Dear presidio9,
Regarding what Archbishop O'Malley tolerates, he has posted his policy on the Archdiocese of Boston website.
http://www.rcab.org/News/ForTheRecord/ftr030729.html Here is what it says:
"July 29, 20033 - Response to the Boston Sunday Globe, July 27, 2003, pp.B10-11, “For roiled parish, uneasy compromise,” by Jack Thomas.
"In the story, Shirley Gomes, a then pro-choice candidate for the office of state representative recalls a conversation that she had with Bishop Sean: 'he assured me that if my position on abortion was an act of conscience, then I would not be denied Communion.'”
"Archbishop O’Malley wishes to make clear that there was much more to the conversation with now state representative Gomes. In particular, Archbishop O’Malley made it clear to her that a Catholic politician who holds a public, pro-choice position should not be receiving Communion and should on their own volition refrain from doing so. The Church presumes that each person is receiving in good faith. It is not our policy to deny Communion. It is up to the individual."
There it is. Though the archbishop believes the person ought not receive Holy Communion, the archbishop will not order that he or she be refused.
You may wish to look over this thread, which is largely about the dispute about this question.
sitetest