British lawmakers who support the country's abortion legislation should not take part in Communion, a Welsh Roman Catholic archbishop saidon Saturday, echoing calls made by the chief of Scotland's Catholics.Cardiff Archbishop Peter Smith said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation radio that he would not ban Catholic politicians from taking Communion, but they should not be seeking it if they supported abortion.
Earlier this week, Edinburgh Cardinal Keith O'Brien called on his congregation to "boycott" politicians who did not condemn the "unspeakable crime" of abortion.
In his speech to mark the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act in Britain, O'Brian likened the number of abortions carried out in Scotland each day to the equivalent of two Dunblane massacres- a 1996 incident during which a gunman killed 16 children at the Dunblane elementary school.
top.
And in his radio interview, Smith appeared to back O'Brien's contention, saying his comments were underpinned by "the general teaching of the church on this."
"A priest or bishop is not permitted to refuse communion unless it is quite clear that the person has been excommunicated or there is a very public rejection of church teaching," he said.
"The pastoral reality is, as the Pope has said recently in Mexico, that if a Catholic politician manifestly, clearly goes against the church's teaching, then they ought to remove themselves from receiving communion, because it would be a cause of great scandal."
Pope Benedict XVI has said it is up to individual bishops to decide whether Catholic politicians should receive Communion if they support abortion rights.
Abortion was legalized in England, Wales and Scotland in 1967.
The sermon to mark the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act came two days after official figures showed abortion on the increase, from 12 603 in 2005 to 13 081 in 2006.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce