THE ISSUE: Cardinal Egan’s criticism of Rudy Giuliani taking Communion at the pope’s Mass.
I applaud Robert Novak’s article on fallen Catholic Rudy Giuliani defiantly receiving Communion at the Papal Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (“Bishops vs. the Pope,” PostOpinion, April 28).
I believe it prompted Cardinal Egan’s defensive response, which only added more confusion to the situation. Perhaps the pope should write an encyclical on the subject.
Jerry Pervinich
Astoria
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Novak documents several reasons why pro-abortion and divorced politicians should not have received Communion at the pope’s Mass.
What would simplify matters even more is for the Vatican to end stadium and racetrack Masses, which have become little more than sporting events or circuses of cheering, clapping and photographing.
It’s time to restore some dignity to the Catholic Mass.
While Egan is to be applauded for promoting classical music, there is much more to be done to fix the joke of a liturgy that has become commonplace since the 1960s.
Kenneth J. Wolfe
Alexandria, Va.
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What a coincidence that Egan spoke out against Giuliani receiving Holy Communion the same day the Novak wrote a column highlighting this disgrace (“Giuliani Catches Holy Hell,” April 29).
It took a layman to push the cardinal into doing his job. Novak should write another article suggesting that Catholics are forbidden to vote for pro-abortion politicians.
Margaret Weber
Hauppauge
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No Communion for Giuliani?
No wonder the Catholic Church is in decline in America. Its leaders are turning it into an exclusionary institution.
Egan should check his New Testament – even Judas was welcomed at the Last Supper.
Michael Balton
Brooklyn
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Taking Holy Communion is a serious matter of conscience, and the priest or eucharistic minister can and should refuse to give the host to a person attempting to receive it improperly under certain circumstances.
Some have been denied Communion over their abortion advocacy, but it is not always possible to judge another’s conscience.
The pope has never directed ministers of this sacrament to refuse it on the basis of one’s public stated view of whether criminalizing abortion is a good idea or a bad one.
What would that lead to?
Would a person who campaigns for or contributes to a pro-choice candidate be denied Communion?
Should Communion be refused to politicians who think abortion should only be a misdemeanor instead of a felony?
The Catholic Church and many other churches and faiths teach that abortion is a sin, whether it is legal or not.
Richard M. Hunter
Pleasantville
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The church needs to get a grip on the realities of American Catholics in the 21st Century.
I find it somewhere between offensive and absurd to allow the likes of private citizens, who do not publicly demonstrate “disobedience” to church doctrine, to be blessed, while public figures like Giuliani are punished for expressing their views.
While religion is something deeply personal to most, the Catholic Church would rather employ a “don’t ask, don’t tell” avoidance policy on most issues instead of one of open opinion and dialogue.
Egan’s statements this week validate how out-of-touch the Catholic Church remains with its parishioners in the United States.
Scott Y. Stuart
Manhattan
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Giuliani should not have even gotten in line for Communion. But if Communion were withheld to everyone who disagrees with the church or who has sinned recently without having received absolution, there would be very few who could receive it.
The church is not here to judge; each parishioner should judge him.
Erich Soldat
Bloomfield, NJ