Pro-choice Catholics, Communion and what counts as a grave sin

To the editor: A Catholic letter author asserts: “A politician enabling abortion commits a grave sin.” Possibly, however it doesn’t appear that clear to me. I’m not a Catholic, not to mention a scholar, however the results of a politician’s votes appear too faraway from the sin.

The letter author is supported by a July 2004 memorandum of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion on “Worthiness to Obtain Holy Communion.” Nonetheless, later in 2004, the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops declared partially, “Bishops can legitimately make totally different judgments on probably the most prudent course of pastoral motion.” The problem may not be minimize and dried.

My important uncertainty is how far the letter author applies this obligation. Does a politician commit a grave sin by enabling capital punishment? Depriving the poor of sustenance and care? Rejecting immigrants? Oppressing transgender individuals? (In all probability not these final two.)

Jay C. Smith, Bakersfield

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To the editor: To the letter author who wrote in assist of Catholicism, “I’m sick and bored with being lectured by individuals unaware of my religion and what my faith teaches on how I ought to apply it,” I want to say this: I’m sick and bored with individuals of any religion pondering that their faith ought to dictate how I and all Individuals ought to stay.

We don’t (but) stay in a theocracy, so please, hold your religion to your self.

Jill Gluck, West Hollywood