Free Republic

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, a veteran of clashes between Catholic bishops and politicians, has attempted for years to enlist fellow bishops to deny Holy Communion to wayward politicians. Now, the conservative cleric is invoking the church's highest punishment -- mortal sin -- to persuade the lay and ordained Catholics who distribute Communion at Mass to safeguard the sacrament.Drawing on the works of the late Italian Jesuit scholar Felice Cappello, Burke says those ministers are "held, under pain of mortal sin, to deny the sacraments to the unworthy."That argument could place Communion ministers on the frontlines of the "wafer wars"...

AN APPEAL FROM FAITHFUL CATHOLICS TO AMERICA’S BISHOPS PLEASE PROTECT THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST FROM PRO-ABORTION ‘CATHOLIC’ POLITICIANS As a faithful Catholic, I respectfully make this appeal to the Catholic bishops of the United States: WHEREAS the Church teaches that abortion is always an intrinsic evil, and; WHEREAS the Church teaches that the sacred nature of the Eucharist is worthy of every protection, and; WHEREAS the reception of the Eucharist by those who publicly support abortion gives scandal to the Catholic faithful and offends Christ; THEREFORE, we humbly implore each of you to take the actions necessary to...

Unquestionably, canon 915 is the most discussed canon in the Codex Iuris Canonici, or Code of Canon Law, in recent Church history.  Many in the secular and Protestant media have reported on the January 8, 2004 canonical actions of Archbishop Raymond Burke, then bishop of the La Crosse, Wisconsin diocese.  Because of their misinformation, speculation and outright resentment, confusion reigns regarding the Archbishop's promulgation of his 'canonical notification' based on canon 915, the official communication of what the Church's discipline is.  I would like to make some important clarifications, with appropriate documentation, in hopes that people of all faiths will...

Unquestionably, canon 915 is the most discussed canon in the Codex Iuris Canonici, or Code of Canon Law, in recent Church history. Many in the media have reported on the January 8, 2004 canonical actions of Archbishop Raymond Burke, then bishop of the La Crosse, Wisconsin diocese. His actions have rocked the Catholic Church. Because of much misinformation, speculation and outright resentment, confusion reigns regarding the Archbishop's promulgation of his 'canonical notification' based on canon 915, the official communication of what the Church's discipline is.