Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States Gives Pro-abortion Senator, John Kerry, Holy Communion

Senator John Kerry, "who supports keeping abortion legal, received Communion in the hand from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States and Pope Benedict XVI's representative to the U.S. bishops. Archbishop Wuerl distributed Communion alongside the nuncio."

Perhaps the nuncio did not recognize Senator Kerry.

Whatever the case, Senator Kerry should not receive Holy Communion:

Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion. General Principles, by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Comments

[Eileen]

I wonder if all of these pro abort politicians that helped facilitate the murder of millions of unborn babies, will have to face these innocents on judgement day? What is going on with our moral authority?

[PKS]

"What is going on with our moral authority? "

This is nothing new. For a quarter of a century under JPII's inept leadership, essentially the same thing went on.

The defining characteristic of the leadership of the Catholic Church is cowardliness spelt with a capital "C."

Make all the excuses you want, but the Catholic Church tries far too much to accommodate the world rather than provide an example to it.

[T. Shaw]

“We shall go before a higher tribunal - a tribunal where a Judge of infinite goodness, as well as infinite justice, will preside, and where many of the judgments of this world will be reversed.” Thomas Meagher, Irish patriot; Brig. Gen'l., Cmdr., Irish Brigade.

And, possibly the papal nuncio and the bishop should teach the truth to misguided persons like the named individual.

Isn't it a duty of bishops to be zealous for the salvation of souls?

[Agnello]

It would seem wrong for a bishop or indeed a priest to cause a public scene by denying someone Holy Communion. God alone is the judge of the human heart and it is to God that the sinner will answer. We cannot make decisions that belong only to God.
"Judge not and ye shall not be judged"
It is too easy to become black and white on these issues.

[carolg]

Agnello,

I'll give Kerry the benifit of the doubt that he knows the Catholic Chruch always teaches that abortion is 100% evil.

You are correct, I can not judge what is in his heart but we can objectively say Kerry's behavoir is wrong.

I find it interesting that people at Planned Parenthood know full well what the Catholic Church teaches on abortion - I've had them explain it to me - but some Catholics claim to not have clarity on this matter.

Either way, Kerry needs to be corrected. To let someone continue in error is wrong for us. If you think Christ was not judgemental read the "Woe to you . . ." passage again (Matthew 23). And in Matthew 18:15 about correcting your brother.

[T. Shaw]

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

Admonish the sinner

Instruct the ignorant

Counsel the doubtful

Comfort the sorrowful

Bear wrongs patiently

Forgive all injuries

Pray for the living and the dead

[Paolo Rossi]

For a quarter of a century under JPII's inept leadership, essentially the same thing went on.

The defining characteristic of the leadership of the Catholic Church is cowardliness spelt with a capital "C."

Well said, PKS.

How Pope Benedict responds to his nuncio's actions will indicate what kind of man he is and what he truly believes -- more so than anything he has done or said to date, or anything he may do or say afterward.

If he allows this nuncio to remain in his current position, then the pope is saying that Rome's pronouncements are worthless. And if that's the case, then the Vatican is worthless.

[Jean]

I always find fascinating how people react to this issue. I know of a priest that gave communion to one of the participants, even though he knew the man was involved in the priest's own murder [and therefore in "sin"] Was he wrong in giving communion to him? If you said yes, then go back to scripture and read how Jesus gave His own body and blood to Judas and to Peter.

[Beth Dickie]

How do I obtain the address for Papal Nuncio, Pietro Sambi ?

[Thomistic]

Nunciature to United States of America

Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio

Mailing Address:
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W, Washington, DC, USA
Telephone: (202) 333-7121
Fax: 337-4036

[Sherry LeBlanc]

Can you telle me about the Knights of St. Gregory? My uncle was Knighted and we're trying to get documentation replaced following a terrible fire. His name: Percy H. LeBlanc and the knighthood was made in April 1978.

[Sheila Hart]

Would like to have the address of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Papal Nuncio to U.S.A. Our Bishop Rickin was transferred to WS. We need a Bishop badly as the current priest in the bishop's stead has given some misinformation pertaining to pro-life and politics to priests of foreign origin. Hope you can help me. Sheila Hart