But what do you do, if there is a Catholic in the parish that you know has committed the sin of abortion, who fully understands that it is wrong, and then attempts to receive communion without the sacrament of confession?

And why are politicians not automatically excommunicated from the Catholic church if they support abortion?

more over any catholic who 'assists in attaining an abortion' suffers automatic excommunication under current cannon law. So they are automatically excommunicated. What would be useful would be for the bishops to point this out.

To answer the question I would inform the priest. You really don't know the catholic may have already repented and confessed their sin to the pastor.
If you believe the pastor is allowing this you must take it to the bishop.

If the bishop refuses to correct the problem it can be reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who has it in their power to take the issue up with the pope and correct or remove the bishop and replace him with another if necessary.

The church however moves very slowly and conscientiously to avoid scandal and rash judgmentally on any such issue so it would be very patient work.

It is great to see so many contributing to our discussions here.

So, is it agreed that if I know anyone who is in the state of mortal sin and tries to receive communion I tell the priest, then the bishop, then the CDF and then the Pope. Does anyone have the Pope's email address?

If anyone in our parish lives with a person, not his/her spouse, should I report them? If people cheat on their taxes, drink too much, deprive their employees of their just wages or are proud should I report them to the Pope?

Incidentally does anyone know of any person in the US who has been excommunicated?

God bless,
Noelfitz.
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IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS, IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS, IN OMNIBUS CARITAS.
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How do you know they are in a state of mortal sin? I think the issue we are discussing is when ver public people like politcians continue to make very public statements and actions in support of abortion which we all agree is murder. I would say that individual's parish priest is actually obligated to privately speak to them and privide fraternal correction. If that pesron does not repent, then yes, bishops must get involved. In the circumstances that noel described you have non-public people who are acting immorally and if you know the person well enough you might offer corrction to them individually but I don't think it would be wise to "report" them to teh parish priest.

laurak- wow talking about having to live it and not just talk about it. first, my condolences to you on this loss. Second, you all with me in my intentions tomorrow at Mass. I commend you for turning to your priest and to God at this moment of pain in your life. I think forgivenness is in order, but maybe it will take a little time. But forgiveness does not mean accepatnce of the actions of the girlfriend or your son. I certainly am not wise enough to offer you suggestions other than this-pray for them, ask them to pray with you, turn over your hurt and anger to Jesus; close your eyes for a moment and picture his battered and brusied body on the Cross-where he died for ALL our sins.

Peace and prayers for all of you this night and especially tomorrow on the Lord's Sabbath Day.

Mreiner16

You wrote:
"How do you know they are in a state of mortal sin? I think the issue we are discussing is when ver public people like politcians continue to make very public statements and actions in support of abortion which we all agree is murder. "

One does not know if anyone is in the state of mortal sin, not even oneself. For a sin to be mortal the act must be grievious, and committed with clear knowledge and full consent.
"Judgement is mine says the Lord".

God bless,
Noelfitz.
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IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS, IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS, IN OMNIBUS CARITAS.
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Thank you everyone for your kind words and prayers. I had 2nd thoughts about posting something so personal on this website, but it just came out. My husband can't talk about it at all, and I felt the need to connect with other Catholics who believe the same way that I do.

My son & his girlfriend met in the church youth group and had a chaste relationship for 3 years. My son broke up with her because she wasn't the right one. She had a nervous breakdown and returned 3 months later to try & win him back.

All three of us have been to the March for Life in Washington, DC. several times. All the speeches and homilies and vigils in the world just didn't matter in the end. What mattered is she couldn't talk to her mother and grandmother, who are very strict and devout Catholics. She killed my grandchild rather than talk to her mom.

If anyone else reads this post, I hope you will take the time to talk to your daughters, grandaughters, sisters and girlfriends and listen without judgement. Maybe they will learn to trust you enough to tell you anything.

What does communion contribute to anyone's life???

Grump - you appear to be as - umm - benighted? - as SanFranNan Pelosi.

Related?

Same Party platform?

Gee, what does receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ do for me - I mean, beyond the greatest graces I can receive . . .

The Decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:5-21) - provided by God to document His natural law for us - covers the sum of sins well. God is the Author of the Ten Comandments, as He is Author of natural law, truth, etc.

grumpybumpas - taking the body and blood of christ confers on you great gifts slowly conforming and transforming your being to be more like christ.

Unless you recieve the body unworthily and with disregard in that case you are left in a worse state then before you took it because you have' eaten and drank condemation unto yourself'

Sin is the regection of the will of God.
God ultimately decides what is a sin.
He informs the consience of each man and of each member of the church in as much as they are willing to listen. The church as a whole works as an organism to help each member better discern what God is already telling them. Many people making repeated observations are more accurate then only one person tring to observe something on thier own.

Grump:

. But, do you see this ------- O
Eucharistic Bread? It has made martyrs. They were creatures like you: fearful, weak, even vicious sometimes. This Bread made heroes of them.

In this third part, to make saints of you, I am showing you this Table and this Bread of sinners. My Blood has transformed you into just men, My Bread will transform just men into saints. A bath washes everything, but it doesn't nourish. It refreshes, it gives some substance, but it doesn't become flesh within flesh. On the other hand, nourishment becomes flesh and blood; it becomes part of you. My Nourishment becomes part of you.

Oh! Think! Look at a little child. Today he eats his bread and also tomorrow, and tomorrow and again tomorrow. See him now become a man: tall, robust, handsome. Did his mother make him like that? No. His mother conceived him, carried him, gave birth to him, nourished him with her milk and loved him, loved him, loved him. But if the small boy had only received kisses, kisses and love alone, he would have died of starvation. The small boy becomes an adult thanks to the nourishment he eats. The man is thus an adult thanks to the nourishment taken daily.

The same thing applies to your spiritual self. Nourish it with the true nourishment that comes from heaven and gives you the energies necessary for your growth in Grace.

Strong and healthy virility is always an advantage. Observe the behavior of someone
who is always sickly; observe how easily he becomes harsh, impatient, unpleasant. My
nourishment will give you health. It will make you strong and virile in spirit. You will
be able to love others more than yourselves, as I did with you.
See, My children, how much I have loved you. Not only as one may love himself, but
even more. To the point that I agreed to die in your place, to save you from death. If
you love like that, you will know God.

Peace