Vatican Denies ‘Very Catholic’ Biden a Mass with Pope Francis

 

From taxpayer-funded abortion to suing the Little Sisters of the Poor, the dogma lives loudly in our very Catholic president. So, Tuesday morning, he’s popping into the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. Never wanting to miss a photo-op, Team Biden asked that the president attend mass with the Pontifex Maximus. Maybe Joe could make intercessory prayers to St. Margaret Sanger and Pachamama.

The Vatican, however, wasn’t too keen on the idea. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops meets Wednesday to create a committee to write a document about “Eucharistic coherence.” That’s already a tense enough issue without a pro-abortion politician receiving communion with Pope Francis. They informed Biden that a mass wasn’t going to happen.

The issue has jumped to the fore with Biden’s election because one is not supposed to participate in the Eucharist when in a state of sin. I mean, it’s right there in the Book:

“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (KJV)

The issue is fraught, pitting religion and politics against each other. US bishops disagree on how to proceed.

“If you find that you are unwilling or unable to abandon your advocacy for abortion, you should not come forward to receive Holy Communion. To publicly affirm the Catholic faith while at the same time rejecting one of its most fundamental teachings is simply dishonest.” — Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco

“I do not see how depriving the president or other political leaders of the Eucharist on their public policy stance can be interpreted in our society as anything other than a weaponization of the Eucharist … to pummel them into submission.” — Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego

Maybe Catholic Ricochetti can weigh in. Was the Pope right not to celebrate Mass with President Biden? And what do you think the US bishops will decide?

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  1. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Dennis Miller used to say that Biden didn’t actually go to mass on Ash Wednesday, the spot on his forehead was just where Obama put out his cigarette.  And that was the only reason Obama kept him around.

    How did Miller know that Obama still smoked?  Because Obama said he quit.

    • #1
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    As for the rest, the Catholic Church probably just hasn’t received enough “stimulus” yet.

    • #2
  3. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: The US Conference of Catholic Bishops meets Wednesday to create a committee to write a document about “Eucharistic coherence.”

    That phrase was coined by Cardinal Bergoglio before he became Pope Francis, for what it’s worth.

    The US bishops conference (USCCB) and the Vatican have both recently embarrassed us in the handling of this issue. Many bishops are at odds with very plain Catholic teaching.

    A beauty of God’s Church is that no amount of corruption could ever undo her formal teachings on faith and morals. The continuity of faith is unbroken. Even bad popes could not threaten our creed.

    Objectively speaking, for Biden to receive Christ’s body and blood in the eucharist not only brings judgment on himself but causes scandal by confusing and misleading other Christians. It is for the protection of all, in addition to pious reverence for our Lord’s paschal body, that Biden cannot be offered eucharist responsibly.

    • #3
  4. Clavius Thatcher
    Clavius
    @Clavius

    No, he should not receive the Eucharist.

    • #4
  5. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Imagine the intellectual Rumpelstiltskinism on the left if the progressive Pope had decried abortion on the basis of equity, and disparate impact. 

    • #5
  6. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    He and all other politicians pretending to be Catholic while supporting abortion and other practices that are morally condemned in the clear teaching of the RCC should not only be denied Eucharist until such time when they publicly repent and do penance, they should be excommunicated if that repentance and penance is not forthcoming. Wrote the Pentecostal who is married to a Catholic. 

    • #6
  7. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    As much as I hope the explanation for not celebrating mass with Biden is for the reasons you state, Jon, could it be that there is another reason?  The reason for the rejection seems to be implied rather than bluntly stated.

    • #7
  8. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Maybe Catholic Ricochetti can weigh in. Was the Pope right not to celebrate Mass with President Biden?

    Baptist says yes.

    • #8
  9. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Maybe Catholic Ricochetti can weigh in. Was the Pope right not to celebrate Mass with President Biden? And what do you think the US bishops will decide?

    The best outcome would have been for Pope Francis to invite Biden to mass, preach on the grave evil of abortion, and deny him Holy Communion in line with Canon 915.

    The US bishops will probably decide to write another document on Eucharistic coherence (they already have many) and still sit back and do nothing. Until they actually publicly reprimand the pro-abortion politicians and publicly tell them that they cannot receive Holy Communion until they publicly repent, this charade will continue.

