I'd support the Catholic Church here if they did the same on all their issues
Catholic Leader Open to Hearing from Lawmakers
Thu May 20, 2004 05:42 PM ET
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of a task force of bishops "is open to hearing" from Catholic members in Congress concerned that church leaders may trigger a backlash if they deny Communion to politicians who support abortion rights, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.
The spokeswoman for Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., said, however, a meeting has not yet been set and declined to predict when one might be.
The spokeswoman for Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., said, however, a meeting has not yet been set and declined to predict when one might be.
"The task force (on bishops and Catholics in public life) has heard from a number of people, and it is open to hearing from them," said spokeswoman Susan Gibbs.
"We're hopeful we can open a dialogue," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, one of 48 Catholic members of the House of Representatives, all Democrats, who recently wrote McCarrick.
In the letter, dated May 10 and made public this week, the lawmakers asked to begin a discussion with bishops on the potentially explosive election-year issue.
Several bishops have threatened to deny the Eucharist, which Catholics believe is the body of Christ, from Catholic politicians who vote for abortion rights such as Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. The church opposes abortion.
"We firmly believe that it would be wrong for a bishop to deny the sacrament of holy communion to an individual on the basis of a voting record," wrote the Democrats, who include the party's House leader, Nancy Pelosi of California.
"We believe such an action would be counterproductive and would bring great harm to the church," they wrote.
