U.S. Roman Catholic bishops on Wednesday reaffirmed their stance that Catholics who defy church teaching without repenting should refrain from the sacrament of Holy Communion, but did not directly rebuke politicians for supporting abortion rights as some conservatives had hoped.
The matter of communion eligibility has ignited fierce debate among church leadership and parishioners over whether politicians like U.S. President Joe Biden, who support abortion rights, should be able to receive the sacrament, which is a central tradition for the faith.
While offering a symbolic rebuke, the document does not set forth any new guidelines that would block Biden from receiving communion. It repeats a statement the conference made in 2006, which said Catholics who "obstinately" reject the church's moral teaching should refrain from communion. Nearly 20% of U.S. Catholics have left the church in the past two decades, according to a Gallup poll in March, as sexual abuse scandals involving predatory priests have emerged and Catholics have disagreed on social issues.U.S. President Joe Biden departs church in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 7, 2021.
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