    As the words from 1 Corinthians state, this is an issue of the salvation of one’s soul, not a political issue. Bishop McElroy and many other US bishops of his ilk (Cupich, Tobin, etc.) seem to not care one bit for the souls of these pro-abortion politicians.

    • #9
  10. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Providentially, today’s gospel reading for Mass is the command to pray for our enemies. Trent Horn brings it back to our frustrations with the Church’s fallen humanity. 

    Every day, there is good cause to be angry. Anger should motivate us to act. Sometimes prayer is the most appropriate and fruitful act. 

    • #10
  11. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Aaron Miller (View Comment):

    Providentially, today’s gospel reading for Mass is the command to pray for our enemies. Trent Horn brings it back to our frustrations with the Church’s fallen humanity.

    Every day, there is good cause to be angry. Anger should motivate us to act. Sometimes prayer is the most appropriate and fruitful act.

    Preach, brother.

    • #11
  12. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Imagine the intellectual Rumpelstiltskinism on the left if the progressive Pope had decried abortion on the basis of equity, and disparate impact.

    or the impact on climate change 

    • #12
  13. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: The issue has jumped to the fore with Biden’s election because one is not supposed to participate in the Eucharist when in a state of sin.

    I’m not a theologian, but I always thought man was constantly living in a state of sin, but is forgiven through Christ’s death and ressurection, thus making him sinless in the afterlife.  Maybe the issue is whether or not one admits he’s living in a state of sin . . .

    • #13
  14. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Imagine the intellectual Rumpelstiltskinism on the left if the progressive Pope had decried abortion on the basis of equity, and disparate impact.

    @jameslileks I don’t know if you are writing this in jest or with deadly seriousness.

    Abortion is used against the: poor, (poor black people in particular) females and the disabled. Margaret Sanger intentionally built abortion clinics in black population centers. Additionally, she openly and clearly advocated for the abortion of disabled people or people who were likely to be disabled. Such things continue to this day. There are practically no people with down syndrome in Greenland because of abortion as a result of this trend. 

    There is an entirely plausible left-wing case against abortion that focuses on such disparate inequalities. 

     

    • #14
  15. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Stad (View Comment):

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: The issue has jumped to the fore with Biden’s election because one is not supposed to participate in the Eucharist when in a state of sin.

    I’m not a theologian, but I always thought man was constantly living in a state of sin, but is forgiven through Christ’s death and ressurection, thus making him sinless in the afterlife. Maybe the issue is whether or not one admits he’s living in a state of sin . . .

    We are all sinners. The Church distinguishes between mortal and venial sins, which is a Biblical concept.

    Eucharist should not be accepted in a state of mortal sin. To do so, deliberately, is akin to Judas kissing the cheek of Jesus to betray Him. It feigns embrace of Christ while in truth rejecting Him.

    Mortal sin is that which does not merely burden the relationship but willingly severs it. To consume Christ’s body in a state of mortal sin is like a man kissing his wife while they both know he had sex with another woman and intends to do so again. He is not truly loving her. He continues to hurt her.

    But God’s mercy is beyond measure. One need only repent, show true contrition, and resolve to avoid that offense to be forgiven of mortal sin and return to full communion with Christ and His church. One might fall again to mortal sin by temptation, and be forgiven again. What matters is true contrition — truly regretting having offended God, having failed to return His love, and submitting to the truth of His moral law (the shape of love).

    Venial (milder) sins do not bar one from receiving the Eucharist. All Catholics say during the preparation: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” The sacrament of Communion/Eucharist heals in forgiveness the contrite of heart. Even so, all Catholics are encouraged to regularly receive the sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation.

    The Act of Contrition prayer (with variants) employed during Confession:

    O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the fires of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

    • #15
  16. Postmodern Hoplite Coolidge
    Postmodern Hoplite
    @PostmodernHoplite

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    Maybe Catholic Ricochetti can weigh in. Was the Pope right not to celebrate Mass with President Biden? And what do you think the US bishops will decide?

    Anglican says, “yes.”

