Are Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion automatically excommunicated?
Are Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion automatically excommunicated? No. May they rightly receive Communion? Here, too, the answer is no. ... A bishop who refused Communion to a pro-choice politician could count on taking fierce flak — from the media, from Church sources always glad to supply sneering quotes in contradiction of the hierarchy, from masters of non-sequitur claiming the First Amendment was violated by this attempt by the Church to conduct its internal affairs in light of its beliefs. Misled by the propaganda barrage, many Catholics would be upset.Arguably, though, the alternative is even more unappealing. As matters stand, the Church's convictions on two central tenets of the faith — eligibility to share in the Eucharist and the sanctity of unborn human life — are receiving a pounding, with scandal the result. Would Pope Benedict now care to tackle question number three?
We now have clarification from the Vatican that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should be barred from receiving Communion. Will the American bishops listen? It's better that the bishops take a stand for the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of the Eucharist and reaffirm our Catholic beliefs than it is to allow this scandal to continue and weaken their flocks' faith. As for the opprobrium they would receive from those outside the Church, Christ had something to say about that: "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." (Mt 5:11-12)