Washington Bishop: Pro-Choice Politicians Should Not Receive Communion

By Carly Hoilman
Faithwire

In the wake of liberal abortion legislation gaining traction in several states recently, one Catholic bishop has made it clear that pro-choice politicians will not be welcome to receive communion in his diocese.

Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, Washington, sent a letter to his diocese Friday, doubling down on the Church’s pro-life teachings while admonishing self-professed Catholics who endorse pro-abortion legislation.

Politicians who reside in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, and who obstinately persevere in their public support for abortion, should not receive Communion without first being reconciled to Christ and the Church,” Bishop Daly wrote, as reported by the Catholic News Agency.

“Efforts to expand access to abortion, allowing murder of children up to the moment of birth is evil,” he added. “Children are a gift from God, no matter the circumstances of their conception. They not only have a right to life, but we as a society have a moral obligation to protect them from harm.”

The bishop’s strong words come as politicians like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have aggressively campaigned for the expansion of abortion up until birth. In his letter, he mentioned Cuomo directly, calling his behavior “unacceptable.”

“The champion of this abortion legislation is Andrew Cuomo, a Catholic and governor of New York. Governor Cuomo frequently cites his Catholic faith in support of legislation he favors. His public witness as a Catholic politician, coupled with his stalwart support of abortion, is unacceptable,” Bishop Daly wrote.

After signing the now-infamous Reproductive Health Act, Cuomo ordered that One World Trade Center in Manhattan, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Kosciuszko Bridge and the Alfred E. Smith Building in Albany be illuminated in pink.

Following Cuomo’s open celebration of the new law, which allows abortion to take place “at any time when necessary to protect a woman’s life or health,” Manhattan priest and author Fr. George Rutler observed, “The ancient Caesars dressed in red as the token of victory. Cuomo chose pink.”

Such brazen rebellion against the Church’s teachings on human life have prompted many Church leaders and lay people to call for Cuomo’s excommunication, which would prevent the governor from receiving communion and other sacraments until he repents of his sins. The goal of excommunication is to humble the sinner and move him to turn from practices that jeopardize his salvation.

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