    I hope (more than expect) that the US bishops will issue a clear statement affirming Church doctrines.

    • #16
  17. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    From the Dominican Health Care Ministry of New York:

    The first distinction is between “formal” cooperation with evil and “material” cooperation with evil.  Formal cooperation with evil means assisting an evildoer while sharing his evil intention.  Husbands or parents pressuring women to have abortions would be examples of formal cooperation with evil. They intend that the evil of direct abortion should take place and so their cooperation in that evil is clearly immoral. Since formal cooperation in evil involves the choice that evil be done, it is never morally good. Material cooperation with evil means assisting an evildoer without sharing his intention. Material cooperation with evil may or may not be morally permissible.

    Mediate material cooperation in evil may or may not be morally upright depending on how “proximate” or “remote” the cooperation is. More proximate cooperation with an evildoer means assisting him in a way that is more closely related to his evil action. Remote cooperation means assisting in a way that is less closely related. For example, mopping floors at an abortion clinic is a more proximate form of cooperating with the evil of direct abortion than buying a product from a company that contributes money to abortion clinics. Of course, the more proximate the cooperation with evil, the more likely it is to be morally objectionable, and the more one should seek to avoid it.

    Joe Biden is in the formal cooperation with evil category. Joe Biden, and his team is looking for a photo-op that shows him as a devout Catholic. Joe’s devotion is reserved for himself, he sees the Church as an institution that is there to serve him.

    To paraphrase Padre Pio’s reply to someone who told him that they didn’t believe in Hell; You will believe it when you get there.

     

    • #17
  18. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Aaron Miller (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: The issue has jumped to the fore with Biden’s election because one is not supposed to participate in the Eucharist when in a state of sin.

    I’m not a theologian, but I always thought man was constantly living in a state of sin, but is forgiven through Christ’s death and ressurection, thus making him sinless in the afterlife. Maybe the issue is whether or not one admits he’s living in a state of sin . . .

    We are all sinners. The Church distinguishes between mortal and venial sins, which is a Biblical concept.

    Eucharist should not be accepted in a state of mortal sin. To do so, deliberately, is akin to Judas kissing the cheek of Jesus to betray Him. It feigns embrace of Christ while in truth rejecting Him.

    Mortal sin is that which does not merely burden the relationship but willingly severs it. To consume Christ’s body in a state of mortal sin is like a man kissing his wife while they both know he had sex with another woman and intends to do so again. He is not truly loving her. He continues to hurt her.

    But God’s mercy is beyond measure. One need only repent, show true contrition, and resolve to avoid that offense to be forgiven of mortal sin and return to full communion with Christ and His church. One might fall again to mortal sin by temptation, and be forgiven again. What matters is true contrition — truly regretting having offended God, having failed to return His love, and submitting to the truth of His moral law (the shape of love).

    Venial (milder) sins do not bar one from receiving the Eucharist. All Catholics say during the preparation: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” The sacrament of Communion/Eucharist heals in forgiveness the contrite of heart. Even so, all Catholics are encouraged to regularly receive the sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation.

    The Act of Contrition prayer (with variants) employed during Confession:

    O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the fires of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

    So I guess it all depends on whether or not Biden’s sin is mortal or venial . . .

    OTOH, Dennis Prager has this take on the Third Commandment:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI8OtOfzUDE

    If Biden is actively promoting abortion while claiming to be a devout Catholic, he’s in for a long, hot afterlife . . .

    • #18
  19. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    There is no problem with the Pope meeting with a political leader. That allows the Pope to present the concerns the Church may have with their policies. It is another thing to request a personal Mass with the Pope. It may be taken, and used by a politician of Papal approval of their policies. The Pope is not Joe Biden’s personal chaplain.

    The current Russian Patriarch has this problem with Putin. As one Vatican insider said; The Patriarch only knows how to be a chaplain of the Czar, whoever he may be.   

    • #19
  20. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Stad (View Comment):
    So I guess it all depends on whether or not Biden’s sin is mortal or venial . . .

    Catholics also have a different understanding of conscience than the popular culture, which figures into judgment of abortion. The Church has taught since the first centuries that life begins at conception. As God says, “before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” Whether or not Biden fully understands the evil of killing unborn children, he has been reliably informed by Christ’s apostles. 

