly unworthy.” -Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Declaration Concerning the Admission to Holy Communion of Faithful Who are Divorced and Remarried (24 June 2000).
Guariento, "Ascension"
“The discernment of cases in which the faithful who find themselves in the described condition are to be excluded from Eucharistic Communion is the responsibility of the Priest who is responsible for the community.” -(Ibid.)
“No ecclesiastical authority may dispense the minister of Holy Communion from this obligation in any case, nor may he emanate directives that contradict it.” -(Ibid.)
“I shall follow what…those who govern the Church establish…So help me God, and God’s Holy Gospels on which I place my hand.” -Oath of Fidelity.
Bishop Strickland observed how current discussion related to Holy Communion for pro-abortion politicians seems to have lost reference to the principle of subsidiarity. I caught up with him a couple of nights ago at a local rectory before Confirmation and the topic came up of the pastor’s responsibility in the matter. He wondered how desirable it really is for national bishops conferences to be weighing in on how a priest should be exercising his role of determining whether or not to administer Holy Communion.
What can a national or regional bishop committees add to what the Church already provides? They cannot pronounce any binding regional policy that contradicts the universal law of the church to provide diligent protection for the Eucharist, as well as for the rights of the faithful to participate in the sacraments according to the norm of law. Are regional or national committees in a better position than pastors to respond to the circumstances surrounding individuals seeking to participate in the sacraments at any given moment?
Stay tuned for a slow read through PCLT’s 2000 Declaration on Holy Communion to the Divorced & Remarried (it’s not that long, only a few paragraphs). It’ll be healthy for us to take our time with it since we, as pastors can sometimes be left with the sense that the solution to our problems is out of our hands. PCLT makes it very clear that the case is really the opposite. The solution has been placed exactly in our anointed hands, entrusted to us as a sacred responsibility. Will we have the faith enough to “discern the Body”?
Image: Guariento, "Ascension"
