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Apr 28, 2008 7:12 pm US/Eastern
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Egan Rips Giuliani For Receiving Communion
N.Y. Cardinal Says Former Mayor Broke 'Understanding' For Taking Eucharist During Pope's Visit
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
New York Cardinal Edward Egan is lashing out at Rudy Giuliani for taking Holy Communion during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the city because the former mayor supports abortion rights.
Cardinal Egan was so upset about Giuliani's behavior, especially in light of the pope's belief that a Catholic politician who supports abortion could be excommunicated, that he took the highly unusual step of issuing a public reprimand.
In a statement released to the media, Egan said:
"The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."
Joseph Zwilling of the New York Archdiocese said Giuliani cannot claim to have not known. Egan's wishes were well known.
"When he became Archbishop of New York and Mayor Giuliani was the mayor of New York, Cardinal Egan reached an understanding with him that given his well known support of abortion that Mr. Giuliani would not receive the Eucharist here in this archdiocese," Zwilling said.
"Cardinal Egan was surprised to see Giuliani receive communion during the papal visit and will be in touch with him to reiterate the understanding that he should not receive communion."
Egan allowed Giuliani to attend the special mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral as a favor because he couldn't make the public mass at Yankee stadium. He is apparently ineligible to take communion in any archdiocese because his second marriage to Donna Hanover was not annulled by the church.
A spokeswoman for Giuliani issued this statement:
"Mayor Giuliani is certainly willing to meet with Cardinal Egan. As he has previously said, Mayor Giuliani's faith is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential."
The question for Giuliani is how this dust up with the cardinal will affect any future political ambitions.
"This is going to make it very difficult for him to come back into national politics," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.
Political experts have said on Monday that it hurts the former mayor's image.
"This is a guy who has always seen himself as bigger than the circumstances that he participates in. The rules are different for him," said Birdsell.
Experts also believe the communion controversy could make him toxic on the campaign trail for John McCain.
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