A Vatican letter to the US Bishops on how to respond to pro-abortion politicians who present themselves for Communion presents a roadmap for taking a tougher line, according to one prominent commentator.

Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote to USCCB president Archbishop Jose Gomez about the U.S. bishops’ plans to address ‘Eucharistic coherence’, and specifically the question of the public witness of Catholic politicians, like President Joe Biden, who make political capital out of their religion, while driving policies which go directly against Church teaching on issues like abortion.

Canon Lawyer, Ed Condon, of the Pillar says despite widespread media presentation of Ladaria’s response to Gomez as a slap-down, “reading the full text presents a more rounded picture”.

Rather than proposing that they drop the subject, Ladaria actually suggests that the bishops’ engage in “extensive and serene dialogue” and begin with basic principles:

“The bishops should affirm as a Conference,” wrote the cardinal, “that ‘those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life.’”