October 17, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Brazilian Catholics are expressing outrage following a mass in which the country’s main socialist candidate for president, Fernando Haddad, who is perceived as pro-abortion, was given the sacrament of Holy Communion in a Catholic parish by a priest who is openly supporting his candidacy.
The priests attached to the parish have issued a statement defending the action, citing Pope Francis’ famous dictum, “Who am I to judge?” and claiming that anyone who approaches the altar must be given Communion.
Haddad, whose Labor Party has traditionally supported abortion as a “right,” has made statements in the past hinting at some degree of support for legalized abortion, while claiming that he is “personally against abortion.” He has spoken in favor of the Supreme Court defining the limits in which abortion can occur and says it is the purview of the Court to decide such matters. He has also spoken in favor of homosexual “marriage.”
His vice presidential running mate, Manuela D’Ávila, has openly endorsed legalizing abortion during the pre-campaign, although she has stopped speaking about the topic since then. D’Ávila accompanied Haddad to the mass and allegedly received communion as well.
Canon 915 of the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law says that those “obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.” Despite this, many priests and bishops ignore the canon and distribute Holy Communion, which the Church teaches is the literal body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, to public officials who actively advocate for abortion while purporting to be Catholic.
Read more here:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/brazilian-priest-gives-communion-to-pro-abortion-presidential-candidate-quo