In June of 2004, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict the 16th) wrote a memo intended for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The memo was sent to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Washington DC. In the memo Cardinal Ratzinger outlined the circumstances in which a person should refrain from receiving the Holy Eucharist. What state of sin would disqualify a person from taking communion until Reconciliation could be received. In this same memo the Cardinal also reviewed the situations in which a server of the Eucharist could deny administering communion to an individual. In 2004 the distribution of communion to politicians who support abortion legislation was as hot a topic as it is today.
In Cardinal Ratzinger’s memo, received initially by Cardinal McCarrick, he clearly stated the Church’s policy making it mandatory to withhold communion from those who publicly speak in support of abortion and euthanasia legislation. Cardinal McCarrick then wrote an interim report to the US Bishops summarizing the Church’s position as stated in Ratzinger’s memo. Unfortunately, McCarrick (who has been removed as Cardinal and priest over sexual abuse) mischaracterized the original memo by stressing to avoid denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians since it “…could be trivialized and might be turned into a partisan political battleground”. The actual intent of Ratzinger’s letter only became apparent when the original memo was leaked.
Why do I bring up this bit of recent Church history? Because it has apparently been going on since the outset of the Church since Apostolic times. Thus putting the current political climate in the Church into some perspective. In today’s first reading from the Third Letter of the Apostle John (also know is the Presbyter or elder in this letter), John is writing to a disciple in the early church named Gaius. In this communication John is asking Gaius to show support and hospitality for a group of Christian teachers who will be arriving in the area. Apparently, John trusts Gaius to do so based on previous reports of Gaius helping previous disciples in a similar way.
The reason for John having to write to Gaius in this regard is because he had previously written similar requests to the church in the area through a leader in that church named Diotrephes. However, the letter was never relayed by Diotrephes to the general church. In addition, Diotrephes had refused to aid past teachers sent by John. In part, it was believed that Diotrephes objected to John’s teachings and coveted his own position of leadership in the local church. John then went around him going directly to Gaius with his request.
How often do we see this scenario play out in our lives today. Where a person in a position of authority refuses to follow through on requests in order to avoid the sharing of power or to ensure that their own views dominate on an issue rather than focusing on the good of the group. John praises Gaius for his adhering to the “Truth”, the reality of Jesus as Lord and the sharing of this Good News with all. Petty jealousy and power struggles can often prevent this truth from reaching the ears of those who need to hear it. Pope Francis has referred to this tendency as “Clericalism”. Where the motivation to ascend in status and power in the Church supersedes the motivation to spread the Gospel. I believe Jesus was also speaking to this when he told his Apostles to let the children come to Him. Never hinder them or stop them. And when he told us all that we should receive the Word with the innocence of a child. Admonishing the Pharisees for their focus on their own worldly status rather than sharing the love of the Father.
Do we do the same? Whether in our positions in our local parishes, in our work places or maybe even in our homes? Relishing the ability to wield power, to inflate our sense of self based on what the world values instead of what God is asking us to do. To love Him and serve others above all else. The rest is merely vanity.
