Free Republic

"The Faith is Europe. And Europe is the Faith," wrote Hilaire Belloc after that bloodbath we call World War I. "Either Europe will return to the Faith or she will perish." By 1938, Belloc concluded Christian Europe was done: "The bad work begun at the Reformation is bearing its final fruit in the dissolution of our ancient doctrines -- the very structure of society is dissolving." He was right. Europe is the dying continent. And looking back at the history of the Old Continent, we see the truth of G.K. Chesterton's insight: When men cease to believe in God, they...

Holy Communion Question from Searching_for_Truth on 05-04-2004: Colin,I have 2 questions about Holy Communion in the liturgy:1) Are only priests supposed to deny someone Holy Communion if they (the recipient) are not supposed to have it (i.e., pro-abortion politicans) or are extraordinary ministers supposed to deny them also?2) Are only "public figures" supposed to be denied Holy Communion or is your average "John Doe Catholic" supposed to be denied also if it is known of their stance (i.e., pro-abortion)?Thank you! Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 05-13-2004: Canon 912 Any baptized person who is not prohibited by law...

Canon Law 915: For those who persist in manifest grave sin, no Communion ============================ Archbishop Sean O'Malley made the following statement on July 29, 2003, from his Archdiocese's Public Release Office, "a Catholic politician who holds a public, pro-choice position should not be receiving Communion...." However, he added (incredibly!): "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." (The presumption is obviously faulty.) Therefore, on July 30, 2003, Archbishop O'Malley, at his Mass of Installation as Archbishop of Boston, permitted pro-abortion Massachusetts Senators John...