Even in the exceedingly unlikely event that every bishop miraculously agreed on how to approach the question of Communion and abortion, it still would not resolve the political question of abortion in favor of the Catholic position.

Cardinal Luis F. Ladaria, S.J., the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has sent a letter to Archbishop José H. Gomez that may lead to a reconsideration of the plan of some bishops to get the conference to approve a document regarding “the worthiness to receive Communion” of Catholic politicians.

Decisions about administering the Eucharist rest solely on the bishop giving the sacrament, said Cardinal Michael Czerny.

The proposal to exclude pro-choice Catholic politicians from the Eucharist will bring tremendously destructive consequences—not because of what it says about abortion, but because of what it says about the Eucharist.

Monsignor William Koenig said he was open to having a conversation with the president and that as a bishop, he is called to teach “the fullness and the beauty of the Catholic faith.”

While the overall child poverty rate may be historically low after a recovery from the pandemic, there are more specific measures of economic vulnerability for children that are still alarming.