A priest at St. Mary's Catholic Church in downtown Greenville has told parishioners that those who voted for Barack Obama placed themselves under divine judgment because of his stance on abortion and should not receive Holy Communion until they've done penance. The Rev. Jay Scott Newman told The Greenville News on Wednesday that church teaching doesn't allow him to refuse Holy Communion to anyone based on political choices, but that he'll continue to deliver the church's strong teaching on the "intrinsic and grave evil of abortion" as a hidden form of murder.
Both Democratic president-elect Obama and Joe Biden, the vice president-elect, support legal abortions. Obama has called it a "divisive issue" with a "moral dimension," and has pledged to make women's rights under Roe v. Wade a "priority" as president. He opposes a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court decision.
At issue for the church locally and nationwide are exit polls showing that 54% of self-described Catholics voted for Obama, as well as a growing rift in the lifestyle and voting patterns between practicing and non-practicing Catholics.
In a letter posted on St. Mary's website, Newman wrote that "voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."
Catholics who did so should be reconciled to God through penance before receiving communion, "lest they eat and drink their own condemnation," Newman wrote, echoing a I Corinthians admonition for anyone who partakes "without recognizing the body of the Lord."
The response from parishioners has been supportive by a margin of 9 to 1, Newman said. He also cited Scripture in urging parishioners to pray for Obama and cooperate with him wherever conscience permits.
Stephen Gajdosik, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, told The News that calling parishioners who voted for a candidate who supports legalized abortions to penance is a question of how best to deepen a flock's relationship to God and a move left up to local priests. He said such a move is appropriate and in line with church teaching.
Earlier this week at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, their president, Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, pointed out that there was no automatic excommunication for a politician who approved pro-choice legislation. It will take a complex study of church law to determine levels "cooperating with evil."
Voting on legislation that allows abortion is not the same, for example, as running a hospital that performs abortions or acting as the surgeon. George would not lump such a politician into the "material cooperation" category, the worst one.
The Church's "Faithful Citizenship" document, advising voters on how to consider Catholic teachings in their decisions, spells out that abortion is an "intrinsic evil" and cautions that Catholics should not choose a candidate specifically because he or she is pro-choice.
However, it also notes a full spectrum of issues that may prompt a voter to pick a candidate who shares the Church's stance on immigration, peace, and social and economic justice.
No matter the intention of the voter, Newman said a vote for Obama is "material cooperation" with his goal of extending access to abortion. Asked in an e-mail interview if he would actively deny the sacraments to Obama voters, Newman said he won't because the church teaches that no one is denied communion unless it would cause "grave scandal," such as in the case of a notorious public sinner.
However, he said he'll continue to teach the necessity of being in "full, visible communion" with the Church before receiving the sacraments.
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(Source: USAT)