Fr. Jeffrey Kirby presented a robust defense of the sacredness of the Eucharist in a recent homily and called it a “vile offensive to justice” for pro-abortion Catholics to receive special treatment because of their political status.
“What if someone were to approach and they aren’t in communion? What if someone were to approach and they’re not in communion because of their lifestyle, they’re in grave sin, or their beliefs, they’re vehemently at odds with the fundamental teachings of our faith?” the popular South Carolina priest posited at the beginning of his sermon.
As for the former, Kirby said those who are “completely removed from Christ by mortal sin do not receive Holy Communion, they are not in communion with Christ.”
“It would be a lie for them to approach,” he said.
The same holds true for those who do not believe in the doctrinal or moral teachings of the Catholic Church, because if “they eat and drink the body and blood of Christ, they bring condemnation upon themselves.”
“To introduce the all holy, beautiful, pure God into a soul that is filthy with false doctrine or with false beliefs or with a false way of life is to bring condemnation upon oneself,” said Kirby.
In the case of the “bold sinner,” the shepherds of the Church are “called to guard and protect the Eucharist,” Kirby continued.
“One of the titles I have as a priest is the custodian of the Eucharist,” he said. “I agree that I will lay down my life in defense of the Blessed Sacrament, and that includes exhorting the faithful and the unfaithful when they should or should not receive Holy Communion.”
Kirby called it an “utter lack of charity” to allow those who aren’t in communion with Christ to receive the Eucharist.
“But what about Catholics who get really successful, so Catholics who are prominent in the business world or in government service? Well, because they’re in government service the rules don’t apply to them, right?” he said.
“Some people believe that — that just because someone gets elected to public office they’re dispensed from the rules and the disciplines that the rest of us have to follow. I don’t believe in that. I find that a vile offense to justice,” Kirby added.
He then explained that in the Catholic Church, only one sin comes with a penalty of de facto excommunication: performing or assisting the performance of an abortion.
“You have so violated the central beliefs, the core of what we hold sacred, that Mother Church says that you are excommunicated, you have no communion with us. One who believes in a God made man and the dignity of every human life could never be a part of such an offense. You do not belong to us,” said Kirby. “And the Lord will say on the day of judgment: ‘I do not know you.’”
When a person is “obstinate and bold in their sin,” then the Church “must be both mother and teacher, and a good teacher disciplines.”
“Which is why the Church will say you will be publicly refused Holy Communion if you approach,” Kirby remarked.
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