BISHOPSBIDENCOMMUNION THREAD: It's not entirely clear the possible outcomes of the communion document the US Catholic bishops will write 1/x
Proponents weren't clear about its purpose. There has been recent talk of a "national policy" or national "guidance" and references to pro-choice pols. But there is pushback on that. The men all want a document about the "meaning" of communion. But they have different views 2/x
A "doctrine committee" will draw up a doc for the men to discuss at their annual Nov meeting. A lot could change in the doc between then and now. 3/x
However US bishops have no authority to "teach" Catholics outside their own diocese. To make a "teaching doc" under canon law requires either a) 2/3 vote AND Vatican OK or b) 100 percent vote of all bishops 4/x
The US bishops won't get 2/3 for a doc that highlights for communion abortion or Catholic pols. Some of the US bishops urging a strong document have challenged Francis' authority; they seem unlikely to get Vatican ok 5/x
They definitely won't get 100 percent of US bishops for a communion doc w/a focus on denial/abortion/pols 6/x
US bishops lean politically conservative, and many are outraged at Biden as a Catholic role model. So risking unity if they get a group statement that's sharper on abortion/LGBT/etc than past statements -- may be worth it for them 7/x
They had been planning a project reviving communion for several years. Then Biden was elected and they shifted, or added, this abortion/pols focus. So it's unclear what the final draft/doc might say 8/x
But overall, the USCCB is an industry group, it has no authority over Catholics. Bishops are the guides for communion in their dioceses; tho very typically Catholicism puts the onus on the worshipper and their own conscience 9/9 END
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