(LifeSiteNews) – In a new interview with LifeSiteNews, Cardinal Gerhard Müller has decried the actions of pro-abortion politicians who present themselves for Holy Communion, saying this is an “absolute contradiction” of the “love of God.”
Asked by LifeSiteNews whether pro-abortion politicians such as Joe Biden should be allowed to receive the Holy Eucharist, Cardinal Müller answered that this would be an “absolute contradiction.”
“We cannot receive Jesus Christ, our Creator, [while] at the same time subscribing [to] a law which is allowing [us] to destroy the lives which are given of God,” declared the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in the wide-ranging interview with LifeSiteNews.
The comments came shortly before staunchly pro-abortion and yet self-proclaimed Catholic U.S. President Joe Biden met with Pope Francis in the Vatican today. Biden has previously protested against any measure to deny him Holy Communion for his support for abortion – a restriction that would be in line with Canon Law – saying that Pope Francis “gives me Communion.”
However, for the former prefect of the CDF, such an action is not permitted. Pro-abortion politicians might be receiving “Holy Communion with their mouth, but not with their heart,” stated Müller.
“We receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. We as Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ, Son of God, in His divine and human nature, [which] is sacramentally and really present in the Holy Eucharist with His body and with His blood.”
“We cannot receive Jesus Christ, our creator, [and at] the same time subscribe [to] a law which is allowing to destroy the lives which are given by God,” Müller added. “God is the only owner of our lives.”
“God is giving to us our lives coming out from His love, and to kill another person is an absolute contradiction to the love which is coming from God,” stated Cardinal Müller.
“We are the representatives of the love of God.”
Reiterating that “we are belonging to the plan of salvation of God,” the 73-year-old cardinal asked rhetorically, “Who has the right to kill another person?”
“That is a basic element of all ethics, and we cannot make politics without ethical and moral basis.”
Biden has advocated a number of policies contrary to Church teachings on the sanctity of life, on marriage, and on the family. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Biden promised to “codify Roe v. Wade” and defended “women’s right” to abortion “under any circumstance.” He has gone so far as to call abortion an “essential health service” and wants to enshrine abortion into federal law.
Furthermore, Biden has supported gender ideology and advocates a number of policies that would promote LGBT ideology in everyday life in America and across the world. The first “wedding” Biden officiated in his former role of Vice President was between two men in 2016; he publicly endorsed same-sex “marriage’ in 2012.
Cardinal Müller attacked Biden’s contradictory attitude, saying, “I cannot say ‘I am Catholic,’ and say ‘Lord, Lord,’ and contradict the will of God, and the will of God is life.”
Catholic doctrine teaches that abortion is always wrong because it kills an innocent human being, thus violating the Church’s prohibition on murder, a teaching that “remains unchangeable.”
The Church’s Canon Law further stipulates that under no circumstances are those who persist in manifest grave sin to receive the Holy Eucharist: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”
With this in mind, Father Robert E. Morey of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, South Carolina, refused to give Holy Communion to Biden in 2019. In comments to media in the aftermath, Morey explained that “Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that.”
Fr. Morey’s action has been vindicated by Cardinal Müller’s statement on the duty of Catholics to promote life: “Our natural life [comes] from the same God who gave His life in His Son Jesus Christ for everybody, and we must establish a culture of love and life, and not of hatred and of death.”
Indeed, Müller has echoed the words of fellow prelate, Cardinal Raymond Burke, former Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura who gave an interview in September 2020 in which he mentioned Biden, saying that “a Catholic may not support abortion in any shape or form because it is one of the most grievous sins against human life, and has always been considered to be intrinsically evil.”
However, in their adherence to Church teaching, both Müller and Burke have placed themselves at odds with Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who announced last November that he was “not going to veer from” the practice of giving Holy Communion to Biden, which had occurred during the politician’s years as Barack Obama’s Vice President.
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