    Another relevant Catholicism tidbit: Anyone, Catholic or not (even a pagan or atheist), may attend a Catholic Mass and approach the priest during the eucharistic procession with arms folded and hands against one’s shoulders. This gesture signifies that one may not receive communion… but however may receive a blessing from the priest (hopefully, in progress toward full communion with Christ and His chosen people). As a cradle Catholic, I have done this many times, because of mortal sins such as viewing pornography. 

    Again, we are all sinners and equally dependent on God’s mercy. Rules regarding reception of the Eucharist are not for judgment but for protection and sanctification of souls. We should all be honest with Jesus and approach Him in humility.

    • #20
  21. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    Aaron Miller (View Comment):
    Another relevant Catholicism tidbit: Anyone, Catholic or not (even a pagan or atheist), may attend a Catholic Mass and approach the priest during the eucharistic procession with arms folded and hands against one’s shoulders. This gesture signifies that one may not receive communion… but however may receive a blessing from the priest (hopefully, in progress toward full communion with Christ and His chosen people).

    Would Lucifer be allowed to attend a Catholic Mass?

    • #21
  22. Tyrion Lannister Inactive
    Tyrion Lannister
    @TyrionLannister

    Biden and Pelosi (and other politicians who are “Catholic” supporters of abortion) should not only be denied communion they should be excommunicated. They advocate for the greatest sin one can commit in direct opposition to the church’s teachings.  

    • #22
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Aaron Miller (View Comment):
    As God says, “before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” Whether or not Biden fully understands the evil of killing unborn children, he has been reliably informed by Christ’s apostles. 

    To me, this means He knows the soul that will inhabit the body before conception . . .

    • #23
  24. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Imagine the intellectual Rumpelstiltskinism on the left if the progressive Pope had decried abortion on the basis of equity, and disparate impact.

    @ jameslileks I don’t know if you are writing this in jest or with deadly seriousness.

    Abortion is used against the: poor, (poor black people in particular) females and the disabled. Margaret Sanger intentionally built abortion clinics in black population centers. Additionally, she openly and clearly advocated for the abortion of disabled people or people who were likely to be disabled. Such things continue to this day. There are practically no people with down syndrome in Greenland because of abortion as a result of this trend.

    There is an entirely plausible left-wing case against abortion that focuses on such disparate inequalities.

     

    This is true. 

    • #24
  25. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Infallibly correct I would say. 

    • #25
  26. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Hartmann von Aue (View Comment):

    He and all other politicians pretending to be Catholic while supporting abortion and other practices that are morally condemned in the clear teaching of the RCC should not only be denied Eucharist until such time when they publicly repent and do penance, they should be excommunicated if that repentance and penance is not forthcoming. Wrote the Pentecostal who is married to a Catholic.

    There are enough liberal Catholics that we could get a Reformed Church with abortion clinics in the basement. 

    • #26
  27. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    TBA (View Comment):

    Hartmann von Aue (View Comment):

    He and all other politicians pretending to be Catholic while supporting abortion and other practices that are morally condemned in the clear teaching of the RCC should not only be denied Eucharist until such time when they publicly repent and do penance, they should be excommunicated if that repentance and penance is not forthcoming. Wrote the Pentecostal who is married to a Catholic.

    There are enough liberal Catholics that we could get a Reformed Church with abortion clinics in the basement.

    I would call that Deformed, not Reformed.

    • #27
  28. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    The hierarchy of the church is honeycombed with moral cowards. Thankfully, they don’t constitute the majority of the body of Christ.

     

    • #28
  29. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Stad (View Comment):

    So I guess it all depends on whether or not Biden’s sin is mortal or venial . . .

    It’s mortal.

    • #29
  30. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Stad (View Comment):

    Aaron Miller (View Comment):
    As God says, “before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” Whether or not Biden fully understands the evil of killing unborn children, he has been reliably informed by Christ’s apostles.

    To me, this means He knows the soul that will inhabit the body before conception . . .

    You mean you think it’s talking about a non-embodied soul that is later put into the body?

    • #30
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