Pope Francis has granted a cardinal’s hat to Robert McElroy, the Bishop of San Diego, a move that left-wing publications are heralding, and some of their right-wing counterparts lamenting, as a repudiation of the Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, who recently prohibited priests in his diocese from giving communion to abortion advocate Nancy Pelosi.
As to whether this act has anything to do with the Pope’s opinions concerning abortion (he recognizes it as murder) or Nancy Pelosi (probably as obscure to him as Roberto Fico is to you), I have no insight, though I suspect that, when a cardinal is appointed, the Vatican thinks about more matters than possible slights to American politicians. But I do want to say a word about Bishop McElroy’s argument that, when a public official is denied communion, “The Eucharist is being weaponized for political ends.”
After the Supreme Court’s Brown decision, Joseph Rummel, the Archbishop of New Orleans, appointed a committee to develop a plan for integrating the archdiocesan parochial schools as rapidly as possible. Even before Brown, he had made his opposition to segregation clear. In a 1953 pastoral letter, he stated:
Ever mindful, therefore, of the basic truth that our Colored Catholic brethren share with us the same spiritual life and destiny, the same membership in the Mystical Body of Christ, the same dependence upon the Word of God, the participation in the Sacraments, especially the Most Holy Eucharist, the same need of moral and social encouragement, let there be no further discrimination or segregation in the pews, at the Communion rail, at the confessional and in parish meetings, just as there will be no segregation in the kingdom of heaven.
Though it didn’t mention education, segregationists saw the letter as foreshadowing integrated schools. The appointment of a committee to carry forward that policy evoked vehement dissent from politicians, including prominent Roman Catholics. The archbishop proceeded for a long time as Bishop McElroy recommends, through pastoral mediation. But the day came when it was obvious that the sheep would not accept the guidance of the shepherd.
On March 27, 1962, Archbishop Rummel announced that parochial schools under his jurisdiction would be fully integrated for the 1962-63 school year and warned Catholics who publicly resisted that they were risking excommunication. Many of the dissidents ceased their opposition, but three, including Leander Perez, “the boss of the Delta”, became more strident. On April 16, 1962, the archbishop followed through on his warning. The three were cut off not only from communion but from all sacraments. (Perez and another of the excommunicants eventually repented and were received back into the church.)
Did Archbishop Rummel “weaponize the Eucharist”? Undoubtedly – and with greater force than Archbishop Cordileone has directed against Rep. Pelosi. If asked, would Bishop McElroy disapprove? Not a chance. Would he agree that abortion is a graver sin than segregation? No Roman Catholic could possibly disagree.
Archbishop Rummel was patient with Judge Perez and his fellow advocates of a sinful policy. He acted as a pastor until it became clear that they were adamant. Likewise, Archbishop Cordileone reached the conclusion that he had exhausted all pastoral means of reconciling Rep. Pelosi to the position of the Church to which she professes allegiance. Given the Congresswoman’s full-throated support for unrestricted abortion and her manifest contempt for all those who defend the sanctity of unborn life, the archbishop’s action is mild. In a real sense, he has done nothing. She, by her actions, has cut herself off from the benefits of the sacraments. It would be spiritual cruelty to humor her delusion that matters are otherwise.
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