Abortion and the Catholic Church: Randall Terry Leads Delegation to Vatican from March 17-24Participants will ask Vatican Officials: "Do Vatican Officials stand by the words of Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) to American bishops in 2004?"
Also: Bishop Rene Henry Gracida writes letter of introduction, encouraging Vatican Officials to meet with Mr. Terry and The Vanguard of St. Catherine of Siena. See letter: www.ahumbleplea.com/Docs/vanguard.pdf.
In 2004, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (now Pope Benedict XVI), issued an instruction to American bishops that a "Catholic politician" who is "consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws..." must be "denied the Eucharist." See Cardinal Ratzinger's two page instruction at: www.ahumbleplea.com/Docs/WorthinessToReceiveHolyCommunion.pdf
In his clear instruction, entitled,
Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion
General Principles
Cardinal Ratzinger stated:
5. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person's formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church's teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.
6. When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Declaration "Holy Communion and Divorced, Civilly Remarried Catholics" [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgement 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.
Members of The Vanguard of St. Catherine of Siena will ask for an affirmation from Vatican officials about Cardinal Ratzinger's (now Pope Benedict) statement regarding Communion and Catholic politicians who promote child killing.
Randall Terry states:
"Our quest is for a simple answer from every Vatican official we meet: 'Do you stand by the words of Cardinal Ratzinger in 2004? Is this the teaching of the Church?'"
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