Feature Article

Politics and the pulpit

Headlines were dominated last week by Cardinal Keith O'Brien's warning that anyone, including politicians, who might be complicit in abortion is forbidden from receiving Communion. Was he right to raise the stakes in the political debate over terminations? Yes, says Edward Leigh; no, says Stephen Pound, below

Cardinal O'Brien has stirred up huge controversy by daring to remind us of the Church's constant teaching on abortion, as we reach the fortieth anniversary of the Abortion Act. According to Labour's Jim Devine, he has committed an "affront to democracy" - the secular version of a mortal sin. Ironically, the Government Devine represents was itself recently accused of "abusing democracy" by Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor for pushing through Parliament with minimal debate the regulations requiring Catholic adoption agencies to offer children to gay couples.

Cardinal O'Brien was widely reported as saying that Catholic politicians who support abortion would be forbidden to take Communion. What the cardinal actually said was that Catholic politicians should "examine their consciences", reminding them of "the barrier" to receiving Holy Communion caused by cooperating with this "unspeakable crime". Like Elizabeth I, the Church does not want to make windows into men's souls; it wants them to make windows into their own, so as not to walk in darkness.

It is not, as the headlines implied, the Church proposing to ban people from its altars; but that those who support abortion excommunicate themselves, by the very act. For most headline writers this is too subtle, but any properly instructed Catholic understands the danger, as St Paul puts it, of "sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord" by communicating "in an unworthy manner". That is one of the reasons for the Sacrament of Confession. But this is not some onerous prohibition; for me, one of the best experiences is making confession at Mass, shortly before taking Communion. After absolution I like to think I might manage to go for about 15 minutes without an uncharitable thought.

Perhaps we could learn from my wife's Russian Orthodox Church; they must always make confession shortly before taking Communion.

For the Church not to remind us of its teaching would be to disobey its divine founder. Cardinal O'Brien has not invented some novel restriction; he has restated the scripturally based doctrine of two millennia. It is not an optional extra, like some local saint's day, but the unalterable conclusion from the Church's understanding of the meaning of human life. Any Catholic MP who supports abortion rejects two principles essential to the Church's self-understanding: the sacredness of human life and the Church's divinely guaranteed authority. In fact, although he may not realise it, he defies Christ himself: "He who rejects you rejects me," said Christ to his apostles. The Church applies that to their successors, including our present-day cardinals.

It is easy enough to summarise these principles; far harder to know how to stop what Cardinal O'Brien called "two Dunblane massacres a day" in Scotland (over 500 abortions a day in England and Wales).

Tony Blair said that he did not want to simply criminalise women. Neither do I, and neither does the Church.

There have been several parliamentary attempts to restrict abortion over the last 40 years, all lost or talked out. It is clear that pro-lifers are never going to win a vote until we transform public opinion. Recent polls are encouraging. Eighty-four per cent of people now back more support for women who want to keep their baby. And the NHS's struggle to recruit enough young doctors to perform abortions is also good news. But, as my colleague Ann Winterton's Bill recognised (last Tuesday), pro-lifers must offer women positive alternatives. There is no going back to the back-street abortionist.

Cardinal O'Brien's predecessor in Scotland, Cardinal Winning, established the Pro-Life Initiative. By offering women financial assistance, shelter and advice, it has saved the lives of hundreds of children, rescuing their mothers from psychological and spiritual damage.

It has also given the Church badly needed "street cred". Even the secular press largely acknowledged that Winning had shown practical compassion for women. This sort of venture is especially important for an institution run by celibate men.

But finally, Cardinal O'Brien has made it clear that no priest will deny Communion to any pro-abortion politician. It is for the politician himself or herself to decide, and no one else.

Read Stephen Pound's article

Read Clifford Longley's column