Archbishop Cordileone: "Those who deny belief in abortion rights and confession will not be allowed to participate in Communion"
Intervention by the 'Holy See' required to overturn this decision
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who made statements supporting abortion rights, has been barred from participating in the Catholic Church's core sacrament of the Eucharist.
On the 20th (local time), AFP reported that Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, notified Speaker Pelosi that she is not allowed to participate in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist, a central Catholic sacrament, refers to believers receiving bread and wine blessed by a priest to remember the blood and sacrifice shed by Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity.
Archbishop Cordileone, considered one of the most conservative Catholic leaders in the United States, stated in an open letter to Speaker Pelosi, "Until you publicly renounce your belief in the legitimacy of abortion and confess and receive forgiveness for this grave sin through confession, you cannot participate in the Eucharist."
Speaker Pelosi has been at the forefront of supporting abortion rights.
She recently strongly opposed the U.S. Supreme Court's revealed intention to overturn the 1973 'Roe v. Wade' precedent that guaranteed women's abortion rights, affirming her support for abortion rights.
Archbishop Cordileone explained that he had previously warned Speaker Pelosi to officially renounce her belief in abortion rights or otherwise not publicly identify herself as a Catholic, but she did not comply.
He added, "Now is the time to publicly announce that Speaker Pelosi cannot participate in the Eucharist."
The Catholic Church, which regards abortion as a grave sin, disapproves of Speaker Pelosi's actions advocating for abortion rights while claiming to be a Catholic.
According to the U.S. daily The Washington Post, for Archbishop Cordileone's decision, who holds significant power within the diocese, to be overturned, intervention from the Vatican is required.
Speaker Pelosi has not yet commented on this decision.
The president of 'Catholics for Choice,' a U.S. abortion rights organization, urged, "Archbishop Cordileone is waging a 'culture war.' He should stop stigmatizing and listen to the voices of supporters within the Catholic Church."
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