Catholic Bishops’ Vote Explained

JUNE 2021 – At a virtual meeting called by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in mid-June, Bishop Kulick and his brother Bishops voted overwhelmingly to authorize the doctrine committee of the USCCB to draft a teaching document on the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.

Relative to that document, what was reported by the mainstream media did not reflect accurately the discussion and the vote:

• There will be no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians.
• The bishops did not vote to ban politicians from receiving Holy Communion. This was not up for vote or debate.
• The bishops made no decision about barring anyone from receiving Holy Communion – not President Biden, Speaker Pelosi or any other specific policy maker.

Since then, Bishop Kulick has received a number of communications from concerned laity.

“Let me assure you, I am focused on the future of our diocese; one that unites us and does not divide us. Our call as Bishops is never to divide the flock, but instead, to bring unity and clarity on the Church’s teaching of our fundamental understanding, celebration and living of the most holy Eucharist in our lives as disciples of Christ,” Bishop Kulick said.

Discussions about the issuance of the Eucharist teaching document began well before the presidential election and took on a new level of importance as every diocese in the country now tries to find a way to re-engage parishioners in a post-pandemic world and to assist in the catechizing of the faithful on the importance of the sacramental encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Each Catholic – regardless of whether they hold public office or not – is called to continual conversion, and the U.S. bishops have repeatedly emphasized the obligation of all Catholics to support human life and dignity and other fundamental principles of Catholic moral and social teaching.

“I reaffirm the preeminence of the right to life in the scheme of the Church’s social justice teachings. I think we can all agree that, despite our own human weaknesses and sins, we strive daily to preach and live with Eucharistic consistency,” Bishop Kulick said.

Bishop Kulick urged the faithful to be wary of mainstream media spin on the work of the USCCB.

“I am saddened to say that the recent coverage served only to fuel emotions and to stroke political angst,” Bishop Kulick said.

Moving forward, everyone in the Church is invited to pray for the bishops as they continue their dialogues and reflections.

Catholic Bishops’ Vote Explained: The Bishops vote to prepare a document to bring greater clarity around the Church’s teachings regarding the most Holy Eucharist

JUNE 2021 – At a virtual meeting called by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in mid-June, Bishop Kulick and his brother Bishops voted overwhelmingly to authorize the doctrine committee of the USCCB to draft a teaching document on the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.

Relative to that document, what was reported by the mainstream media did not reflect accurately the discussion and the vote:

• There will be no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians.
• The bishops did not vote to ban politicians from receiving Holy Communion. This was not up for vote or debate.
• The bishops made no decision about barring anyone from receiving Holy Communion – not President Biden, Speaker Pelosi or any other specific policy maker.

Since then, Bishop Kulick has received a number of communications from concerned laity.

“Let me assure you, I am focused on the future of our diocese; one that unites us and does not divide us. Our call as Bishops is never to divide the flock, but instead, to bring unity and clarity on the Church’s teaching of our fundamental understanding, celebration and living of the most holy Eucharist in our lives as disciples of Christ,” Bishop Kulick said.

Discussions about the issuance of the Eucharist teaching document began well before the presidential election and took on a new level of importance as every diocese in the country now tries to find a way to re-engage parishioners in a post-pandemic world and to assist in the catechizing of the faithful on the importance of the sacramental encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Each Catholic – regardless of whether they hold public office or not – is called to continual conversion, and the U.S. bishops have repeatedly emphasized the obligation of all Catholics to support human life and dignity and other fundamental principles of Catholic moral and social teaching.

“I reaffirm the preeminence of the right to life in the scheme of the Church’s social justice teachings. I think we can all agree that, despite our own human weaknesses and sins, we strive daily to preach and live with Eucharistic consistency,” Bishop Kulick said.

Bishop Kulick urged the faithful to be wary of mainstream media spin on the work of the USCCB.

“I am saddened to say that the recent coverage served only to fuel emotions and to stroke political angst,” Bishop Kulick said.

Moving forward, everyone in the Church is invited to pray for the bishops as they continue their dialogues and reflections.