Communion rights?Catching up on past issues of Commonweal com·mon·weal n. 1. The public good or welfare. 2. Archaic A commonwealth or republic. Noun 1. , I was flabbergasted flab·ber·gast tr.v. flab·ber·gast·ed, flab·ber·gast·ing, flab·ber·gasts To cause to be overcome with astonishment; astound. See Synonyms at surprise. [Origin unknown. to find this throwaway throwaway See for your information (FYI). remark in John Garvey's usually careful column: "no one has a right to Communion, rights being a stupid category where the sacraments are concerned, and priests really should refuse Communion in some cases" ("Politics or Idolatry?" June 4). I am astonished a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. that Garvey would make such an unqualified statement. As a Roman Catholic, I must protest that access to sacraments is indeed a matter of "rights": the canonical rights of the baptized bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. to fulfill their baptismal obligation to celebrate the liturgy and to receive Communion. The suggestion that priests should be the gatekeepers to Communion is offensive and smacks of clericalism cler·i·cal·ism n. A policy of supporting the power and influence of the clergy in political or secular matters. cler  i·cal·ist n. . By what "right" and in what circumstances should a priest "really" deny Communion to anyone? The danger of abuse is obvious. I find it telling that, while many of the ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. speak routinely about denying lay people Communion for engaging in legitimate discussions of difficult moral issues, few seem eager to deny certain highly placed ordained the "right" to preside among the baptized, despite the serious damage many bishops and priests have caused through their negligence and self-interest. BRYAN CONES Chicago, Ill. The author replies: The language of rights (like the language of choice) has become so pervasive that it's hard to see how inadequate it is, especially where it is applied to the things that matter most. I do not have a right to the love of my wife, much less the love of God or God's saving grace. These things--like the Eucharist, like my own existence--have everything to do with gift, and nothing to do with rights. As awful as bishops and priests can be, they should deny Communion on occasion. If I knew that someone who was coming to Communion was an unrepentant murderer, I would have no problem denying him Communion. The early church denied Communion for a period of time to those who had killed, even in self-defense. Of course this can be abused, but so can the reception of Communion. St. Symeon says of Communion, "I who am straw partake of fire ... and am not burned, as the bush burned of old without being consumed." This language leaves rights in the dust. JOHN GARVEY |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion