The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has decisively denounced the act of denying communion “to a public servant in the Cloyne diocese”, stating that the circumstance of it taking place “during a funeral Mass” made it considerably more severe. This situation arose after Fr Gabriel Burke, a clergyman within Bantry parish Co Cork, refused to give communion to Colm Burke, the Minister of State, during a constituent’s funeral Mass due to his backing of the Eighth Amendment’s repeal.
Fr Burke explained that “Colm Burke, as a senator, had voted for abortion following the 2018 referendum, and is aware of the Catholic Church’s teaching that any legislator who voted in favour of abortion is barred from receiving communion”. Mr Burke detailed that he had been present at the funeral Mass of a “close acquaintance of over 35 years, a dedicated member and supporter of Fine Gael”, during which he was denied Holy Communion by Fr Burke.
Furthermore, Mr Burke explained that the priest had informed him of his excommunication, a matter on which he is seeking further explanation from the Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean. In a statement, the ACP highlighted that prior to the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, “female citizens of Ireland had been travelling overseas to access abortion services, with lawmakers and the general public turning a blind eye”.
The statement then went on to note the complicated medical and moral aspects of procuring an abortion, adding that legislators are faced with the task of striking a balance between “the unborn child’s right to life and the autonomous decision-making right of the mother”, and that it is the duty of public servants to establish equilibrium between the two.
The statement emphasises that each member of the Catholic Church, including public officials, is encouraged to act in accordance with their own conscience. It is not within the priest’s authority to appraise another’s conscience; neither does the Eucharist belong to the priest. It is worthwhile considering Pope Francis’s declaration that he has never denied anyone the Eucharist.
In 2021, Pope Francis advised that barring politicians advocating for abortion access from Holy Communion must be approached with care and tact rather than through public criticism that aims to ostracise Catholics not adhering to church doctrine.
Fr Burke pointed out that Pope Francis wasn’t in a place to share thoughts on withholding Communion from politicians that advocate for abortion because the legalisation of abortion in Argentina only took place after he left Buenos Aires to assume his role as Pope.
Fr Burke highlighted that he did not ostracise Mr Burke. Instead, the politician ostracised himself by voting for abortion legislation in the Senate in 2018, following public support for repealing the Eighth Amendment.
“Neither I nor the Pope have excommunicated Colm Burke. He effectively ostracised himself when he voted for the legislation. It was automatic excommunication, known as ‘Latae Sententiae'”, explained Fr Burke. “Take for instance if I assaulted the Pope, I would automatically excommunicate myself due to the severity of offending the Bishop of Rome, similarly, by voting for a law which enables abortion, Colm Burke excommunicated himself”.