Pope Francis in the letter to the Argentinian Bishops says
that the “guideline we need for this point in history,” is a document called
the Apareceida which deals among other issues with Eucharistic coherence and is very clear that
legislators cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act with deeds
or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and
other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged.
Paragraph 436 reads as follows:
“436: We hope that legislators, heads of government, and
health professionals, conscious of the dignity of human life and of the
rootedness of the family in our peoples, will defend and protect it from the
abominable crimes of abortion and euthanasia; that is their responsibility.
Hence, in response to government laws and provisions that are unjust in the
light of faith and reason, conscientious objection should be encouraged. We
must adhere to “eucharistic coherence,” that is, be conscious that they cannot
receive holy communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the
commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes
against life and family are encouraged. This responsibility weighs particularly
over legislators, heads of governments, and health professionals.”
This has serious implications for Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda
Kenny, who has just introduced draft abortion legislation and for all Catholic
TDs who will vote on the issue.
