Can Pro-Abortion Politicians Receive Holy Communion?
Q: What does the Code of Canon Law say about pro-abortion politicians being allowed to receive Holy Communion? — Jay A: It’s tempting to reply, “It depends on whom you ask.” Theology and canon law can be, and already have been, cited to justify virtually every conceivable position on this very important and timely topic. Thanks particularly to the upcoming presidential election, this issue has increasingly come to the fore — so let’s take a look at what the code actually says and what the Church teaches, and then we should more easily be able to understand and appreciate the objective, spin-free, non-partisan answer to Jay’s question. Here’s the stereotypic scenario, which we Americans unfortunately are all familiar with by now: John Doe, who was raised in a Catholic family and attends Mass regularly with his family, runs for political office and wins. He goes to his state legislature or to Washington, and proceeds to vote repeatedly in support of legalized abortion. Perhaps he also vo
