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Catholics and Political Responsibility

Excerpt from: INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS

SYNOD OF BISHOPS
XI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

THE EUCHARIST:
SOURCE AND SUMMIT
OF THE LIFE AND MISSION
OF THE CHURCH



PART IV
THE EUCHARIST IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
Chapter I
EUCHARISTIC SPIRITUALITY

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the vine cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (Jn 15:4).

The Eucharist: Font of Christian Morality

72. Various responses have insisted on the relationship between the Eucharist and the moral life, pointing to a significant awareness of the importance of the moral duty flowing from the reception of Holy Communion. Many refer to the fact that too many receive the Sacrament without having sufficiently reflected on their moral state in life.100 Some receive Communion while denying the teachings of the Church or publicly supporting immoral choices in life, such as abortion, without thinking that they are committing an act of grave personal dishonesty and causing scandal. Some Catholics do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favour of abortion or other serious acts against life, justice and peace. Such attitudes lead to, among other things, a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the Church and in a clouding of the distinction between venial and mortal sin.

Many responses note that some Catholics don’t always act in a way which distinguishes them from other persons; they succumb to the temptation to corruption in various situations and levels of society.

Oftentimes, the specific demands of the moral life are not looked upon as connected to the role of the Church as Teacher. Some feel that her teachings need to be re-assessed by each individual conscience. In other areas, bishops are committing themselves to clearly pointing out the contradiction of invoking freedom of conscience or religious freedom as the criteria for dismissing Church teaching. The responses insist on the faithful’s duty to seek the truth and correctly form their conscience.

Positively speaking, many are attempting to make the Eucharist a part of their lives and consider the Sacrament a source of strength in conquering sin. This happens particularly in parishes where various ministers, charitable organizations, prayer groups and lay associations are strongly active.


100 Cf. Ioannes Paulus II, Adhort. Ap. Familiaris consortio (22 Novembris 1981), 79-85: AAS 74 (1982) 180-187.

101 Ioannes Paulus II, Litt. Ap. Mane nobiscum Domine (7 Octobris 2004) 4: L’Osservatore Romano: Weekly Edition in English (13 Octobris 2004), Supplement, I.

complete document on the Vatican Website - INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS



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