He said, He said

An interesting comparison here between what Cardial Ratzinger REALLY said, and what Bishop McCarrick apparently wanted him to say!

With very few exceptions, and it grieves me to say it, I don’t trust or believe the American Bishops any more.

Here is an excerpt, read it and weep:

JR: “. . . his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist. When ‘these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible,’ and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, ‘the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it.'”

Here is the crux of the disagreement, with regard to the bishop’s course of action once ‘precautionary measures’ with said Catholic politicians have proven ineffective. McCarrick paraphrases Ratzinger as suggesting a warning that “they should not present themselves for Holy Communion.” Ratzinger, in fact, after stating this, went further and advised “warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist,” with the consequent statement that, if he again presents himself, the minister “must refuse to distribute it.” The proposals are as different as night and day. Although McCarrick adds, almost as an afterthought, that “there are circumstances in which Holy Communion may be denied,” this is posited only as a theoretical possibility, apart from the concrete situation of the bishops’ admonishment of the Catholic politician. Ratzinger does not suggest this as a theoretical possibility; for him it is the normative course of action for a bishop who is put in this situation. Another difference: McCarrick states that, in this situation, “a warning must be provided.” Ratzinger, however, explicitly allows for a situation in which precautionary measures “[are] not possible.” What sort of situation this would be is difficult to imagine, but it is notable that McCarrick leaves it out entirely.

TM: “I would emphasize that Cardinal Ratzinger clearly leaves to us as teachers, pastors and leaders WHETHER to pursue this path. The Holy See has repeatedly expressed its confidence in our roles as bishops and pastors. The question for us is not simply whether denial of Communion is possible, but whether it is pastorally wise and prudent. It is not surprising that difficult and differing circumstances on these matters can lead to different practices. Every bishop is acting in accord with his own understanding of his duties and the law.”

It appears Bishop McCarrick has the liberal “words mean what I want them to mean” vernacular down. Typical.

Thanks Jamie Blosser for the comparisons

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