Joe Biden and Communion

Joe Biden has been described as a "devout Catholic" - and he certainly regularly says he is a practicing  Catholic.

But given his stance on issues like abortion, homosexual marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and more, some have called into question his standing as a Catholic. I certainly have.

Although Church leaders are often loathe to say things that might shake things up, some clergy have spoken out about Biden over the years. Several have said he should not receive Communion until he repents.

2020 - Cardinal Raymond Burke: Joe Biden "is not a Catholic in good standing and he should not approach to receive Holy Communion."

2020 - Bishop Richard Stika, the Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, said, “[I] don't understand how Mr. Biden can claim to be a good and faithful Catholic as he denies so much of Church teaching, especially on the absolute child abuse and human rights violations of the most innocent, the not yet born. And he also praises his sidekick who has shown time and time again in senate hearings that she is an anti-Catholic bigot.” 

2020 - Fr. Kevin Cusick, the Pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, in Benedict, Maryland, wrote, “Joe Biden is not a practicing Catholic. And practicing Catholics cannot vote for Biden for president in good conscience."

2019 – Father Robert Morey of St. Anthony's Parish in Florence, South Carolina, refused Joe Biden Communion.

2012 - Bishop Michael Sheridan of the Diocese of Colorado Springs warned then-Vice President Joe Biden “ought not to be receiving Communion.”

2008 - Bishop Joseph Francis Martino of Joe Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, told Biden he could not receive Communion.

The Code of Canon Law stipulates that Holy Communion should not be given to those “who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin.”

In a 2004 memorandum to U.S.Bishops, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), at the time the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, pointed out that obstinately pro-abortion Catholic politicians, after being duly instructed and warned, should be denied Communion. That clearly seems to have been the case with Biden. 

Critics argue that Communion should not be weaponized or used as a punishment. But that shows a clear misunderstanding about what Communion is.

Pope Benedict's 2004 memorandum notes: "This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin."  

Here's an analogy: If a person has a serious medical problem, and a doctor prescribes a medicine to help, but one that might be unpleasant, or even painful in some way, do we say the doctor has weaponized the medicine, or is punishing the patient? Of course not.

Communion is a Sacrament of healing - yes - but one must be ready for that healing. It is a Sacrament of unity - we are one body - but if a person has taken a position in stark contrast to a significant Catholic teaching, that person is not in union with fellow Catholics.

Similar prohibitions have been issued about other politicians ho identify as Catholic but who hold pro-choice positions, including Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durban, and John Kerry.

The goal is to get them to see the error of their ways and to repent.

We must pray this will happen with Biden and the others.

Pax et bonum