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Reader: All Catholics—even politicians—must follow teaching on human life

Did the leader of the universal Catholic Church tell President Joe Biden “You are a good Catholic,” and invite him to “continue to receive Communion” as the president publicly stated after his audience at the Vatican? To date, no comment has come from the Vatican Press Office and probably never will. This leaves us to believe that Biden was telling the truth.

It is extremely disappointing that Pope Francis has granted audiences with the likes of abortion supporters Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the president. If he spoke these words to Biden, it goes beyond the belief of many Catholics.

It is suggested Catholics in the U.S. are divided on the issue of pro-abortion supporters being permitted to receive Communion. It is also reported that as many as 30% of Catholics in the U.S. think it is acceptable.

The Catholic Church teaches that human life begins at conception. The president is not living up to the Catholic Church’s teachings.

I understand that last summer 60 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives urged the Church not to deny elected officials Communion over this one issue.

I don’t believe as Catholics we can pick and choose which teachings of the Church we wish to follow. We can’t do this with laws of our country.

I applaud the U.S. bishops on their 222-8 vote last November to support a teaching document, “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” addressed to all Catholics. But I find it disappointing that it does not call out those in positions that promote and support the killing of the unborn.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee, said the document did not focus on denying Communion to people, but emphasized the importance of the sacrament.

In a recent statement responding to a guest column by U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., where the congresswoman, a Catholic, said she supports unrestricted “reproductive care,” Las Vegas Bishop George L. Thomas stated, “If a politician from the Diocese of Las Vegas finds himself or herself at odds with the Church’s teaching on the sacredness of human life, I ask him or her to voluntarily to refrain from the reception of holy Communion while holding public office.”

I believe this is a better approach.

- John Glaub, Jr. | Batesville