US Catholic Bishops vow no 'national policy on withholding communion from politicians'
By Cameron Jenkins - 06/26/21 08:57 AM EDT
Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document clarifying that they will not create "a national policy on withholding Communion from politicians," seeking to tamp down on escalating debate within the church over banning communion for President Biden.
The move came days after a committee voted to begin creating a teaching document on the Holy Eucharist, or the meaning of communion, sparking questions about whether or not the document would include guidelines for politicians who support abortion rights such as Biden.
The Catholic faith opposes abortion. Biden, who regularly attends Mass and takes communion, downplayed last week's move by U.S. bishops to potentially rebuke him over his support for abortion rights.
“There will be no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a Q&A document dated June 21, seeking to clarify the teaching material being drafted on the Eucharist.
"The intent is to present a clear understanding of the Church’s teachings to bring heightened awareness among the faithful of how the Eucharist can transform our lives and bring us closer to our creator and the life he wants for us,” the document continued.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/560363-us-catholic-bishops-vow-no-national-policy-on-withholding-communion
