Sigh. I ask, what is the point of having a Canon 915?
Cardinal Dolan was back at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and so was Joe Biden. Look at the commentary below from the Daily News. Isn’t this the very definition of scandal?
Among the faithful packing the pews was Vice President Biden along with his wife, Jill.
Biden received communion, despite his support for abortion rights.
Unlike his predecessor, Dolan does give communion to Catholics who stray from church dogma on abortion policy, saying he prefers to persuade them in discussion rather deny them the Eucharist.
Dolan and Biden had coffee after the service, though neither addressed the press.
March 26, 2013 at 3:35 am
"I ask, what is the point of having a Canon 915? "
We don't have "rule of law" in this Church. That's the problem.
March 26, 2013 at 3:48 am
Why do we have it? Because it can be used: Kathleen Sebelius is one example.
March 26, 2013 at 4:28 am
"Biden received communion, despite his support for abortion rights.
"Unlike his predecessor, Dolan does give communion to Catholics who stray from church dogma on abortion policy, saying he prefers to persuade them in discussion rather deny them the Eucharist.
"Dolan and Biden had coffee after the service …"
I love Cardinal Dolan. But things like this make me glad that, despite all the hype he received from the U.S. media, he wasn't elected Pope.
March 26, 2013 at 5:09 am
It's disgraceful. I hope people will contact the archdiocese & respectfully remind Cdl Dolan that Canon 915 is not optional.
communications@archny.org
(212) 371-1000 Ext. 2990
March 26, 2013 at 8:45 am
Jay Andersen, Really didn't you think that the Media yapping Cdl Dolan till we were blue in the face just proved that they are really out in left field. Of all the Cardinals, Bishops who should be set right because they are so high profile and so connected to the political entities. Cdl Dolan is causing Scandal Primo ! The flock is continuously led astray. It pretty much says 'We're' really all about a Wink and a Nod .
March 26, 2013 at 10:50 am
He's a Cheeseheaded snake. http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/deaconsbench/files/2012/01/cheesehead.jpg
He might as well say that he'd rather him go to Hell than deny them the Eucharist. "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."
Canon 915 is there to protect the sinner too!
March 26, 2013 at 11:01 am
Cardinal Dolan, assuming he is not an imbecile, knows very well that Biden isn't open to discussing abortion — Biden is a passionate defender of the right to kill children in utero, and his mind is closed on that issue. To give him communion in a state of such grave sin is, if we trust St Paul, to damn his soul. But if Cardinal Dolan's intent is to send the message to US Catholics that they can abort a million babies a year and still be in good standing with the church, message received.
March 26, 2013 at 11:30 am
I agree that this is scandelous…so many of my non-catholic friends see prominent Catholics, such as Biden and Pelosi being pro abortion, pro gay mariage, etc…but no rebuke from the Church. They have no interest in exploring the Catholic faith because of this.
March 26, 2013 at 12:18 pm
I think we should acknowledge that the day is rapidly approaching when the Church in North America is going to split into two – the Catholics on the one side and the heretics on the other. Dolan and Biden will be on the side of the heretics, along with Pelosi and Cuomo.
It happened before in history, and it's going to happen again. Let's make sure that we know whose side we are on.
March 26, 2013 at 12:32 pm
The way to Hell is paved with the bodies of Bishops (apologies to Catherine of Siena). If Bishops show this much contempt, at minimum, recklessness, for the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, how can they expect to fool people into believing in the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist? The scandal is beyond egregious – this kind of scandal needs a word all of its own. And, please tell me that picture of Archbishop Dolan guffawing is not from Passion Sunday, the most solemn, penitential time of the Liturgical Year? I think we all know what we have done to deserve this.
March 26, 2013 at 1:50 pm
The American church is a mess. An unmitigated, embarrassing mess. But hey, Dolan had coffee with Biden, so he's happy.
March 26, 2013 at 1:54 pm
I am not a fan of Cdl. Dolan, and will not be. He fails, again and again, to defend the faith, and instead, supports scandals such as this one. I pray for his conversion, and for that of many of our other bishops. Sad indeed, that the number in need of conversion is so large.
March 26, 2013 at 2:04 pm
God in his Mercy preserved us from error, Thank God Cardinal Dolan wasn't elected as our new pope. He is creating confusion and scandal by giving him Holy Communion knowing very well that Biden supports Abortion on demand and ipso-facto excommunicated! Pope Francis said: "Any politician that supports abortion cannot receive Holy Communion.
March 26, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Why should we expect Cdl. Dolan to deny Biden communion, when he wasn't denied it in Rome?
March 26, 2013 at 2:32 pm
scotju,
I wonder if there's a difference regarding the scandal brought by someone receiving in a foreign country where you're not as well known, versus receiving in your native land where you are a public figure.
March 26, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Does Dolan ever stop laughing? He's going to crack a rib one day.
March 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm
buf·foon
/bəˈfo͞on/
Noun
A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown.
Synonyms
clown – jester – zany – harlequin – fool – merry-andrew
March 26, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Let's see: If I give him Communion, the Vice President will be committing sacrilege, I will be giving scandal, I will be flouting Canon Law, and the Eucharist will be profaned. If I deny him Communion, the Vice President won't have coffee with me.
A no-brainer!
March 26, 2013 at 3:59 pm
A terrible scandal. At absolute best Cardinal Dolan displays a culpable naivete. After reading John Allen's book my worst fears regarding him are coming to fruition. He is an amiable lightweight, being played like a useful idiot. His time as President of USCCB can't be over soon enough.
March 26, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I remember Cdl Dolan saying sometime back that the red of a cardinal's vestments is to remind us of the blood of the martyrs. Yet Dolan seemingly doesn't even want to risk the bloodless martyrdom of losing the media's favor. Sad!