Archbishop Burke Interviewed by Randall Terry

Slowly and inexorably, these things are coming to a head. The whole interview is a must-read, but here is one excerpt:

Mr. Terry: For the umpteenth time, I and the others are asking, under Canon 915 what should or should not be done?

Archbishop Burke: The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person. And that, basically, for two reasons: number one, to prevent the person himself or herself from committing a sacrilege, and secondly, to protect the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. In other words, to approach, to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, when one insists on remaining in grave sin, is such a violation of the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist, so that Communion must not be given to people who are publicly, obstinately, in grave sin.

Later in the interview, responding to Mr. Terry's quesion about the "deafening silence" from many bishops on this issue, His Excellency says:

"I think simply to say: reflect upon this norm of the Church’s discipline—Canon 915—which is one of the most important canons to safeguard the greatest treasure that we have in this life, namely, the communion that we have with our Lord Jesus Christ, and His true body and His true blood; and to, in every way work so that also public witness is given to the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist."

I do believe that one of the reasons so many pro-abortion politicians are willing to receive communion, and that some priests are willing to allow it is that they simply do not believe in the Real Presence.

UPDATE: Archbishop Burke says the interview was misused by Mr. Terry. He does not retract anything he said in the interview, however.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney