Senior Cardinal says access to the Eucharist is a gift, not a right for Catholics

[tomndebb]

@JRDelirious

Actually, the Church rules for active participants is that you are obligated to partake of the Eucharist at least once, during the Paschal season of every year, and are encouraged to partake every time you can. Ditto the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession and Penance, for you old-timers). But it is not something to which you are entitled on-demand, or lightly.

However, in the context of the church failing to provide enough priests to preside at the celebration of mass each Sunday, (the attendance at which is mandated by Canon Law), the cardinal’s remarks as provided (in translation and possible paraphrase and possibly out of context) certainly seem odd.

[tomndebb]

@JRDelirious

Actually, the Church rules for active participants is that you are obligated to partake of the Eucharist at least once, during the Paschal season of every year, and are encouraged to partake every time you can. Ditto the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession and Penance, for you old-timers). But it is not something to which you are entitled on-demand, or lightly.

However, in the context of the church failing to provide enough priests to preside at the celebration of mass each Sunday, (the attendance at which is mandated by Canon Law), the cardinal’s remarks as provided (in translation and possible paraphrase and possibly out of context) certainly seem odd.

[beagledave]

More details not apparently mentioned by Salon.

Both Costantino and Bartunek noted that the free discussion period was a new feature of the synod and that the Vatican was still trying to work out the best way to handle the release of information from it.
Bartunek did say that during the Tuesday free discussion, two prelates joined Levada in asking for discussion on the issue of politicians and communion: Edmund Cardinal Szoka, a Vatican-based American, and Alfonso Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo, a Vatican-based Colombian. But the spokesman provided no details.
In addition, he said three prelates had affirmed the rights of Catholics to receive communion: Bishop Jean-Louis Brugues of France, Peter Cardinal Erdo of Hungary and Julian Cardinal Herranz of Spain.
Angelo Cardinal Scola, the main moderator of the synod, had said in his opening speech that the eucharist was a “gift” and “not a right nor a possession” for Catholics.
Asked if the three had challenged Scola, Bartunek said he could not give details on their interventions, although he said Herranz had cited two articles of canon law, canons 213 and 912, in his comments. Canon 213 says the faithful “have the right” to be helped to the richness of the church by their pastors, especially to the sacraments. Canon 912 says any baptized person who is not otherwise forbidden by law "may and must be admitted to holy communion.