Does the Church not realize how pernicious the politicization of the Sacrament of Holy Communion would be?

During the Vichy regime, some members of the resistance and anti-governmental side were denied Holy Communion because they were defying the “legally constituted” government of Vichy—a regime that had the support of 90 percent or more of the Catholic clergy. All this while members of the Milice—vicious thugs that killed Jews and leftists indiscriminately—were never given any trouble at the altar rail.

Don’t you think that a Church more aware of its failings during World War II should be more careful today? So too pro-abortion Catholic politicians deserve to maintain the full respect of the lay Catholic faithful. Principled reasons exist to refrain from the pastoral practice of withholding the Eucharist:

Bishops should scrupulously avoid even the appearance of political partisanship or interfering in temporal matters. At a minimum, that means discreetly waiting until after an election before publicly confronting a politician in such a manner. Better still, how about not waiting 20 years until a career pro-abortion official decides to run for president before suddenly finding him unworthy of sacramental Communion? That, I respectfully submit, would be both prudent and truly charitable.

Politicians aren’t the only lay Catholics who influence public opinion and policy. Many others, such as professors, authors, editors, newswriters, judges, lawyers, and political activists who don’t hold office are engaged in one way or another in the public debate on issues such as abortion. Are politicians being singled out because they actually have political power (as opposed to mere influence)? This is about the most temporal, non-spiritual reason one can imagine for a bishop to act.

Abortion is not the only issue upon which Catholics publicly dissent. Homosexuality and contraception also involve grave sin. Should those who cause scandal within the Church by dissenting publicly on such issues receive less pastoral attention than pro-abortion senators?

Laymen aren’t the only ones who dissent. When it comes to bishops and priests, I don’t name names. But come on. When was the last time you heard of a bishop denying Holy Communion to a fellow bishop, a priest-theologian, or any other member of the clergy? Does anyone seriously believe that none of the bishops, priests, and deacons ever scandalize the faithful through public dissent?

George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani. These two Catholic politicians were among the most prominent speakers at this year’s Republican National Convention. Both have been seriously discussed as presidential contenders and both have a public record of supporting legalized abortion. Has either ever been denied Holy Communion? Does anyone else see the potential problem with this?

All bishops need the prayers, encouragement, and public support of the lay Catholic faithful. To divide the episcopacy between the “good” bishops who deny Holy Communion to John Kerry and the “bad” bishops who don’t ignores the complexity of the pastoral situation.