Letter to the Herald
What the draft did not say
The Nov. 12 cover story written by Carol Zimmerman of CNS has a baiting inaccurate headline. The headline reads, “Draft of the U.S. Bishops’ document says nothing about denying Communion to Catholic politicians who support legal abortion.” While this may be true, the bishops’ draft document also says nothing about stars falling out of the sky, or pigs flying.
Let’s concentrate on what the document does say. The same article, quoting Timothy O’Malley of the University of Notre Dame, said “the document on the Eucharist and the discussion around it should involve looking at the role Catholics have in the public square, noting that when Catholics receive the Eucharist, it means they ‘belong to the body,’ which means they ‘uphold all dimensions of solidarity.’” This is very well said, straightforward and a far cry from condoning Communion reception for politicians who don’t just support abortion but advocate this human life terminating practice.
Another complex failure of the current reporting on this issue: News agencies including CNS have repeatedly reported what Joe Biden said the pope said to him during their recent meeting, Oct. 29. Your cover story echoes it again. Biden says the pope told him, “that I was a good Catholic, and I should keep receiving Communion.” Anyone care to fact check that statement? I guess reporters would actually have to quote the pope. The last time the pope said anything on this issue was on his flight back from Slovakia, Sept. 15. Pope Francis said, NO COMMENT!
Please reporters, do your research!
Lila Marantz, St. Ann Parish, Kaneohe