This past week, the Catholic bishops of the United States met in our bi-annual plenary assembly. 

 

Twice each year, in June and in November, all of the bishops in our conference gather to pray, to talk and to carry out the specific mission given to bishops which is to teach, sanctify and to guide the Church.

 

In the midst of other elements of that meeting that garnered much media attention was a pair of discussions between the bishops in the public sessions that centered on a proposed document, not yet drafted, that would address what is being called Eucharistic consistency.

 

That document has been proposed as a teaching statement in response to what many in the Church perceive to be a weakening of understanding and faith in the reality of the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ. 

 

Along with that weakening of faith there is confusion among many Catholics about the conditions and the need for a worthy reception of holy Communion. It is this linking of faith to practice in the reverence for, and reception of, the Eucharist that is described as being the Eucharistic consistency.

 

What has brought this discussion of the centrality of the Eucharist and the conditions for worthy reception to a point of attention, and even controversy, is our current political context. The administration of President Biden, as the second Catholic president in the history of our country, has taken strong stances in many of its policies that are contrary to fundamental moral teachings and practices of the Catholic faith. At the same time, the president proudly proclaims his Catholic faith and receives holy Communion at Mass.

 

For this reason, some have said the issuance of the proposed document is a political statement, not a teaching of faith. Some have gone so far as to argue that such a document would itself politicize or weaponize the Eucharist in the midst of our current social and political dialogue.

 

I believe that a document like the one proposed would be a welcomed statement at this time. In truth, while the teaching of the Church on the Eucharist is unchanging, it is necessary and helpful to continually remind ourselves about it and to restate this central aspect of our Catholic faith. 

 

We live in a time when changing social pressures and social communication can cause people to doubt or be distracted from the eternal reality that the Eucharist is truly Christ and not just a simple tradition.

Secondly, we are living in a time when there are attempts to deconstruct institutions, history and discipline in order to exult the freedom of individuals. Those pressures are being brought to bear against the Church and against the faith. 

 

The reality of the Eucharist and our need to raise up our own spiritual lives to meet that reality are also in constant need of restating and encouragement.

 

Finally, we need to recall the profound impact our individual living of the faith has on others within the Church. Each of us needs to receive the Eucharist worthily in preparation for standing before the Lord on the last day to review our lives in judgment. 

 

But others here and now watch us and can be strengthened to do what is right or tempted to be led astray by what they see in us. That is true among friends, in families and in parishes.

 

But in a society, those who are most visible have a greater influence on others. And the truth is we live in a society that is heavily influenced by the cult of celebrities. 

 

For that reason the proposed document plans to address the special call for all Catholics who are not only political leaders but also those who are cultural leaders (celebrities such as athletes, entertainment personalities or media contributors) and parish leaders to witness authentically to the faith. Here is where the question of consistency arises, especially when such leaders do not live the faith in matters involving grave sin.

 

There is much work to be done to strengthen and purify our Eucharistic faith. That is the goal of Eucharistic consistency. I look forward to this document to assist us with that task.