What does separation of church and state have to do with this?

Recently, I broke a story about Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast's views concerning whether Catholic politicians who publicly take pro-abortion stands should receive communion.

A shortened version of the piece I filed appeared in the Western Catholic Reporter.

Today, the Ottawa Citizen picks up the story.

Rosemary Ganley, co-ordinator of Catholics for a Free Choice Canada, said Archbishop Prendergast's position is wrong in canon law, and wrong in a country like Canada where church and state are separate.

"This is disappointing in the extreme, and there are many other church leaders in this country who wouldn't go as far as he did on this because they know this position isn't supportable," she said.

Her group is made up of Catholics who support a woman's right to choose and a person's right to use birth control.

She said canon law gives church officials the right to deny sacraments or even excommunicate if people procure or provide abortions, but it is silent on people who support the right to choose.

"There's nothing in there saying he could deny communion to people who are pro-choice," she said. "So even within the church's own terms, he's on very, very shaky ground." Furthermore, she said Archbishop Prendergast should realize he's in a country with a charter of rights that has been interpreted to protect a woman's right to choose, and that politicians are sworn to uphold the Constitution, which contains the charter.

Rosemary Ganley knows more about canon law than the Jesuit scholar who happens to be Archbishop of Ottawa?

I don't think so.

Thankfully, the group that she speaks for is mostly made up of Baby Boomers in their 60s. It annoys me when the MSM uses people like Ganley as their "go to" contacts for commentary about the Catholic Church. Kinda reminds me of how, moments after Pope John Paul II died, the CBC ran to ex-nun Joanna Manning with her negative comments. Appalling.

The state has no right to determine who has the right to receive communion in the Catholic Church. So this is not a church and state issue. If someone is not leading a life consistent with Catholic teaching---in other words---a morally coherent life--receiving communion is spiritually dangerous. It is a loving act on the part of a responsible Shepherd to let people know the danger they are in.