Bishop: I Would Never Deny Communion

Calling Ed Peters, Calling Ed Peters.

In a newspaper interview,the new Auxiliary Bishop in Indianapolis, Bishop Christopher Coyne, had something to say about denying communion. He wouldn’t do it.

On denying Communion to politicians whose votes conflict with church teaching:

“I would never deny someone Communion unless they were absolutely deranged or something like that and it is obvious that they shouldn’t be receiving Communion. The Communion line is not the place where you deal with whether or not someone should be receiving Communion.”

Never? I think that canon law has something to say about his responsibilities in this area, no? Or is he just like President Obama in choosing only to enforce the laws that he likes?

Or does he think that the only time you can refuse Communion is on the Communion line itself, making a big scene? That seems a conveniently and overly narrow interpretation of a much larger and important question, otherwise known as a dodge. Bishops shouldn’t dodge, but if they do they should do a better job at it. Say something like “I am exploring the full range of options.” That seems to work.

On the other hand, perhaps Bishop Coyne is using this “I cannot lie but I can cleverly use use this mental reservation thingy” we have been hearing so much about lately.

Outside Voice: “I would never deny someone Communion unless they were absolutely deranged or something..”

Inside Voice: “Any Catholic politician who publicly opposes Church teaching on the non-negotiables is obviously deranged or something…”

Or maybe he just doesn’t give a fig about the souls of pseudo-Catholic politicians who “eat and drink judgment” on themselves?

However you interpret Bishop Coyne’s answer, he doesn’t come off looking good.

Maybe he is deranged or something…