Communion: A Gift to All Christians
From CatholicWikipedia
November 25, 2009 – Washington, DC [ICNS] In response to the recent national press coverage of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence instructing Congressman Patrick Kennedy to refrain from receiving communion due to his pro-choice beliefs, Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding bishop of the North American Old Catholic Church issued the following statement:
“The sacraments of the Catholic Church, most especially communion, in which Catholics from age to age believe to be the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, are a gift from God to all his children. When church leaders attempt to use the sacraments as a weapon or tool to exert control or to change people’s behaviors, it represents a true failure of the church, and further damages the relationship that God has with his children here on earth.”
“Bishop Tobin’s recent attempt to change Representative Kennedy’s stance on abortion by “asking” Kennedy to not receive communion betrays the very central and divine gift that communion represents- the ultimate gift of love and forgiveness. Christ was betrayed, crucified, and resurrected for all people – not just those who follow the rules set down by other men.”
“The Roman Catholic Church has failed in its teaching of their faithful, and they now are attempting to use the Body of Christ as a tool to control the mass exodus of faithful and clergy. Catholics are leaving the Roman Church and joining other Catholic or sacramental churches at a brisk pace. Bishop Tobin and his brother bishops have lost touch with the people they are called to serve, and the sacrament with which they are sacredly charged with making available to all who seek it.”
“The last time Christ’s body was used in this way was on the cross on Good Friday. Bishop Tobin is attempting, through fear, intimidation, and under the pain and threat of withholding that which was promised to all God’s children, to coerce, beguile, and force people to a place of belief that is not authentic, but rather uniformed and dispassionate.”
“For any church to abuse the Body of Christ in this manner is abhorrent, and we call Bishop Tobin to reconcile himself to God through an earnest reception of the Sacrament of Communion. For it is through the reception of communion that we all can come to a right relationship with our Creator.”
Communion in the North American Old Catholic Church is open to all baptized Christians. Congressman Kennedy and his family are welcome to pray and receive the sacraments at the Church of the Holy Paraclete, 208 Douglas Ave (inside Brooklyn Tea and Coffee House) every Sunday at 6:00 PM. When Kennedy is in Washington, he is invited to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (inside Specialty Hospital of Washington) 700 Constitution Ave NE every Sunday at 11:30 AM.
