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Since Denver Meeting Divisions Between US Bishops on Communion Issue Continue to Surface

ST. AUGUSTINE/AUSTIN, July 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Different statements from two US Catholic bishops on the communion issue has brought to the surface what has probably been a long-simmering lack of unity among US bishops on critical issues.

Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine Fl., who has given a rousing defence of the supremacy of the life issues in Catholic moral teaching, still will not insist that abortion supporters be actively refused communion despite recent clear directions from Rome on the issue. Conversely, a month ago, Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin said that when a person is determined to continue to defy Catholic teaching he should receive a blessing instead of communion.

Bishop Galeone did not explicitly say that he would order his priests to refuse communion to public abortion supporters. He carefully skirted the issue of refusal, saying, "I would hope that those candidates who consistently vote in support of abortion have enough integrity to willingly exclude themselves from receiving the Eucharist." Bishop Galeone said however, "Whoever tolerates evil becomes an accomplice in that evil." In answer to the rhetorical question, 'can a supporter of abortion be at the same time a Catholic in good standing with the church?' he answered, "Can an avowed racist be a member in good standing of the NAACP?"

Bishop Ayemond's statement came in the context of more general remarks in an interview that appeared in June on the diocese of Austin's website. He said, "Anyone who seriously disagrees with the teachings of the church has chosen for their own personal reasons not to be in communion with the church." He went on to describe a situation in which such a person insists on receiving communion, "In such a situation, the minister of Communion should first speak privately to the person and exhort them not to present themselves because of scandal. If the person persists and protests, then it could be cause to give them a blessing instead of Communion."

Bishop Ayemond reminded readers that everything must be done in a "spirit of charity" and that a person should be taught what is expected of them "as followers of Jesus." "God never gives up on anyone and we should do our best to help people change their heart," he said.

Bishop Galeone's statement:
http://www.staugcatholic.org/bishop.shtml
Bishop Ayemond's interview:
http://www.austindiocese.org/spirit/6_04/bishop_6_04.html

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