by Rev. Mother Meredith Moise, SPSA
In a stunning development, the presiding archbishop of the North American Old Catholic Church, The Most Rev. Michael V. Seneco, denounced Roman Catholic bishops for denying pro choice Catholic politicians communion. Archbishop Seneco responded to the on going conflict between Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late US Senator Ted Kennedy and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island.
The Archbishop remarked, "“The sacraments of the Catholic Church, most especially communion, in which Catholics from age to age believe to be the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, are a gift from God to all his children. When church leaders attempt to use the sacraments as a weapon or tool to exert control or to change people’s behaviors, it represents a true failure of the church, and further damages the relationship that God has with his children here on earth.”
“Bishop Tobin’s recent attempt to change Representative Kennedy’s stance on abortion by “asking” Kennedy to not receive communion betrays the very central and divine gift that communion represents- the ultimate gift of love and forgiveness. Christ was betrayed, crucified, and resurrected for all people – not just those who follow the rules set down by other men.”
“The Roman Catholic Church has failed in its teaching of their faithful, and they now are attempting to use the Body of Christ as a tool to control the mass exodus of faithful and clergy. Catholics are leaving the Roman Church and joining other Catholic or sacramental churches at a brisk pace. Bishop Tobin and his brother bishops have lost touch with the people they are called to serve, and the sacrament with which they are sacredly charged with making available to all who seek it.”
“The last time Christ’s body was used in this way was on the cross on Good Friday. Bishop Tobin is attempting, through fear, intimidation, and under the pain and threat of withholding that which was promised to all God’s children, to coerce, beguile, and force people to a place of belief that is not authentic, but rather uniformed and dispassionate.”
“For any church to abuse the Body of Christ in this manner is abhorrent, and we call Bishop Tobin to reconcile himself to God through an earnest reception of the Sacrament of Communion. For it is through the reception of communion that we all can come to a right relationship with our Creator.”
The North American Old Catholic Church (NAOCC) opens communion to all baptized Christians. The NAOCC expressly forbids the exclusion of baptized Christians from the celebration of the Eucharist. The Church currently has 3 parishes in Baltimore (Morrel Park, Dundalk and lower Park Heights). For additional information about parishes in Baltimore, visit www.naoldcatholic.com .
Comments
Interesting article. There is only one teeny, tiny problem here. The North American Old Catholic Church is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Chuch and denies basic teachings of the Church. They are, of course, free to express opinions but it is little more than that - their opinion.
These opinions have little to do with the real functions of the Church.
On the contrary, no problems theologically or politically with Rev. Seneco's inspired revelations and observations. He's accurately explaining why many Catholics have found faith homes elsewhere and he's giving a spot on summary of the heresy and dangers of Bishop Tobin's decisions. Rev. Seneco's denomination stands to gain more if disheartened faithful hear of the Good News he shared. From one faithful to another, our Holy Catholic Apostolic organization is heading down a dark path and whoever brings us back will be called blessed.
I'm a Roman Catholic, but I have always held the same position Seneco does, though I don't believe in open communion. Someone who is catholic has the right to receive the Eucharist. That they favor abortion rights should be no more a block than if they are murderers or generals. Pro-life only makes sense in the context of seamless garment theology, outside of that, it is hypocrisy to demand justice for only the non-formed and non-cognizant.
ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL NEEDS TO STUDY THE CANON LAW. Archbishop should not confuse the faithful. He should not allow them to commit the Greater Sin by receiving Communion in sins. He knows at least that Communion is the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, which no one is allowed to receive in sin. Killing Innocent children or promoting the killing IS Sin. Kennedy and other confused people are the victims of clergies like archbishop Michael who never shepherds souls to Jesus the Lord, but to the spirit of the world. He should ask the Lord if He is pleased when he tells people to receive Him in sins.
I thought that the Eucharist also had to power to forgive sins. Isn't the doctrine that a sinner must not take communion obsolete?
Archbishop Seneco is too busy trying to serve people and do WJW, Mary, to read Canon Law, were he inclined. Maybe Catholic Bishops should try earning a hands on WWJD degree and stop trying to accrue infinite initials after their name. None of that holy worldliness prevented enabling or recognized a horrific moral failure of a a substantial clergy pedophile percentage (i.e. more than the average of any other given or random population.) Props to O'Reilly for grilling Bishop Tobin and exposing the obvious contradiction between Catholic theology and Bishops' decisions.
Excellent article, as always. You put the words of what the Bishops are saying before the people & let them decide. As a Roman Catholic, & who reads Torah in Hebrew & Greek I believe that life begins at conception. The Kennedys, including Rep. Patrick Kennedy are the prime examples of people who promote life, where life means life lived to its fullest.
I believe Rev. Michael V. Seneco is striving within his religous community, which includes Roman Catholics, Lutherans, & other protestant churches, to look for common ground with out compromise. If we did this, we would find that both sides, anti-abortion and pro choice, are pro-life for somebody. Looking for common ground means seeing this & seeing past the false dilemma of one or the other, striving to have both, no abortion, & pro-life for the mother & all people, where life means life lived to its fullest (John 10:10). Let us hope they find this soon. I am tired of the infighting by professionals who should be working together.
I hope you don't mind but today's liturgical readings fit so well with this article that I based my discussion on it. Please let me know what you think.
1 Corinthians 11:23-33
Consider, not that the communion should be denied anyone, but let their own conscious decide if they should partake, as St. Paul advises.
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