Lexington bishop makes his point; politicians respond

Lexington Bishop Ronald Gainer doesn’t want pro-choice Catholic politicians to take Communion in his diocese. But Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac and state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone — both Catholics and abortion-rights advocates — said they plan to continue receiving the wine and wafer.

In a handful of dioceses, bishops recently vowed to withhold the sacraments from pro-choice Catholic leaders. But Gainer wants them to voluntarily refrain, said Lexington diocesan spokesman Tom Shaughnessy.

“A professing Catholic who has taken public stands against what the church teaches should disqualify himself or herself from receiving the Eucharist because they cannot receive in good faith,” Shaughnessy said, quoting the bishop. “Were there to be such a person under his pastoral care, (Gainer) would ask to meet them privately as a pastor and attempt to challenge them to change their public position before he would take any public action.”

….But state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a Catholic and pro-choice Louisville Democrat, wonders why politicians are being singled out.

“I guess my question to the bishops is: ‘Are the pedophile priests who are in prison receiving Communion?’ I’d like to know,” she said.

Marzian said it’s “dangerous” for religious leaders to tell politicians how to vote, and it’s wrong for them to withhold the sacraments to punish people. “I go to Communion when I want to go, and no bishop, no pope, they’re not going to keep me from my religion,” she added.