On Monday, New York’s Cardinal Edward Egan expressed his deep regret that former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a well-known and outspoken supporter of legal abortion, received the Eucharist at the papal Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral April 19.

In preparing its report on the Cardinal’s statement, Newsday sought to obtain a comment from Bishop William Murphy. Having received none, Newsday reported on Tuesday that “Sean Dolan, spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, declined to comment on the Long Island diocese’s position.”

This needs to be clarified.

There is no “diocesan position” on matters of Church teaching, as though, like political parties, dioceses are free to accept or reject various “planks” in a “platform.”

Rather, the diocese’s “position” in this matter is the universal teaching of the Catholic Church: that no public figure who willfully and publicly embraces the legal destruction of innocent, pre-born human lives should present himself or herself for reception of the Body of Christ.

Similarly with the issue of an invalid marriage outside the Church, which also precludes one from worthy reception of the Eucharist. This too is not a “diocesan position,” but a universal teaching of the Church binding on every diocese and every individual Catholic.

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Last modified: 11/15/2007
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