Rev. Richard Bucci distributed flyers at West Warwick’s Sacred Heart Church in Rhode Island recently, listing all the lawmakers who backed abortion in the state.
Legislators, who voted in favor of the Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA) in 2019, where also mailed notices from Bucci. The RPA restricts the state from preventing, commencing, continuing or terminating that individual’s pregnancy prior to fetal viability or interfering with an individual person’s decision to continue that individual’s pregnancy after fetal viability. The state can’t “restrict an individual person from terminating that individual’s pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to preserve the health or life of that individual.”
Father Bucci was not having any of it on his watch.
“In accord with the teaching of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years, the following members of the legislature may NOT receive Holy Communion,” the letter read. “In addition, they will not be allowed to act as witnesses to marriage, godparents, or lectors at weddings, funerals or any other church function.”
Rep. Carol McEntee received a flyer at her home and told The Journal that it was just another outburst from the 72-year-old priest.
“Both Father Bucci and Bishop Tobin need to be reminded that the U.S. Constitution requires the separation of church and state,” she said. “We as legislators have an obligation to the people of Rhode Island to vote for legislation that reflects the opinion of the majority of Rhode Islanders, and not allow our religious beliefs to get in the way of our civic obligation as elected officials.”
The Democratic legislators of Rhode Island joined a similar club.
Presidential candidate Joe Biden was also denied Communion (2019) by a South Carolina church because of his support for legal abortion. Rev. Robert E. Morey of the congregation refused Holy Communion to the former Vice President as Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church.
“…Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching,” Morey stated. “As a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers.”
Biden wants to codify Roe v. Wade and said reproductive rights are a constitutional right. He and others who desire to join in Holy Communion might want to rethink their respective positions on abortion.
According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote a memorandum in 2004 to U.S. Catholic bishops. He said a “Catholic politician consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws would constitute formal cooperation in grave sin.” Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law states that “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”