Saturday, May 29, 2004
An area bishop says he won't withhold Communion based on abortion views.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Catholic bishops serving the Mahoning and Shenango valleys haven't joined the move to deny Communion to those who favor abortion rights.
And at least two of the dioceses, Youngstown and Pittsburgh, don't expect to have massive church closings like the Boston archdiocese.
A few U.S. bishops recently said they would deny Communion to politicians, such as presidential candidate John F. Kerry. At least one said parishioners should not receive Communion if they vote for such politicians.
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Youngstown diocese has not issued a statement on his position.
"He might make one in the future," a spokesperson said.
Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl said earlier this week he would not withhold Communion. The Pittsburgh diocese includes Lawrence County.
Mercer County is in the Erie diocese. A spokesman for Erie Bishop Donald W. Trautman did not return calls.
Warning of backlash
Almost 50 congressmen recently warned in a letter to Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of the Washington, D.C., archdiocese that denial of Communion ultimately could create a backlash against the church.
Cardinal McCarrick also heads a committee studying whether the church should take action against Catholic officials whose positions clash with church doctrine. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is to meet next month and discuss the issue.
The cardinal has indicated he doesn't favor such action, as has Bishop Wuerl.
In a statement posted on the diocesan Web site, Bishop Wuerl said that a 2002 Vatican document stressed to both bishops and lawmakers that they should oppose abortion rights legislation. The document does not say action is to be taken against supporters.
It's up to the individual to decide if he or she should take Communion, Bishop Wuerl stated.
Boston church closings
The Boston archdiocese announced this week it was closing 65 of its 237 parishes due to declining enrollment and a variety of financial problems.
The Pittsburgh diocese did its trimming a decade ago after the collapse of the steel industry and population shifts to the Sun Belt. The diocese now has 215 parishes and 815,000 members.
Several of the parishes created during the changes have more than one church. Under those changes, the parishes were given authority over closing buildings.
The Rev. Ronald Lengwin, a diocesan spokesman, said because of further population changes, some of those parishes in the future may have to look at closing one of their churches.
In Youngstown, there have been no recent closings and none are planned.
XFor the text of Bishop Wuerl's comments, visit: http://www.diopitt.org/