Catholic church, you piss me off!

Sorry Mom, I know you don't like it when I use the p-word. But this time, I really really mean it.

Recent articles featured in the NY Times and the Gainesville Sun have highlighted inappropriate abuses of power within the Catholic church. I'm not talking about scandals. I'm talking about priests forgetting their place. In an article titled, "Catholic heritage defines Biden," Eric Gorski (AP) reports that Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput has publicly called Joe Biden to refrain from taking communion because he is pro-choice. The same man suggested John Kerry should be denied the sacrament during the previous election.

And in Mexico City, "Even the powerful Catholic Church, which threatened legislators with excommunication last year if they approved the [abortion] law, has muted its political rhetoric. (In the end, the church did not kick any lawmakers out because of their votes.)"

I think these two articles highlight a gross abuse of power by the higher-ups in the Catholic church. Threatening to deny anyone communion should raise disgust and outrage from catholics around the world. Priests who see themselves as the arbiter, deciding who should and should not receive God's grace are walking a dangerous line. They seem to think that it is their position to decide who is and is not "good enough" to receive from the Lord, this same Lord who said "Come unto me all ye who labor and I will give you rest." In doesn't read, come to me those who agree with me or come to me those who are really really religious. Christ calls the weary to himself, does he not also call the weary to his own communion table? Scripture suggests that not only would Jesus himself serve communion to these legislators himself, HE ALREADY HAS! Communion is a symbol of Christ's death and resurrection, offered to all people, and certainly not denied to people because of their political views, moral values or private battles. Perhaps what is most important to remember is that Christ himself would offer communion to the women waiting in line for abortions and to the doctors who perform such actions.

Priests who threaten to excommunicate people should be punished, by the establishment for an abuse of power. And Catholics whose values actually do reflect the gospel ought to speak out against such nonsense. Those who would like to contact the Archbishop, may do so with the following information:

Archbishop of Denver
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
303-715-3129
shepherd@archden.org

Archbishop of Denver Website

Articles available at the following links:
Mexico City Struggles with Law on Abortion
Catholic heritage defines Biden