Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Catholics are speaking out against Catholic politicians-- including U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, and U.S. Representatives Tom O'Halleran, Ann Kirkpatrick, Raul Grijalva, Greg Stanton and Ruben Gallego of Arizona-- who are pro-abortion but still present themselves at Mass for Holy Communion.

The Catholics were responding to a November email survey by CatholicVote.org. They were unanimous in their criticism of the Arizona politicians, all Democrats, calling their actions "despicable," "wrong," and "disgusting and disturbing."

"They are violating the commandment 'thou shalt not kill'," said Albert Monallis of Scottsdale. "Further they are not fulfilling the sacrament of reconciliation by confessing their sins and not committing their sins again. In their end, the Lord, our God, will decide their judgment."

"Unless they repented, they should not present themselves for communion," said Clarence Rebello of Gilbert. "They are disingenuous if they do. The priest should make it known privately to such political figures in his parish that they should not approach for communion."

Mark Discher of Mesa said they are "Catholics in Name Only."

"I can't help but roll my eyes in disgust and exasperation at the shameless hypocrisy that runs rampant in Washington. The very same political figures who will do absolutely anything to undermine, silence, ridicule, and defund any and all Catholic institutions are the very same ones who describe themselves as rosary touting 'faithful Catholics,' he said. "Their pathetically desperate ploy to try to appeal to Catholics and Christians as one of their own is nothing short of wanton, self-serving behavior - especially when (they) take in the real, physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist just for the sake of keeping up false appearances."

Since his inauguration, President Joe Biden has regularly pitted himself against Catholic leaders over Catholic teachings on issues like abortion and sexuality. 

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, head of the U.S. Bishops’ pro-life committee, has said “[President Biden] likes to call himself a ‘devout’ Catholic. I would urge him to begin to act like one, especially on the life issues.

In September 2021, Biden frankly admitted that he does not agree with the Catholic Church when it comes to the sanctity of life. 

“I respect those who believe life begins at the moment of conception,” Biden said. “I don’t agree, but I respect that.”

A June 2021 poll conducted by CatholicVote.org found that an overwhelming majority of Mass-going Catholics think that Catholic politicians who promote abortion should not receive Communion. 

It found 83% of Mass-going Catholics believe politicians who oppose Catholic teachings "create confusion and disunity" and 74% believe that they should not present themselves for communion.

Speaking with America Magazine in November, Catholic Democrat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois complained of being denied Communion in his home dioces, near Springfield, Ill., due to his pro-abortion record. 

“It’s not a happy experience,” Durbin said, adding that he thought receiving Communion is “a personal decision” that should be open to almost “anybody if the person believes that they are worthy of it.”

The current U.S. Congress includes 158 Catholics, according to the Pew Forum. That's down from 168 in 2017 and up from 100 in 1961.

There are 85 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House and 24 in the U.S. Senate. All are pro-abortion.