Creating barriers to the Eucharist

Sean Hall
United Kingdom

June 10, 2021

It was announced on May 29 that on the previous day the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had married his fiancée in a Catholic marriage service in Westminster Cathedral.

Johnson, who has been divorced twice, was baptized a Catholic but as a student at Eton College had been confirmed in the Church of England and has not professed any allegiance to the Catholic Church since.

The news of his new marriage has caused uproar in Catholic circles in Britain, not least because of how many have been hurt by the way they have been treated by Church officials when, as divorcees or intending to marry a divorcee, they have asked for a blessing or even admittance to holy communion.

This all came to mind at the Church's recent celebration of Corpus Christi -- the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel account Jesus sits down to the most solemn festive meal in the Jewish calendar, the Passover. And while at table he will give his companions the gift of the Eucharist, his own Body and Blood in a new ritual meal.

Jesus is surrounded by a motley crew of twelve friends .

Only a few hours later one of them, Judas, will betray him to the Jewish authorities.

Another, Peter, who is looked upon as the leader of this group, will deny three times that he even knew Jesus. Along nine other apostles, Peter will desert Jesus at his hour of greatest need.

Only one of the friends , the one called John, will be there with Jesus at the foot of the cross.

Even so, Jesus welcomes all twelve to join him at table during this solemn occasion.

Given this paradigm example it might seem surprising that the Church community that would emerge from that group, would spend time working out, eventually in the minutest detail, who may and who may not be welcomed at the table of the Eucharist; indeed who is welcome at the other sacraments as well.

First, the new community had to come to realize that not only Jews, but Gentiles were also welcome.

Later, however, they will begin to exclude others: public sinners, for example, which at the time included apostates (those who renounced their faith during a persecution); adulterers and murderers.

This became ever more refined over the centuries, and so we still have many people who, according to their state in life are excluded from the sacraments, including, for example, technically, the divorced and remarried, and those who belong to another Christian Church not in communion with Rome.

So, it came as a surprise to all -- consternation to some, while anger and outrage to others -- to learn that Britain's twice-divorced Prime Minister and his fiancée were married recently in a Catholic marriage service at Westminster Cathedral.

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