Editorial: Cardinal Egan Defends Life by Correcting Giuliani
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Edward Cardinal Egan of New York issued a formal statement concerning the reception of the Eucharist by the former Mayor of New York and former Republican candidate for President, Rudolph Giuliani.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
4/29/2008 (1 decade ago)
Published in U.S.
LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - In the aftermath of the extraordinary apostolic visit of Pope Benedict XVI, the events are all being examined as to their impact.
There is no doubt that the message and the meaning of the week will be unpacked for months, even years, to come. In some instances the absolute beauty of the Liturgies and the deep wisdom of each of the homilies was accompanied by some inappropriate responses.
Unfortunately, included among those,was the reemergence of the ever present concern that some Catholics in Public Life, who take positions on protecting and defending human life which are completely at odds with the Magisterium, insist on coming forward to receive the Holy Eucharist at very public Liturgical Celebrations.
The discussion concerning the multiple aspects of this issue has been carried on for years within the Catholic Church in America. There are legitimate differences among the American Bishops as to pastoral approach and application.
However, they all agree with the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church concerning the dignity and inviolability of every human life and the intrinsic evil of legalized abortion. They also agree that the reception of the Eucharist implies that the communicant is in full communion with that teaching.
The disagreement comes in the arena of the proper pastoral care of all souls.
What magnifies the problem, and continues to bring it back into the public discussion, is the behavior of Politicians who overtly dissent from the truth about life and want everyone to know that they disagree with their Church.
For example, when advocates of legalized abortion on demand come forward in very public Liturgies, knowing full well what kinds of signals this action sends to the faithful and to the public, a response is appropriate. That is precisely what happened at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 19.
This kind of overt behavior raises the specter of what is called "scandal" in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 2284-2287).
It at least shows a lack of concern for the souls of others when a Catholic in public life, knowing full well the teaching of his or her Church on this issue, insists on coming forward to receive communion in a very public Liturgy.
Edward Cardinal Egan of New York issued a formal statement concerning the reception of the Eucharist by the former Mayor of New York and former Republican candidate for president, Rudolph Giuliani.
The former Mayor is a proponent of the current American approach to abortion which, since Roe v Wade, makes it 'legal' throughout all nine months, profanely calling it not only a "choice" but a "right".
However,every procured abortion is irrefutably the intentional taking of innocent unborn human life. This is clear in the medical science.
Taking innocent human life is also universally immoral. This is clear in the in the Natural Law which binds all men and women.
It is also clearly and infallibly taught by the ordinary Magisterium of the Catholic Church to be intrinsically evil.
The statement of the Cardinal is found on the web site of the Archdiocese of New York:
"The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind.Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion.
I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."
Cardinal Egan is to be commended for his statement and his courage.
Hopefully, his statement will lead the Mayor to reexamine the clear error of his position and lead him to repentance and to the fullness of the sacramental grace of the Church.
Hopefully as well, it will speak loudly to other Catholics in public life, in both political parties, who are wrong concerning this fundamental human rights issue and help to bring about a genuine conversion of mind, heart and behavior.
At least it tells the Catholic faithful that the Archbishop of New York cares about the effects of such behavior. It comes at a critical time, when they desperately need to hear such a message.The Cardinal is to be commended. He defended life, and the truth,by pastorally correcting Giuliani.
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