A Beginning by the Bishops, Not the End, by Stephen P. White

By Stephen P. White, The Catholic Thing, Nov. 18, 2021

Stephen P. White is executive director of The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and a fellow in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Note: As was entirely predictable, our American bishops did something yesterday, but not nearly enough. Steve White explains today why that happened and why a vast task of Eucharistic education now lies before them – and us. We’ll have to see the final text in coming days to be clear about what the bishops did. But one thing is certain, there’s much more for all of us to do to encourage them further and move things along in the Church and the world. You can be part of that mission. You know how. Click here or the button above or the ad at the end of Steve’s column. Help to keep The Catholic Thing in this fight for as long as it takes. – Robert Royal

And in case you haven’t noticed, there is deep disagreement among bishops about how best to address the reality that we Catholics are so divided over what ought to unite us.

And this brings us to the second reason the bishops’ decision to issue this document may prove important. While the Conference as a whole was never going to enforce a blanket ban of pro-choice politicians receiving Communion (again, because it couldn’t), a clear restatement of fundamental Eucharistic theology provides a clean starting point for bishops looking to break out of the disastrous status quo.

When there is so much confusion and division, it makes sense to go back to basics. …

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