A Catholic bishop known for taking very public stances on social issues has issued a scathing decree attacking Democratic state lawmakers in Illinois who voted to expand the rights of women to choose an abortion.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield published a press release announcing “House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have been barred from receiving Holy Communion” for “promoting the evil of abortion.” That ban also extends to any “Illinois Catholic lawmakers who voted for either of these abortion bills,” which he labeled “barbaric pieces of legislation.”
Paprocki is calling their votes “gravely immoral action to deprive unborn children legal protection against abortion,” and says they have “acted in a seriously sinful manner unfaithful to the 2,000-year-old Christian teaching against abortion.”
But Paprocki was not yet done condemning lawmakers who are both respecting the U.S. Constitution and the overwhelming will of the people. He then opted to falsely characterize attitudes toward abortion.
“When they pass the legislation, they’re hugging each other, giving each other high fives, celebrating the fact that more abortions are going to take place,” Paprocki said, according to Fox 57. “They’ve come at 180 degrees from saying abortion should be rare to now saying abortion should be something to celebrate, and so in response to that, I think the church leaders will be speaking out more strongly about that.”
Speaker Madigan issued a statement that says Paprocki warned him he would be barred if he allowed the vote to take place.
“I was notified by Bishop Paprocki that if I permitted the House of Representatives to debate and pass the Reproductive Health Act, I would no longer be allowed to accept the sacrament of communion. After much deliberation and reflection, I made the decision to allow debate and a vote on the legislation,” Madigan said. “I believe it is more important to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, including women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. With women’s rights under attack in an increasing number of states across the country, Illinois is now a leader in making sure women are protected and their rights are upheld.”
Bishop Paprocki in 2017 decreed anyone in a same-sex marriage will be banned from being given a Catholic funeral unless before death they denounce their marriage. Same-sex couples are also banned from holy communion, also until they offer “repentance.”
In 2013, as the governor of Illinois signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, Paprocki actually held an exorcism – of same-sex marriage. He accused Governor Pat Quinn of being “morally complicit” with the “Father of lies” – i.e., the Devil, or Satan – by bringing same-sex marriage to the Land of Lincoln. He called it “institutionalizing an objectively sinful reality.”