Remarks from
Cardinal Arinze on pro-choice politicians and Holy Communion
November 14, 2005
Inside The Vatican: Recently, an issue that has been
given a lot of attention are the moral obligations of Catholics during election
times. Is it a duty of them to vote for pro-life politicians, and should those
Catholic pro-choice politicians be given communion?
ARINZE: You are asking me if a politician says, "I
vote for abortion, and I will continue to ask for abortion." Then you ask should
he be given holy communion. So, you are really saying, this politician says, "I
vote for the killing of unborn children." Because we call things by their names.
And he calls that pro-choice.
Suppose somebody voted for the killing of all the members of
the House of Representatives, "for all of you being killed. I call that
pro-choice. Moreover, I am going to receive Holy Communion next Sunday." Then
you ask me, should he be given communion. My reply, "Do you really need a
cardinal from the Vatican to answer that question?" Can a child having made his
First Communion not answer that question? Is it really so complicated? The child
will give the correct answer immediately, unless he is conditioned by political
correctness. It is a pity, cardinals have to be asked such questions.
If a person has a way of life which is against the major
Commandments, and makes a boast of it, then the person is in a state which is
publicly sinful. It is he who has disqualified himself, not the priest or the
bishop. He should not go to communion, until his life should be in line with the
Gospel.
