The Archbishop of St. Louis has stooped to a new low in threatening Rudy Giuliani with “no communion,” because of his stance on abortion. That really doesn’t strike me as something Jesus would do. Communion for most Christians even nominal ones is a sacramental rite and it was never meant as a reward and or punishment. I guess this just goes to show that even bishops can do dumb things. I’m not a supporter of Mr. Giuliani either but I think it shows some real shortsighted thinking on the part of the church and the archbishop. If communion really is the body of Christ and I believe it is, doesn’t that hold some hope as a change agent in Mr. Giuliani’s life? I think it does. In the first Eucharist even Judas receives communion and I think that’s the standard that Jesus set.
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Meta
Asked if the same would apply to politicians who support the death penalty or pre-emptive war, he said, “It’s a little more complicated in that case.”
Oh? So what this guy is saying is that my father’s life, the life of every Iraqi (born and unborn), the life of every soldier, the life even of every prisoner of death row, the life of every soldier… none of them count. They’re already born. Except the ones who aren’t. But they don’t count because they were conceived in a foreign place.
“And a stranger shalt thou not oppress; for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in Eretz Mitzraim.” Exodus 23:9
Words to this effect are repeated over and over again in the Torah, the Pentateuch. I would call upon the Bishop to look within his heart to find the heart of the stranger, the soldier, the hopeless, the helpless, the frightened mother, the guy on death row:
“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’ But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” Deuteronomy 30:11-14
It is hard, I think, for a bishop, though. It is hard to know the heart of the hungry when your plate is full of roast lamb. It is hard to know the heart of the stranger when the newspapers quote your words as an authority, when you need not fear the bombs that fall elsewhere, nor the violence that falls on another. It becomes easy to forgive the sins of the wealthy and powerful, but hard to forgive the sins of a poor, powerless woman.
I am with Ghandi. I think some Christians could do with being more like the homeless son of a carpenter who found forgiveness in his heart for the sins of the outcast and powerless.
Thank you for a lovely comment. I love what you have written and it brought tears to my eyes when I read it. You have a great outlook and a real heart for people. I value your friendship and your commentary. Peace. 🙂 Don
Peace.
I think the good Bishop did as Christ would have. After all the “right” to receive Him in the Eucharist is for practicing Catholics in the state of grace.
Some point to fact Judas received from our Lord as a means to show the good Bishop is wrong. I disagree, Judas didn’t betray our Lord until afterwards.
your servant but His first
George