Denying sacrament not in line with Catholicism

Declaring one individual as not worthy of salvation a questionable decision within the faith

(Father Robert Drinan, a pro-choice Catholic priest who served in Congress during the 1970s)

That conservatives within the Catholic Church lambast prominent champions of reproductive rights is a given for any historian who studies feminism. And the Archbishop of San Francisco recently reinforced that image when he announced he would deny House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion. But the truth is–as is usually the case–more complex when it comes to positions on abortion within Catholicism. 

According to the New York Times, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said Pelosi would be banned from sacrament until she repudiates her position as an abortion rights supporter. What may fascinate people is the intersection of Catholicism and its treatment of pro-choice politicians historically. 

Pelosi is only the most recent one. Biden was targeted last year. Perhaps the most intriguing one was Father Robert Drinan, a priest who argued that the legality of abortion was separate from its morality. Drinan, who made a name for himself for opposing the Vietnam War, served in Congress from 1971 until 1981. 

In addition to being anti-war, Drinan wanted to curtail the arms race, the draft, and hunger, according to a Los Angeles Times report that ran in 1980. 

Drinan called for the abolishment of every criminal penalty for abortion when he was dean of Boston College Law School. He disagreed with designating situations in which abortion was permissible because he said it dictated who should live and who should die. Drinan characterized abortion as a social issue instead of a medical or legal one. 

The Vatican dictated to him that he not seek reelection in 1980. As a devout man, he adhered to what the pope commanded. It was over his refusal to oppose medicare payments for abortion. 

One wonders whether the San Francisco Archbishop would characterize a Catholic priest as a bad practitioner of the faith. In addition to Drinan, some researchers have found that priests were part of the clergy consultation service. Nuns have expressed their opposition to the church’s stance on abortion. 

Gary Wills wrote a great essay last year about the theological development of the Catholic church’s position on abortion. Even within the faith, there are thinkers like Professor Daniel Maguire who have provided evidence of a more nuanced treatment of the issue within Catholic history. 

To be a one-issue religious leader abdicates the responsibility to promote faith within people of different political views. It’s an abuse of power to deny someone their ability to practice religion because they support one position on an incredibly complicated topic.