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CANON 915 MILLSTONE MEMORIAL DEDICATED
“Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted
after the imposition or the declaration of a penalty as well as others who
obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to
communion.” CANON 915
(Romney, WV – 8
Jan 2008) A time capsule was placed under a bronze medallion bearing the
inscription “CANON 915,” at the center of a Millstone which is part of a
Memorial to the Unborn at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Romney, West
Virginia.
The time capsule was sealed with the bronze medallion
on January 7th, 2008, the Feast of Saint Raymond of Pennafort, Patron of
Canon Lawyers.
The capsule contains Church Documents, the Code of
Canon Law, Bishop’s statements, various articles and other items connected
to contemporary news regarding Canon 915.
The marker and capsule are especially meant to bring
attention to the present scandal by which some of the faithful may be caused
to falter in their belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most
Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. This ‘stumbling block’ comes at a time when
surveys suggest many Catholics do not realize: “The most August sacrament
is the Most Holy Eucharist in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained,
offered, and received and by which the Church continually lives and grows…”
[Can. 897]
In particular, this disbelief is reinforced and
deepened when Catholic politicians who publicly support the “grave sin of
abortion or euthanasia” are allowed to receive Holy Communion, despite their
gross disregard for Catholic teaching. According to (then) Cardinal
Ratzinger, their “formal cooperation becomes manifest - understood, in the
case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting
for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws…” [Memo to U.S. Bishops, 2004]
Some of the faithful in witnessing “manifest grave
sinners” receiving Holy Communion are confronted with the temptation to
question; 1. the gravity of the abomination of abortion, and 2. the Holiness
and Presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. They
may even fall into to thinking; “If these politicians don’t have to listen
to Church teaching and can still receive Holy Communion, why can’t I?”
Archbishop Burke of St. Louis, a pre-eminent Scholar of
Canon Law remarks: “No matter how often a bishop or priest repeats the
teaching of the Church regarding procured abortion, if he stands by and does
nothing to discipline a Catholic who publicly supports legislation
permitting the gravest of injustices and, at the same time, presents himself
to receive Holy Communion, then his teaching rings hollow. To remain silent
is to permit serious confusion regarding a fundamental truth of the moral
law.” This good Shepherd also notes in addition to maintaining respect for
the Holiness of the Sacrament and to avoid scandal as already mentioned, the
discipline of denial of Holy Communion is the exercise of a moral duty on
the part of the minister “to safeguard the salvation of the soul of the
party presenting himself to receive Holy Communion.”
Regarding the Dedication of the Memorial, Fr. William
Joseph Kuchinsky, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Romney, WV
said: “In light of the present struggles which pit the Gospel versus the
anti-gospel, life versus death, hope versus despair: this time may well be
a Providential moment that provides a singular opportunity to make clear to
the hearts and minds of believers the true meaning and awesome reality of
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the fruit we receive from it in Holy
Communion. It is an invitation to, and time for, conversion.”
Addressing those who might be concerned of the possible
ramifications of enforcing Canon 915, Fr. Kuchinsky remarked: “In faith we
can hope that by doing what is clearly the right thing this moment may be
one when the dark clouds which have descended upon our beloved land can be
lifted so that all eyes may see the deception which has brought us as a
Nation to sacrifice our own children through legalized abortion. We can not
discount the great things God may work when we stand united in faith, in
truth, and in justice.”
Father continued: “Those chosen by the Almighty as
‘overseers’ can help to guide us out of the ‘valley of death’ by insuring
that a gray fog of confusion does not envelop the Faithful and keep them
from recognizing the path of life which is clearly marked out in black and
white. Canon 915 is Church law written in view of a true understanding of
the Holy and Awesome reality of the Holy Eucharist . . . there is nothing
more Holy or Sacred. Unfortunately, there is also evil this side of
eternity. The atrocity of abortion is probably the greatest evil we face in
our day.”
Fr. Kuchinsky noted: “It is shameful that many of
those who are entrusted with the custody of ‘the Mystery of Faith’ would
permit people so obviously tied up with such a demonic project as the
systematic destruction of the unborn to approach the sanctuary to receive
the Bread of Life. This scandalous situation is a grievous one and greatly
offensive to the faithful who have any measure of piety for the Holy
Eucharist. Yes, we pray for the lost souls who enable the heinous crime of
abortion. But, I also pray that one day those who are uncomfortable
enforcing Church law in this the most important of issues will also
understand the great sorrow, scandal and confusion they have caused for so
many of the faithful by their failure to act and rally the other ministers
of Holy Communion to defend the Holy of Holies from sacrilege.”
The significance of the millstone surrounding the 915
Medallion is not lost to those visiting the memorial, as it immediately
invokes our Lord’s warning: “But he that shall scandalize one of these
little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone
should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth
of the sea.” (Mt 18:6)
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