In remarks that could influence the U.S. presidential race, a leading Vatican cardinal said on Friday that a politician who is unambiguously in favor of abortion should be denied communion at Mass.
The issue has sparked debate in the United States over Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, a Roman Catholic who supports abortion rights.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, the top Vatican cardinal in charge of the sacraments, was asked at a news conference whether priests should refuse communion to a politician who is unambiguously pro-abortion.
“Yes,” he replied. “If the person should not receive it, then it should not be given. Objectively, the answer is there.”
Some members of the American Church hierarchy have said they would deny communion to Kerry, who, if elected, will become the first Roman Catholic president since John F. Kennedy in 1960.
Anti-abortion groups accuse Kerry of having what they call a “perfect” voting record on legislation allowing abortion. He is due to be endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Group, a group favouring abortion rights.
The discussion of Kerry’s eligibility for communion arose after Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis advised him not to “present himself for communion” at any church in the city. A few other bishops have issued similar warnings.
Arinze, a Nigerian, is head of the Vatican department that establishes regulations on the way the sacraments, including the Mass and communion, should be practiced.
