Seattle archbishop would not deny communion to politicians

By Gene Johnson
The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

But Brunett urged Catholic politicians who persist in opposing church policies to voluntarily forgo the sacrament.

"Those who persist in public opposition to Catholic teaching indicate that they are personally denying their communion with the church," he told a news conference.

Brunett added that priests "should not take it upon themselves to deny Holy Communion to anyone who presents themselves. That would have the result of denying eucharist participation without due process."

Last month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said that lawmakers who consistently support abortion rights or euthanasia were "cooperating in evil," but that individual bishops could decide whether the politicians should be denied Holy Communion.

The bishops' work drew national attention after Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis said he would deny Communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, a Catholic who supports abortion rights. Some abortion opponents have been pressuring other bishops to follow suit.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More local news headlines...